International Day Against Homophobia

by Peter Steele

International Day Against Homophobia (May 17^th), will be marked once again in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM). This year’s acknowledgement of the worldwide problem of homophobia is especially poignant for me, as I know all too well of this unnecessary plaque that continues to persist in our daily lives. Although painfully aware of the extent of homophobia within my own family, I am quite thankful to have family members and countless straight friends who are quite supportive of my partner, David and me.

Homosexuality Knows No Borders, will be recognized with a rally and march, a bar-b-que and reception hosted by the Pride Cape Breton Society, PFLAG Sydney, Addiction Services and the Gay-Straight Alliance group from Breton Education Centre in New Waterford. We, along with other participants from the local gay and straight community will take their stand against homophobia to the streets of downtown Sydney. During the week leading up to May 17^th, the CBRM will fly the Pride flag outside the administrative building, to mark its support of our gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.

Thanks to our M&M Meat Shops friends, an on-going supporter of our community, the event will start with a free public bar-b-que at 12-noon in the Sydney Credit Union parking lot, located on the northwest corner of George and Townsend Streets (please, no parking in the lot itself). Guest speakers will address those in attendance before marching along the sidewalks of Townsend and George Streets. We’ll then turn onto Dorchester and through downtown along Charlotte Street to Townsend and conclude with a reception at the Family Place Resource Centre. There, everyone will celebrate with refreshments, food, great friends and lively discussion.

In writing this article, I couldn’t help but think about what I personally consider to be the biggest obstacle our community needs to concur. There is still an overwhelming percentage of mankind who continue to equate homosexuality as nothing but a sexual perversion. A man and a woman can walk down the road holding hands and they’re thought to be in love. When it’s two people of the same gender, it’s a matter of disgust for some people, and the possibility of love never enters their minds. This was very much the case in a most unlikely facet of my own family this past Christmas.

David and I will be together eight years this August, and we’ve been a part of many of my family’s functions. David sat with me during the funeral of my wonderful mother who also included him in her life. But for one part of my own family, seeing us together on a Christmas card in a very tame and loving pose, evoked disgust and shame. As someone who’s been out for years, and an organizer of our community for more than twenty-two years, I was shocked and remain conflicted by this reaction.

It’s unbelievable we’re still in this situation. Gay couples are not only represented as movie and soap opera characters, prime time television has shown gay themed programs for years. Gay people are more visible now than ever before, and we’ve made some incredible leaps of equality. Yet, our fight for total acceptance is far from over, and we all must step up to the plate in whatever way we can to help everyone realize that homosexuality is as normal as heterosexuality. It is my opinion that terms like same-sex doesn’t help, after all, straight people are never referred to as opposite sex. Of course, I could go on with many of the things that contribute to homophobia, but I won’t. However, I will continue to go on being myself, not afraid to let people know who and what I am. I will continue to fight and educate. I will never conform to please someone’s distorted view of how I should be. And I will hope that my life, private and public will help those still trapped in the mindset that we are an abomination. We all deserve to walk proud, smile and hold our heads high!

Whoever you are, where ever you are, join in on your local walk against homophobia! For more information on the CBRM rally and walk, please call 567-2647 or 539-4627, or visit pridecapebreton.com for updates.