Dear Community,
We write with heavy hearts to express our profound grief at the violence and deaths of 5 members of the queer and trans community in Colorado Springs, Colorado this weekend. As you likely know, on the night of November 19th, a gunman entered Club Q and opened fire on our queer and trans siblings and their friends, each of whom were beloved by a wider community of family and friends. Current reports indicate that 25 people were injured in the mass shooting, addition to the 5 who were killed. We mourn this devastating loss of life and commit to working for a better future for all of us.
It is important that we place these events in context. November 20th marks Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day in which 2SLGBTQ+ communities commemorate the lives of trans people lost to violence. On the night of the shooting, Club Q was hosting a drag show, and was set to host an all-ages drag brunch the following morning. This weekend also precedes a major U.S. holiday, a time when many queer and trans people find ways to connect with their communities.
This tragic event has unfolded at a time when queer – and particularly trans – communities are facing increasing levels of violence and harassment in the United States and around the world. These attacks, which have targeted public education and youth, and have also disproportionately focused on drag performers and trans people (particularly trans women). Queer and trans people have been called “groomers” simply for existing in the presence of children, trans educators have lost their jobs, and LGBTQ+ themed books have been banned from schools and libraries across the U.S.
Violence and antagonism toward 2SLGBTQ people is also unfolding in Canada. A survey conducted by Statistics Canada in 2020 found that “transgender people had a greater likelihood of experiencing physical or sexual violence than non-transgender people in Canada.” In March of this year, a Vancouver Island University student was attacked physically and verbally, with homophobic slurs. In Edmonton, charges were laid, and a hate crime investigation was launched after several in-person and online threats of violence were made against members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community at Pride Corner. Most recently, a CBC news investigation identified more than 50 anti-trans trustee candidates running for the Ontario school board elections. These anti-LGBT attacks are occurring simultaneously to and in intersection with political assaults on Critical Race Theory and racial justice movements around the world. Let us be clear: all of these attacks put queer and trans people in danger.
SOGI UBC remains committed to doing everything in our power to ensure that young people and their educators have access to anti-racist political education about the roots of anti-2SLGBTQ violence, and that public schools are safe places for young people and educators of all genders and sexualities.
As we grapple with these events, we at SOGI UBC are thinking about ways of increasing our impact across Canada and around the world, and we will keep you posted as those projects develop. Until then, we hope that each of you receiving this message are able to care for yourselves and your communities we collectively grieve this devastating loss of life. Additional resources can be found on our website and below.
In solidarity,
SOGI UBC
Support LGBTQ youth in Colorado Springs here.
Canadian Resources
Trans Lifeline (English and Spanish)
Canada (877) 330-6366
US (877) 565-8860
US: Text 741741
Canada: Text 741741
UK: Text 85258
Ireland: Text 50808
Jeunes Adultes Gais et Lesbiennes de St-Hyacinthe
Centre Communautaire LGBTQ+ De Montréal
AGIR Montréal (LGBTQIA+ Action with Immigrants and Refugees)