Anti-drag protests: Calgary’s noise bylaw criticized for targeting counter protesters – Calgary | 24CA News
Advocates are calling for a reform of Calgary’s extreme noise and anti-street harassment bylaws after two teenagers have been penalized for protesting homophobia and transphobia.
On Feb. 12, it was reported that bylaw and law enforcement officials ticketed two youngsters for extreme noise after an interplay between members and allies of the LGBTQ2S+ neighborhood and a spiritual group acquired heated, based on attendees.
There have been quite a lot of neighbourhood complaints based on police crews, however many attendees stated they have been focused by hate-fueled speech.
The protests are the most recent in a collection of anti-drag protests in Calgary in current weeks.
Earlier this month, Chinook Blast organizers needed to postpone two performances attributable to anti-LGBTQ2S+ protests.
A viral video on Twitter confirmed a person being thrown out of a drag queen storytime occasion hosted by the Calgary Public Library (CPL) on Saturday. In the video, he may be seen yelling homophobic and transphobic statements at drag queen storytime contributors and CPL workers.
“I support the intention behind that bylaw. Calgary did something unqiue by trying to have this anti-street harassment bylaw to protect members of equity-deserving groups or minority groups,” stated Evan Balgord, government director of the Canadian Anti-Hate Network.
“I think it’s a good time for the mayor and the councillors to stand up on behalf of the queer community and these kids to pursue charges against the preachers because that’s what the bylaw is for.”
Bylaw officers informed Global News Monday they aren’t continuing with the tickets. Instead, officers stated the incident was a possibility to “educate” younger folks on the bylaw necessities.
Mayor Jyoti Gondek stated in a tweet on Sunday town must cease pretending it could actually’t take motion towards anti-LGBTQ2S+ protests.
“Consider those who marched in real protests & died in the mission for real freedom – freedom for people to be who they are… Action must be taken,” the tweet learn.
This comes as hate crimes towards the LGBTQ2+ neighborhood have been on the rise. Between 2019 and 2021, there was a 64 per cent uptick in hate crimes focusing on sexual orientation, based on Statistics Canada.
According to Balgord, whereas the protests are focusing on drag occasions the rhetoric is usually homophobic and transphobic.
“They’re against queer and trans people generally,” Balgord stated. “We’re seeing more and more of this… The far-right movement has particular issues they get attached to and now it’s significantly focusing on the queer community.”
But the protests additionally spotlight a rift between LGBTQ2S+ neighborhood members and metropolis officers.
Rebecca Sullivan, a professor for the University of Calgary’s school of arts, stated many LGBTQ2S+ folks within the metropolis don’t belief the police to maintain them protected.
LGBTQ2S+ neighborhood members and allies are fed up with inaction from the City of Calgary and the CPS, she stated.
“In the last 20 years, we have really done a lot of reflection and soul-searching and worked really hard on being a much more inclusive and embracing city to LGBTQ2S+ cultures and communities,” Sullivan stated.
“Social media is a dangerous and virulent beast… The dissemination of misinformation, conspiracy theories and a desire to get clicks and likes has fed this monster of abuse and hatred.
“I think what happened is a real line in the sand from our community to our community leaders, civic leaders, businesses and politicians. We will not tolerate intolerance and we will not stand by through abuse and hate-mongering.”
Fae Johnstone, co-owner and government director of Ottawa-based consulting agency Wisdom2Action, stated she was shocked that the kids have been ticketed for protesting.
Punishing folks for talking up towards homophobia and transphobia can have a chilling impact on future counter-protests, Johnstone stated.
It additionally bolsters anti-LGBTQ2S+ protestors.
“It sends the worst message that if you go somewhere to fight bigots you might be charged by cops. That’s a horrible message to send,” Johnstone informed QR Calgary.
“As someone who’s attended many a protest in downtown Ottawa, the police are spending more time policing us than the bigots and the hate-motivated groups that are making cities and communities unsafe.”
Johnstone stated the road harassment and extreme noise bylaws typically necessitate extra police involvement, who’re ill-equipped to help queer and trans communities.
Government officers must be talking up and condemning the folks behind the protests. They additionally have to help neighborhood organizations which can be typically on the frontlines of counter-protests.
“This is also a crisis that is created by government failure over the past decade,” Johnstone stated.
“Municipal, provincial and federal governments could be stepping up to the plate and equipping our communities with the resources, tools and strategies to do what we’ve been historically doing which is fighting the hate.”
Global News reached out to the CPS with a request for remark however didn’t hear again in time for publication. A response shall be added as soon as one is obtained.
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