Open Letter to Premier Tim Houston and the Nova Scotia Provincial Government

Thursday, September 26, 2024

The Honourable Tim Houston, Premier of Nova Scotia
Office of the Premier
premier@novascotia.ca

Dear Premier Houston:

Re: Addressing anti-trans hate and misinformation

On Friday, September 20, 2024, a nationwide anti-2SLGBTQIA+ protest called the 2024 “1 Million March for Children” urged Halifax residents to gather at Grand Parade. This group was founded by individuals who promote harmful and prejudiced rhetoric focused on 2SLGBTQIA+ “indoctrination” and claim to protect youth from alleged and unfounded predation. Organizers of this march continue to share falsehoods about Two Spirit, trans, and gender-non-conforming (2STGNC) individuals, their healthcare needs, Nova Scotia public school curriculum content, and the support that the 2SLGBTQIA+ community receives at large. At best, these individuals are ill-informed, and at worst they are trying to weaponize fear of trans individuals and their healthcare needs for political gain.

Our 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and particularly the 2STGNC community, is facing rising levels of hate, misinformation, and bigotry. This has a direct impact on many Nova Scotians, especially as Nova Scotia has the highest proportion of transgender and non-binary people of any other province or territory in the country (Statistics Canada, 2022). This impact is far-reaching and, without denunciation from our governments and policy makers, will continue to affect our communities' access to stable housing, employment, food security, safety, healthcare, and overall mental health and wellness. Our communities simply want to live in peace and safety, while receiving appropriate healthcare, assistance, and support. This hate is causing irreversible harm to trans children and youth, examples of which are seen throughout the 2023/24 Student Success Survey published by the NS DEECD (page 14, found here).

A government’s silence on these actions is revealing. Trans youth can see when they are being left behind and forgotten.

Our community deserves protection, acceptance, and support from the Nova Scotia Provincial Government. We are asking that you publicly condemn the actions and falsehoods shared by supporters of the “1 Million March for Children” and affirm your long term support of the 2SLGBTIA+ community in Nova Scotia.

Signed,

Fiona Kerr, Executive Director, Halifax Pride Society

Patrick Maubert, Co-Founding Director, UNtoxicated Queers

Steven Cook, Halifax Rainbow Dodgeball

Daniel MacKay, Publisher, Wayves Magazine

Travis Freeman, Pictou County Pride

Abbey Ferguson, Executive Director, Halifax Sexual Health Centre

Riley Nielson-Baker, Executive Director, Gender Affirming Care Nova Scotia

Carmel Farahbakhsh, Executive Director, Youth Project

Orlando Tovar, Co-Executive Director, Rainbow Refugee Association of Nova Scotia

Chris Aucoin, Executive Director, Health Equity Alliance of Nova Scotia (HEAL NS)

Emma Brown, Chairperson, Cumberland Pride Committee