Calgary’s Pride events have never had a specific focus on transgendered issues until now. On August 30 the annual Dyke march for queer women will merge with a transgendered people’s march to call attention to the two groups’ shared experiences.
March organizers say both groups experience more homophobia sexism and hate crimes than gay men but receive far less attention from the mainstream and LGBTQ community.
“When you see TV shows even mainstream ones like Will and Grace… the gay community is depicted in this really narrow light and it almost always is white gay men usually middle class and usually effeminate” says event organizer and Calgary Outlink executive director Brett Mason. “The media is definitely often showing the LGBTQ community as just the G.”
However Mason says that’s beginning to change around the world as people learn more about sexual diversity especially the transgendered community.
“The trans movement has become a lot more vocal in the last 10 years” he says. “It makes sense that our community is also providing space and working on trans rights.”
The Dyke and Trans March begins at noon at William Aberhart Park on 2nd St. and 24th Ave. S.W. The Calgary Pride parade is on August 31. There is also a fundraiser for the march beginning at 7 p.m. on August 9 at the Blind Monk Pub.
