A small rally was held in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. on Friday, marking the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia.
The event was one of 25 being held across Canada – however, it was the only gathering of its kind in northern Ontario.
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Sault Pride officials along with several supporters and allies gathered at city hall with the event also serving as part of the organization’s participation in the Rainbow Week of Action.
The purpose of the cross-country rallies was to call out politicians who support restrictions on the freedom of LGBTQ2S+ people, specifically youth.
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The organizers of the Sault rally told CTV News that the local city council is very supportive, but they wanted to join the movement to raise awareness of what’s going on elsewhere in the country, in hopes it doesn’t make its way to Ontario.
“Some politicians and legislators have been emboldened by what's happening south of the border,” said Sault Pride chair Amanda Zuke.
“In three provinces so far, and I say so far, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan and Alberta, they're moving to curtail the rights to privacy and self-determination of trans youth, especially.”
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Sault Pride officials said the organization is planning to host another similar rally in the fall and hopes other northern Ontario cities will also take part.
