It’s pride month and the President of Quesnel’s Pride Society is asking City Council to do more when it comes to diversity and inclusion.
Julia Dillabough spoke at last (Tuesday) night’s meeting.
“When we talk about books being present in libraries without further consultation from groups that the books represent, it tears down our community further alienating those groups. From our City Council we expect more, we as humans all look for something to connect with often through symbolism, whether that be a flag or a gold pan. The crosswalk is not just a crosswalk, it is a symbol of inclusivity.
Dillabough called out one Councillor in particular.
“It is concerning that a member of the Council proceeded to engage a queer community member at the place of work stating that they should pay for the crosswalk to be repainted. I would like to ask if a decision has been made final at a Council meeting, it is right for a Council member to engage a community member in this manner ? To me, I don’t think this follows Council protocol. This type of action is further demeaning and unnecessary and it shows that we do not have true inclusivity in this community.”
Councillor Martin Runge owned up to the incident and offered a sincere apology.
“My apologies for making that comment to the worker. I was talking about the budget and I thought, it was an ex-student and we were just talking, and I said that’s what I wished and it was never meant with any disrespect. I didn’t realize that it was hitting there, so my apologies. I think that was more of a misunderstanding than anything. I am a budget guy and I brought up the budget thing.”
Dillabough accepted the apology.
“I just want to say thank you. It speaks volumes for you to be able to say sorry right here and right now without me having to come behind the door and talk to you, so really appreciate it and it shows growth and strength, thank you.”
Dillabough did however, call on Council to do more to deter and eliminate hate in the community, and also asked what diversity and inclusivity training City Council and staff took part in each year.
“I ask City Council to come up with answers and work together with the Quesnel Pride Society and other inclusive community societies to work towards a better and more educated Council. I would like to ask additionally that the Quesnel Pride Society be engaged in the consultation on LGBTQ2S+ matters moving forward, whether that be books in libraries, crosswalks, staff and Council in training. To me this Council is not fully educated well enough to make these types of decisions for a community that they have not yet communicated with.”
Dillabough added that inclusion takes more education and that the education just doesn’t stop from one year to the next.
Councillor Tony Goulet agreed.
“I heard a word in there, collaboration, and I think that’s that’s where we need to be as a Council is include that collaboration. I take a lot of training on being inclusive, and I think it’s always nice to refresh and do that on a regular basis.”
Several on Council, including Scott Elliott and Laurey-Anne Roodenburg, agreed that more needed to be done.
Roodenburg did also say however, that it was unfortunate that the Society had to come to Council again, two weeks before the event (the pride parade and celebration) to actually have to go over this again with Council.
The pride parade and celebration is set for Saturday, June 15th.
Dillabough also talked about last year’s event and how on one hand it was quite successful with around 400 people taking part, but also about a few of the issues they had to deal with.
“Concerns through social media trolls, it was quite concerning throughout the conversations that we were having with RCMP prior to, but we pulled it off. Quesnel RCMP went above and beyond during the parade to make sure that everybody was safe and we were all able to have a fun experience. Having said that, the event was not without physical haters. We had people driving by crowds of people screaming out slurs and hateful comments at groups of people standing on the outside of buildings.”
Dillabough said the reason that pride is needed is because society has really not grasped the nature of what queer youth and adults go through.
She said queer youth are at higher risk of being disowned by their families, experimenting with drugs, sustaining mental and physical abuse by their peers and their family members, and attempting and achieving suicide.
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