Today is the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia. This day feels especially important, as we’ve seen a rise of hate towards the 2SLGBTQI+ community right here in Ontario. Drag shows are being targeted by extremists who spread homophobic and transphobic lies. This happened right here in Toronto, at Toronto public libraries.

Yesterday, I met a teacher who was at the York Catholic District School Board meeting. She described that divisive meeting as traumatic for students and staff who were there to speak about the importance of raising the rainbow flag. Queer and trans families are feeling unsafe in a whole new way. A parent told me that they were being targeted, then reported to the children’s aid society, and then doxxed online just for affirming their trans child’s gender.

Government members have said everyone deserves the right to feel safe; the government can do more than just talk. They can act by passing my bill, the Keeping 2SLGBTQI+ Communities Safe Act.

Through all this hardship, my community remains resilient, strong, and full of hope and joy. This is evident in the work of the ArQuives, the largest queer and trans archives in the world, located in my riding of Toronto Centre. This year the ArQuives are celebrating their 50th anniversary, and their work to preserve our history is more important than ever before.

Finally, June, Pride Month, is fast approaching. Let’s work together to support the queer and trans communities across Ontario. Let’s show them that this House has their back and they can count on every single one of us for support.

To the Premier: Last June, the Norwich BIA put up pride banners, only to have dozens removed, vandalized and then burned. This week, Norwich town council voted to ban pride flags from municipal properties and then rejected proclaiming Pride Month, which is coming up in June.

Since the Premier has not spoken up against the hateful rise of homophobia and transphobia in Ontario, I’d like to ask him today: Will he break his silence and commit to working with the Ontario NDP to pass our bill, the Keeping 2SLGBTQI+ Communities Safe Act, as quickly as possible?

This week, an angry mob also turned up at the York Catholic District School Board, where they disrupted a meeting to intimidate the trustees to vote against Pride Month and raising the flag for their community. This is not the first time that the police were called in to contain homophobic violence. If the Premier is unwilling to adopt our anti-2SLGBT strategy hate crime plan, what is the Premier’s plan to keep students safe? What is he going to do while they attend publicly funded schools?