Why we still need pride
With many countries now having marriage equality, I hear a common refrain – why do we still need Pride? Haven’t we gone far enough?
Here’s a few statistics from the CDC, numerous universities, governments and health care organizations. Forty per cent of youth living on the streets are LGBTQ. The suicide rate of LGBTQ youth is between four times to eight times higher than for straight youth. Between 30 per cent and 40 per cent of LGBTQ youth have attempted suicide. Gaybashing is still common with 19 per cent to 29 per cent of students have experienced violence. Bullying in schools is a daily occurrence for many LGBTQ youth. Acceptance is still an issue in many cultures within Canada. Finally, many other countries have no protections at all. In the US, for example, in many States you can still be fired for being LGBTQ. You can get married and then you can get a “pink slip”.
Pride is recognition of how far we have come, how far we have yet to go and what we stand to lose if we fail to protect what we have fought for. How many times have governments voted against numerous equality initiatives? Celebrate, be proud and keep the fight up.
Happy Pride!
–Tom McKenna
Thank you rio staff
Last week, we were coming back from a family barbecue and my Aunt Hazel was not feeling so great – she figures it was the figs, but I’d go with jetlag and some buckets of red wine. We stopped in front on the Rio Theatre where she was not feeling well. The staff at the Rio asked if she wanted some ginger ale and then let her/us use the restroom. I just wanted to say thanks very much to Lee and Paul for being so coutreous and thoughtful. Do not fret, Hazel is back on the red wine as the jetlag has subsided :)
–Keith Freeman
Mayor needs to look at priorities
When Mayor Moonbeam was chatting with the Pope about climate change and peace in our time, I wonder if they also discussed what the Mayor is going to do about the garbage littering our streets and alleys, or the sidewalks and roads that are falling apart or anything else the Mayor is actually responsible for.
–Just Curious
Hot Air, or Stupidity?
The people who light “Asian Fire Balloons” on English Bay Beach and then watch them ride the wind and drift into the city and/or Stanley Park are very, very, very stupid people. Don’t they know that the westerly wind is dominant. I saw one Asian Fire Balloon miss a balcony on a 16th floor by five feet. Just think how easily that fire would have spread if it hit the building and spread its flame... and the damage to life and property it would have caused. Think about how easily one of these would ignite Stanley Park into a raging fire. This just shows how really stupid “stupid people” can be.
–From the Balcony
Smokers need to watch their butts
Re: “Cranky Smoker Fumes”, Rant/Rave, July 23, 2015
To Steven Ledoux, it is true most of the forest fires have been started by lightning but some were also started by flicked cigarette butts, as told by local fire chiefs. With so many fires started by lightning we don’t need to stretch already limited resources with extra fires caused by human carelessness.
Why are you flicking cigarette butts anyway, because they are littering our streets and beaches everywhere. Butts on the beach are washed out at high tide and fish mistaken them for food and can die from one butt. Cigarette butts thrown along the curb are washed down the drains and into local waters and increase the chances of more fish and sea birds swallowing them. Stop flicking your butts and be responsible and carry a container to put them in.
–Don Allison
All rants and raves are the opinion of the individual and do not reflect the opinions of Westender. The editor reserves the right to edit for clarity and brevity, so please keep it short and (bitter)sweet. Email your rant or rave to [email protected]
