A Vancouver MLA wants to crack down on violence against drag artists and performers, following a number of anti-drag protests across B.C., as well as the anti-drag bills popping up across the border.

Vancouver害羞草研究所揥est End MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert tabled a motion in the Legislature Monday (April 3) 害羞草研究所渂ecause we害羞草研究所檝e seen too much of this, we害羞草研究所檝e seen people targeted in their communities across B.C. and indeed across North America,害羞草研究所� he said.

害羞草研究所淲hether it was in Nelson, Coquitlam 害羞草研究所� I think this weekend in Kelowna 害羞草研究所� North Vancouver, Duncan, Vancouver, in my own community in the West End. Really, the list is too long to go on.害羞草研究所�

It was just last month that the Nelson Public Library was forced to cancel a drag story time due to homophobic and transphobic backlash online. An impromptu story time ended up happening outside of Nelson City Hall as part of a rally of 2SLGBTQIA+ supporters.

READ MORE:

Several U.S. states, including Tennessee, have targeted drag shows. In Tennessee, the word 害羞草研究所渄rag害羞草研究所� does not appear in the bill, but instead it changes the definition of adult cabaret in Tennessee害羞草研究所檚 law to mean 害羞草研究所渁dult-oriented performances that are harmful to minors.害羞草研究所� It also states that 害羞草研究所渕ale or female impersonators害羞草研究所� now fall under adult cabaret among topless dancers, go-go dancers, exotic dancers and strippers.

害羞草研究所淚daho, Montana, Arizona, Missouri, Kentucky, Oklahoma 害羞草研究所� you go on and on,害羞草研究所� Chandra Herbert said.

害羞草研究所淚t seems so ridiculous that anyone would have a problem with that but I害羞草研究所檝e got to say, our neighbours just to the south of us seem to be having a great deal of problems with that and we害羞草研究所檙e seeing it bleed across the border here.害羞草研究所�

READ MORE:

However, he said it害羞草研究所檚 not the first time this province has seen activism for the drag community, pointing to ted northe, who died in 2014. He stood up in drag on on courthouse steps with a sign saying 害羞草研究所業 am a human being.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟

害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 what it about. Being able to be so wonderfully human in our diversity, without other people stepping in to try and shame us for who we are, try and beat up and use violence to try and intimidate,害羞草研究所� Chandra Herbert said.

Chandra Herbert said the first time he dressed in drag was in Grade 12, which he called and accomplishment.

A motion allows for an MLA to express their view, and 10 other MLAs from both the NDP and Liberal parties spoke in support of Chandra Herbert害羞草研究所檚 motion, including North Vancouver害羞草研究所揝eymour MLA Susie Chant and Surrey-Panorama MLA Jinny Sims.

害羞草研究所淭oxic social media might look like a lot of people are homophobic,害羞草研究所� Chandra Herbert said, 害羞草研究所渂ut when you go out to the broad public and outside the echo chamber of Twitter害羞草研究所� it害羞草研究所檚 maybe not quite as negative.

Chant said she found it remarkable that 害羞草研究所渋n this day and age that this topic remains one that needs to be restated.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淰iolence hate and intimidation should have no place in our current state but it has reared its ugly head once again in the most benign of places 害羞草研究所� community centres and libraries.害羞草研究所�

Surrey-Panorama MLA Jinny Sims recalled how just back in the 2000s, the Surrey school district was fighting to ban books featuring same-sex couples.

害羞草研究所淚 can remember in those days, wondering what could be more harmful to our society as a whole than to start banning books, especially banning books that were teaching about who we are.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所� With files from Tyler Harper, The Associated Press

lauren.collins@blackpress.ca
Like us on and follow us on .