One of my loudest fears
in accepting the University of New Brunswick’s admission offer was the thought
of moving to Fredericton, away from the comforts that Toronto provides to its
gay citizens. A dedicated village, large annual pride festival, community centre,
network and widespread diversity and progressive attitudes combine to make me
feel safe and supported every time I step out my door.
My notion of Atlantic
Canada’s gay friendliness was formed by a few prominent personalities and
events. I recall years of family value statements by long-serving Saint John
Tory MP Elsie Wayne. I also vividly recall the discrimination case of a gay
couple who were refused a room by a homophobic B&B owner in Prince Edward
Island. I also didn’t lose sight that Scott Brison, Canada’s first openly gay
federal cabinet minister was a Nova Scotian.
A quick Google search I
undertook to assess Fredericton’s gay friendliness revealed a few things.
- The city’s long-serving mayor, Brad Woodside, has apoor gay rights track record which raised the ire of professors upon hisreceipt of an honorary degree from St Thomas University
- The nearby city of Saint John lost its only gay barearlier in the year due to lack of business
- There is commentary about Fredericton’s apparent highproportion of gay residents
But
I knew it would be short shrift to regard Atlantic Canada as homophobic. Heck,
these isolated observations don’t discount that homophobia certainly exists in
Ontario. Growing up and spending many years working in Hamilton taught me this.
But my time in Steeltown also proved there is a community of support. And even
Toronto isn’t a gay Utopia necessarily. The reflection left me fairly convinced
New Brunswick’s capital city with two universities would be adequately gay
friendly. In fact, “safe space” stickers with the rainbow triangle appear on
the office doors of many law professors.
During
my law school application process, I also learned about OUTLaw, the gay law
school students’ society with chapters across Canada and USA, including UNB. I
planned to join when I came to UNB. The second week of school, the law students
society hosted a meeting to inform 1Ls of the school’s clubs and societies. One
by one, chairpersons introduced their cause or club, from social events to
aboriginal law to chess (yes, the game). Through the entire rundown, there
was no mention of OUTLaw so I approached the LSS.
Apparently,
OUTLaw had existed at UNB since 2009 but want dormant last year. Given my
interest, they encouraged me to resurrect the society through an approval and
funding application. With the paperwork in hand, I contemplated the
application. I was willing and interested to join the society, but lead its
revival!? Easing into the adjustment of student life in the Maritimes, I was
weary of taking this on.
It
occurred to me that this was the first LGBT student group I was either willing
or able to be part of. At my highschool in the 90s, there wasn’t the gay
straight alliance that is commonplace today. In university, at both McMaster
and Ryerson, I was in the closet.
Two
shocking examples of homophobia occurred in September and October that
finalized my decision to initiate OUTLaw.
- In Fredericton, St Thomas University student Colin Briggs was asked not to volunteer for his church, Crosspoint Wesleyan, because he is gay.
- On Thanksgiving weekend in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Scott Jones was knifed down in a grisly attack that friends and family suspect was a hate crime given Jones is gay.
Spurred by an interest
to condemn these crimes and extinguish homophobia, I submitted the necessary
society paperwork to start OUTLaw and wrote this letter to the editor in
Wayves, an Atlantic Canada LGBTQ magazine.
It feels right.
