British Columbia Legislature 42nd Parliament, 3rd Session (2022) Statements, 31 Mar 2022

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From YouTube: MARCH 31 2022 Statements Grace Lore

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The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
3rd Session
42nd Parliament

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Member for victoria beacon hill. Thank you, mr speaker. I too rise to recognize, introduce international transgender day of visibility, and I stand as an ally with the honor of celebrating our peers, colleagues, friends and family.

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Let me start with jamie lee hamilton, an outspoken activist for sex workers and indigenous women in 1998. She dumped 67 pairs of stilettos in the front of city hall, demanding attention for the dozens of sex workers who were missing in the downtown eastside.

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She was also the first youth in canada to start medical transition in the first out trans candidate to seek public office. Last year, blake desjarlais became canada's first openly two-spirit member of parliament.

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Just last week, niece mew, a niska two-spirit person, was awarded the medal of good citizenship for their work, to create food security for indigenous families based on cultural understanding, consistency and trust. At the university of victoria doctor, aaron devore holds the world's first chair in transgender studies and set up the trans archives.

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This year, the archives celebrate their 10th anniversary, upholding a commitment to research and community building for and by trans non-binary, two-spirit and other gender diverse people locally and globally. I encourage everyone to check out their community stories online to learn more. I also want to encourage everyone to participate in hashtag. You belong here an advocacy campaign by community bc's, queer trans and two-spirit resource center.

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Mr speaker, I would also like to recognize all the peer supporters at transcare bc who help people access the gender firming, a care, gender, affirming health care they need and deserve, and I want to lift up bc lawyer adrian smith, whose work and advocacy protects the human rights of trans people, two-spirit, trans and gender diverse people are amazing.

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May we all learn something from their courage to be themselves and as anti-trans laws that endanger trans people and trans families and deny health care for trans kids continue to be introduced and passed in other jurisdictions.

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We must recommit to work here in bc and beyond, so that the need to be courageous is replaced with ease, love and celebration. Thank you, mr speaker.