LGBTQ

FILE - Matty Healy of the 1975 performs at the Reading Music Festival, England, on Aug. 28, 2022. The organizer of a Malaysian music festival is seeking 12.3 million ringgit ($2.7 million) in losses from British band The 1975, after its lead singer’s on-stage protest of the country’s anti-gay laws prompted authorities to shut down the festival, the company’s lawyer said Friday, Aug. 11, 2023. (Photo by Scott Garfitt/Invision/AP, File)

Suit seeks $2.7 million from band whose gay kiss got music festival canceled

The 1975 singer criticized Malaysian government stance on homosexuality

FILE - Matty Healy of the 1975 performs at the Reading Music Festival, England, on Aug. 28, 2022. The organizer of a Malaysian music festival is seeking 12.3 million ringgit ($2.7 million) in losses from British band The 1975, after its lead singer’s on-stage protest of the country’s anti-gay laws prompted authorities to shut down the festival, the company’s lawyer said Friday, Aug. 11, 2023. (Photo by Scott Garfitt/Invision/AP, File)
Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools announced it has ended a partnership with Camp Qwanoes after learning that counsellors were asked to sign an agreement that is contrary to district policy on inclusivity. (News Bulletin file photo)

School district cuts ties with central Island camp over inclusivity concerns

Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools won’t send students to Camp Qwanoes anymore

Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools announced it has ended a partnership with Camp Qwanoes after learning that counsellors were asked to sign an agreement that is contrary to district policy on inclusivity. (News Bulletin file photo)
Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and his wife, Anaida, pose for a photo with an unidentified man wearing a “straight pride” T-shirt during a Calgary Stampede event in Calgary, Alta., in a recent photo published to Twitter by user @BSpence1983. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Twitter

Poilievre ‘does not agree’ with ‘straight pride’ message in Stampede photo

Conservative leader photographed with ‘hundreds of people’ during annual Calgary bash

Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and his wife, Anaida, pose for a photo with an unidentified man wearing a “straight pride” T-shirt during a Calgary Stampede event in Calgary, Alta., in a recent photo published to Twitter by user @BSpence1983. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Twitter
Volunteers with Pride Toronto carry a large rainbow flag during the 2019 Pride Parade in Toronto, Sunday, June 23, 2019. The city hosts its annual Pride parade today, with tens of thousands expected to join Canada’s largest LGBTQ celebration. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Lahodynskyj

Advocates want national standards for including LGBTQ identities in medical records

LGBTQ patients have unique health needs, can also experience higher rates of physical and mental health issues

Volunteers with Pride Toronto carry a large rainbow flag during the 2019 Pride Parade in Toronto, Sunday, June 23, 2019. The city hosts its annual Pride parade today, with tens of thousands expected to join Canada’s largest LGBTQ celebration. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Lahodynskyj
A man ripped down the trans flag in front of the Kelowna Art Gallery on June 2. (Kelowna RCMP/Submitted)
 A man ripped down the trans flag in front of the Kelowna Art Gallery on June 2. (Kelowna RCMP/Submitted)

Kelowna RCMP identify man who ripped down trans flag, investigation ongoing

The Kelowna RCMP have found and talked to the suspect

A man ripped down the trans flag in front of the Kelowna Art Gallery on June 2. (Kelowna RCMP/Submitted)
 A man ripped down the trans flag in front of the Kelowna Art Gallery on June 2. (Kelowna RCMP/Submitted)
City of Toronto officially proclaim June as Pride Month in Toronto and raise the Progress Pride flag at City Hall in Toronto on Thursday, June 1, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Advocates want national standards for LGBTQ identities in medical records

Push underway for inclusion of gender, sex and sexual identity information in health records

City of Toronto officially proclaim June as Pride Month in Toronto and raise the Progress Pride flag at City Hall in Toronto on Thursday, June 1, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
In June, a pride flag was hung from the bell tower at Summerland United Church. The flag was later moved to the overhang at the front entrance to the church. The flag has since been taken. (Contributed)

Pride flag taken from Summerland church

Summerland United Church displayed flag as sign of inclusiveness

In June, a pride flag was hung from the bell tower at Summerland United Church. The flag was later moved to the overhang at the front entrance to the church. The flag has since been taken. (Contributed)
Paul Canary Kanyamu marches with Reaching ‘Out’ for LGBTQ and Allies of Brechin United Church, during Nanaimo’s Pride Parade on June 11. (Mandy Moraes/News Bulletin)

LGBTQ refugees feel at home in Nanaimo after fleeing violence and oppression

Reaching Out Assisting Refugees’ Picnic en Blanc fundraiser to be held July 15

Paul Canary Kanyamu marches with Reaching ‘Out’ for LGBTQ and Allies of Brechin United Church, during Nanaimo’s Pride Parade on June 11. (Mandy Moraes/News Bulletin)
An Ottawa Senators player warms-up with rainbow-coloured hockey tape prior to taking on the Vancouver Canucks in NHL hockey action in Ottawa on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.The Toronto Maple Leafs won’t wear themed warmup jerseys for the team’s annual Pride night celebration Tuesday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

McDavid no fan of NHL decision on themed jerseys after Pride refusals

‘We strongly feel hockey is for everybody, and that includes the Pride nights’

An Ottawa Senators player warms-up with rainbow-coloured hockey tape prior to taking on the Vancouver Canucks in NHL hockey action in Ottawa on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.The Toronto Maple Leafs won’t wear themed warmup jerseys for the team’s annual Pride night celebration Tuesday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Participants walk in the Toronto Pride Parade, in Toronto, Sunday June 25, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Celebration and protest erupts during Canada’s largest Pride parade in Toronto

‘This year in particular, it’s been important for the queer community to show up’

Participants walk in the Toronto Pride Parade, in Toronto, Sunday June 25, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
Mia Johnson, representing the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, takes the parade route at a run during Nanaimo’s Pride parade Sunday, June 11. (Greg Sakaki/News Bulletin)

More threats mean greater focus on security at Pride events across Canada

For the first time in its decade-long history, the Pride festival in…

Mia Johnson, representing the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, takes the parade route at a run during Nanaimo’s Pride parade Sunday, June 11. (Greg Sakaki/News Bulletin)
FILE - Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) and defenseman Radko Gudas (7) warm up while wearing a Pride Night hockey jersey before playing the Toronto Maple Leafs on March 23, 2023, in Sunrise, Fla. Bobrovsky, who is Russian, did take part in warmups the night the Staal brothers declined and in the aftermath of several countrymen deciding not to wear Pride jerseys. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin, File)

NHL drops theme-night jerseys after Pride refusals cause distractions

Bettman: ‘(It’s) more of a distraction from really the essence of what the purpose of these nights are’

FILE - Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) and defenseman Radko Gudas (7) warm up while wearing a Pride Night hockey jersey before playing the Toronto Maple Leafs on March 23, 2023, in Sunrise, Fla. Bobrovsky, who is Russian, did take part in warmups the night the Staal brothers declined and in the aftermath of several countrymen deciding not to wear Pride jerseys. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin, File)
Jennifer Charlesworth, B.C.’s representative for children and youth is seen in Victoria on Monday, Dec. 10, 2018. Charlesworth says her office conducted a review of critical injury and death reports of youth between 2018 and 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Dirk Meissner

Anti-trans hate speech causing ‘great harm,’ to gender-diverse children: Report

Representative for Children and Youth calls on government to address disinformation, discrimination

Jennifer Charlesworth, B.C.’s representative for children and youth is seen in Victoria on Monday, Dec. 10, 2018. Charlesworth says her office conducted a review of critical injury and death reports of youth between 2018 and 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Dirk Meissner
Fae Johnstone, a transgender activist who was one of five women featured on limited-edition Hershey chocolate bars in March, is seen in an undated handout photo. Experts and LGBTQ community members say they are concerned about the normalization of anti-LGBTQ hate and its impact on mental health and safety, as online rhetoric spills into the real world. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Fae Johnstone

Fears for LGBTQ mental health, as flood of online hate spills into real world

Fae Johnstone says “nothing ever could have prepared” her for the barrage…

Fae Johnstone, a transgender activist who was one of five women featured on limited-edition Hershey chocolate bars in March, is seen in an undated handout photo. Experts and LGBTQ community members say they are concerned about the normalization of anti-LGBTQ hate and its impact on mental health and safety, as online rhetoric spills into the real world. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Fae Johnstone
Human rights activist Paul Canary Kanyamu is shown in a handout photo. Kanyamu says life felt like “hell on Earth” before he escaped Africa and found refuge in Vancouver about two months ago. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO

After escaping violence and persecution, LGBTQ refugees find peace in Canada

Paul Canary Kanyamu says life felt like “hell on Earth” before he…

Human rights activist Paul Canary Kanyamu is shown in a handout photo. Kanyamu says life felt like “hell on Earth” before he escaped Africa and found refuge in Vancouver about two months ago. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO
Alana Delcourt and Henrietta Dubet strike a pose while browsing the shops celebrating Pride Day in Sidney Saturday, June 17. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Sidney Pride Day celebrates LGBTQ2S+ community

Businesses throughout the downtown core put out colourful displays in celebration and support

Alana Delcourt and Henrietta Dubet strike a pose while browsing the shops celebrating Pride Day in Sidney Saturday, June 17. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Loyal Wooldridge. (Contributed)

People of privilege called on to support queer community after ‘hate crime’ in Kelowna

City Councillor Ron Cannon said all people should be respected after a surge homophobia

Loyal Wooldridge. (Contributed)
J. Harrison Ghee accepts the award for best performance by an actor in a leading role in a musical for "Some Like It Hot" at the 76th annual Tony Awards on Sunday, June 11, 2023, at the United Palace theater in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
J. Harrison Ghee accepts the award for best performance by an actor in a leading role in a musical for "Some Like It Hot" at the 76th annual Tony Awards on Sunday, June 11, 2023, at the United Palace theater in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
Several of the pride banners the City of Langford put up along Goldstream Avenue were vandalized less than a day after being installed. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

Five Pride banners vandalized within 24 hours in Langford

Banners sprayed with paint, replaced by city staff

Several of the pride banners the City of Langford put up along Goldstream Avenue were vandalized less than a day after being installed. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
(Photo- Ajeet Brar/Facebook)

Penticton rainbow crosswalk vandalized less than 48 hours after installation

Leaders in the community issued a statement on May 24, condemning hate towards the project

(Photo- Ajeet Brar/Facebook)