Fernie Pride Society participated in the national Vote Rainbow Equality campaign on Mar. 23, to raise awareness of government policies that impact LGBTQ2A+ people, ahead of the federal election.
The organization handed out flyers in Fernie to help encourage people to vote for policies that uphold human rights and equality.
"Really hoping that people get mobilized to vote and consider their votes. [We] really just try and help educate people on queer and trans people and other marginalized communities, and how creating policies that uplift everybody really just uplifts Canada," said Fernie Pride Society communications manager Courtney Baker.
"We really have to make sure that the policies that go forward are ones that really continue to keep Canada at the forefront of human rights," she added.
Baker said they're not advocating for a specific party, but they would like to see federal candidates running for parliament address certain issues that are important to the LGBTQ2A+ community.
She explained that housing, affordability and access to healthcare remain key concerns for LGBTQ2A+ people, as they often face barriers in their everyday lives that impact their ability to find jobs and earn a living.
"Even if you're the most qualified person for the job, if you're getting turned down for that position or not even considered because you're a trans person, that's going to impact your ability to provide safe housing," she said.
Baker said she'd like to see the regional representative that is elected to parliament acknowledge the LGBTQ2A+ community and be proactive in reaching out to local LGBTQ2A+ groups to find out how they can be supportive.
"They have to admit that queer and trans people live here and we're all citizens in their riding. We have the right to be here. I feel like there's not a lot of acknowledgement as a queer community and the contributions that the queer community made," she said.
Vote Rainbow Equality is a nation-wide campaign being run by Queer Momentum, with 33 events being held across the country in support of the LGBTQ2A+ community.
Queer Momentum campaign manager Tim Ellis said they're planning to interview the federal candidates running for Prime Minister to find out how they plan to support the LGBTQ2A+ community during the affordability and housing crisis, and protect transgender rights.
Ellis said Canada has been a global leader in upholding LGBTQ2A+ rights, and he'd like to see this progressive track record continue.
"Canada is a place that has a specific track for asylum for people who are fleeing countries that criminalize gender and sexual diversity. That's a very valuable program that Canada continues to maintain and we need to ensure that whatever government forms parliament after the election, at least maintains that program," he explained.
Ellis immigrated to Canada from the U.S in 2012. He still has family and friends who live south of the border. He said he's gotten questions from American residents who don't feel safe living in the U.S anymore and have expressed interest in seeking asylum in Canada.
Ellis said the LGBTQ2A+ community is concerned about an executive order from Donald Trump to suspend passport applications that use a gender-neutral marker or request a change in gender.
Another order bans federal funding for gender-affirming care for transgender people under the age of 19.
Ellis noted that Canada does not currently have a path for LGBTQ2A+ Americans to seek asylum, and he'd like to see the country added to the list.
"They're quite upset. There's quite a bit of fear, quite a bit of uncertainty. People have asked if they can find a way out," he said.
