LGBTQ

Zac Jones of the New York Rangers skates with a stick decorated for “Pride Night” in warm-ups prior to the game against the Washington Capitals, in New York City, Monday, May 3, 2021.NHL players refusing to participate in Pride nights around the league shows hockey still isn’t safe for a number of LGBTQ people, says one of the first male professional players to publicly come out as gay. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Bruce Bennett, POOL

More work needed to make hockey safe for LGBTQ people: former pro player

NHL Pride nights to promote inclusivity have seen players refusing to take part.

 

FILE - Dolly Parton, left, and Miley Cyrus perform “Jolene” at the 61st annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Feb. 10, 2019. Administrators at Heyer Elementary School in Waukesha, Wis., aren’t letting a first-grade class perform “Rainbowland,” a Cyrus and Parton duet from Cyrus’ 2017 album “Younger Now,” promoting LGBTQ acceptance, because they say the song could be seen as controversial. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP, File)

American elementary school bans Miley, Dolly duet from class concert

Performance of the song Rainbowland ‘could be perceived as controversial’

 

Frederick Lea Hardy’s name carved into the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France, April 2022 is shown in a handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Sarah Worthman

Punishment of First World War soldiers for sexual orientation detailed in new study

Those caught were often issued sentences of hard labour in prison

 

Kenyan gays and lesbians and others supporting their cause wear masks to preserve their anonymity as they stage a rare protest against Uganda's tough stance against homosexuality and in solidarity with their counterparts there, outside the Uganda High Commission in Nairobi, Kenya on Feb. 10, 2014. Ugandan lawmakers passed a bill Tuesday, March 21, 2023 prescribing jail terms of up to 10 years for offenses related to same-sex relations, responding to popular sentiment but piling more pressure on the East African country's LGBTQ community. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis, File)

Uganda’s legislature passes harsh new anti-LGBT bill

Ugandan lawmakers passed a bill prescribing jail terms of up to 10…

Kenyan gays and lesbians and others supporting their cause wear masks to preserve their anonymity as they stage a rare protest against Uganda's tough stance against homosexuality and in solidarity with their counterparts there, outside the Uganda High Commission in Nairobi, Kenya on Feb. 10, 2014. Ugandan lawmakers passed a bill Tuesday, March 21, 2023 prescribing jail terms of up to 10 years for offenses related to same-sex relations, responding to popular sentiment but piling more pressure on the East African country's LGBTQ community. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis, File)
FILE - The ice is lit in rainbow light for Pride Night before an NHL hockey game between the Anaheim Ducks and the Los Angeles Kings, Monday, April 26, 2021, in Los Angeles. The Chicago Blackhawks will not wear Pride-themed warmup jerseys before Sunday’s Pride Night game against Vancouver because of security concerns involving a Russian law that expands restrictions on activities seen as promoting LGBTQ rights in the country. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)

NHL’s Blackhawks won’t wear Pride jerseys, cite Russian law

Chicago coach Luke Richardson he and his players were disappointed in the decision

FILE - The ice is lit in rainbow light for Pride Night before an NHL hockey game between the Anaheim Ducks and the Los Angeles Kings, Monday, April 26, 2021, in Los Angeles. The Chicago Blackhawks will not wear Pride-themed warmup jerseys before Sunday’s Pride Night game against Vancouver because of security concerns involving a Russian law that expands restrictions on activities seen as promoting LGBTQ rights in the country. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)
Books are displayed at the Banned Book Library at American Stage in St. Petersburg, Fla., Feb. 18, 2023. In Florida, some schools have covered or removed books under a new law that requires an evaluation of reading materials and for districts to publish a searchable list of books where individuals can then challenge specific titles. (Jefferee Woo/Tampa Bay Times via AP)

School library book bans are seen as targeting LGBTQ content

Teri Patrick bristles at the idea she wants to ban books about…

Books are displayed at the Banned Book Library at American Stage in St. Petersburg, Fla., Feb. 18, 2023. In Florida, some schools have covered or removed books under a new law that requires an evaluation of reading materials and for districts to publish a searchable list of books where individuals can then challenge specific titles. (Jefferee Woo/Tampa Bay Times via AP)
Attendees at the 2023 Fierté Canada Pride conference in Kelowna. (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)

Conference in Kelowna working to amplify queer voices in rural areas

Despite progress in big cities, queer people continue to feel unwelcome in small towns

Attendees at the 2023 Fierté Canada Pride conference in Kelowna. (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)
Third Space Charity executive director Karen Mason (at right) interviewed counsellor and founder of This Space Belongs to You, Meaghan Duckett for the first episode of Mental Health Matters, a new TV segment produced with Shaw Spotlight in Kelowna.

Kelowna-produced TV show puts spotlight on mental health

Mental Health Matters is a collaboration with Third Space Charity

Third Space Charity executive director Karen Mason (at right) interviewed counsellor and founder of This Space Belongs to You, Meaghan Duckett for the first episode of Mental Health Matters, a new TV segment produced with Shaw Spotlight in Kelowna.
Billboard in Westbank First Nations. (Wilbur Turner/Submitted)

Controversial anti-‘woke’ education billboard in Westbank First Nations removed

The billboard stood for 10 days before being taken down

Billboard in Westbank First Nations. (Wilbur Turner/Submitted)
Jordan Peterson speaks to a crowd during a stop in Sherwood Park, Alberta, on Feb. 11, 2018. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson)

Controversial psychologist to make tour stop in Kelowna

Dr. Jordan B. Peterson coming to Prospera Place

Jordan Peterson speaks to a crowd during a stop in Sherwood Park, Alberta, on Feb. 11, 2018. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson)
Over the past year, pride events in Kelowna have been subject to increasingly large protests (File)

Kelowna church combats ‘attacks on 2SLGBTQIA+ rights’ with action and love

The Central Okanagan United Church stands with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community

Over the past year, pride events in Kelowna have been subject to increasingly large protests (File)
Reporter Jacqueline Gelineau interviewing Feedom Fighter and LGBTQIA+ ally Robin Boostrom. (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)

On anniversary of convoy, ‘Freedom Fighter’ supports Drag Story Time at Kelowna rally

Robin Boostrom said that freedom means both vaccine choice and gender autonomy

Reporter Jacqueline Gelineau interviewing Feedom Fighter and LGBTQIA+ ally Robin Boostrom. (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)
(Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)

Rainbow flags, motorcycle club and unicorns attend Kelowna Drag Story Time

Protestors of the Drag Story Time event were outnumbered by supporters

(Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)
Freida Whales will be reading stories to children at the library on Jan. 28. (Okanagan Regional Library/Submitted)

Drag defenders asked to bring signs, flags and love to downtown Kelowna rally

LGBTQIA2S+ advocacy groups organizing rally to show love for controversial Jan. 28 Drag Story Time

Freida Whales will be reading stories to children at the library on Jan. 28. (Okanagan Regional Library/Submitted)
Rainbow House or by the Kwak’wala word Gukwas sa Wagalus, and is the first of its kind in the country. Photo by Ali Roddam

Vancouver Island 2SLGBTQ+ youth housing project will be the first of its kind in Canada

Gukwas sa Wagalus or Rainbow House first of its kind in Canada

  • Jan 25, 2023
Rainbow House or by the Kwak’wala word Gukwas sa Wagalus, and is the first of its kind in the country. Photo by Ali Roddam
Pausing for a photo in the Salmon Arm office is Essie’s Place Executive Director Donovon Koch. Essie’s Place works to improve the quality of life for LGBTIQ2SA+ people in the Shuswap. (Martha Wickett - Salmon Arm Observer)

Quality of life: Survey shows psychological world for LGBTQ2S+ folks in Shuswap not good

Counselling now available through Essie’s Place pilot project, family members wanted for survey

Pausing for a photo in the Salmon Arm office is Essie’s Place Executive Director Donovon Koch. Essie’s Place works to improve the quality of life for LGBTIQ2SA+ people in the Shuswap. (Martha Wickett - Salmon Arm Observer)
Freida Whales will be reading stories at the Kelowna Public Library on Jan. 28, 2022. (Jillian Karpick/Photographer)

UPDATE: Drag queen speaks out after online petition condemns Kelowna Drag Story Time for families

Laura Baird started the petition which has more than 2000 signatures

  • Jan 16, 2023
Freida Whales will be reading stories at the Kelowna Public Library on Jan. 28, 2022. (Jillian Karpick/Photographer)
(Okanagan Regional Library/Submitted)

Drag Story Time returns to B.C. library more than 3 years after controversy

Frieda Whales returns to host

(Okanagan Regional Library/Submitted)
Renee Merrifield, MLA for the Kelowna-Mission riding and gender equity critic for the BC Liberal Party, is under fire for transphobic Twitter activity. (Black Press Media file photo)

BC Liberals’ gender equity critic called out for promoting transphobic content on Twitter

Renee Merrifield liked a post about transgender bathroom bans, retweeted a post from Jordan Peterson

Renee Merrifield, MLA for the Kelowna-Mission riding and gender equity critic for the BC Liberal Party, is under fire for transphobic Twitter activity. (Black Press Media file photo)
Taliban security personnel carry a damaged bus after a roadside bomb blast in Mazar-e Sharif, the capital city of Balkh province, in northern Afghanistan, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. A Taliban official says that a roadside bomb went off near a government bus in northern Afghanistan, killing several people. (AP Photo)

Refugee group says Ottawa will help bring 600 LGBTQ Afghans to Canada

Immigration department would not confirm the move, citing security risks

Taliban security personnel carry a damaged bus after a roadside bomb blast in Mazar-e Sharif, the capital city of Balkh province, in northern Afghanistan, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. A Taliban official says that a roadside bomb went off near a government bus in northern Afghanistan, killing several people. (AP Photo)
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