Peter Bevan-Baker Announces Green Plan for Protecting the Rights and Safety of the 2SLGBTQIA+ Community
Charlottetown, PE - Today Peter Bevan-Baker, Leader of the Green Party of PEI, along with Green candidates Karla Bernard and Charles Sanderson, announced the Green Party’s plan for protecting the rights and safety of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, including further commitments on top of previous platform commitments.
To support the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, a Green government will:
Ensure organizations like Pride PEI, PEERS Alliance, PEI Transgender Network have stable, predictable and adequate multi-year operational funding;
Improve access to gender-affirming healthcare, including reducing out-of-pocket costs related to out-of-province care;
Eliminate the financial and medical barriers that exist in relation to name change applications;
Expand education efforts in schools, workplaces, and in government to reduce intolerance and promote inclusivity;
Collaborate with Islanders to create diversity training for police, along with catch-up training and regular refresher training;
Provide funding for equity-seeking groups to provide appropriate housing to meet the specific needs of their communities;
Support better collection of disaggregated demographic data as required to better understand disparities in our society, with a particular focus on health, education, housing, and employment outcomes;
Increase funding to the Human Rights Commission to provide for the timely resolution of complaints; and
Promote culturally appropriate healthcare.
To read the full Green Plan visit: https://www.peigreens.ca/platform2023
Quotes:
“Being an ally is more than just saying the right thing in public or showing up to an event one day a year. It is about calling out and denouncing homophobic, and transphobic rhetoric, whenever and wherever you encounter it - even if that is in private with friends or family. We need our leaders now more than ever to be true allies and to lead by example.”
Charles Sanderson, Green Candidate for District 10 Charlottetown-Winsloe
“It is distressing and unacceptable that 2SLGBTQIA+ Islanders are unsafe in our community. Every person is valuable and worthy of respect and dignity. Way too often concerns of this community are diminished, dismissed, and denied. It’s time we show leadership in creating a province where every person is shown the love and care they deserve.”
Jo Morrison, Green Candidate for District 11 Charlottetown-Belvedere
“I am proud to have stood in the Legislative Assembly over the past four years to advocate on behalf of 2SLGBTQIA+ Islanders. We have been able to bring their concerns and needs to the Legislature, but it is clear that more needs to be done. It’s time for leadership to make sure every member of the community has access to the healthcare, dignity, security and the respect they deserve.”
Karla Bernard, Green Candidate for District 12 Charlottetown-Victoria Park
“The rise in hate and violence against the 2SLGBTQIA+ community calls on all of us, especially leaders, to stand strong and speak out against transphobia, homophobia, and discrimination of any kind. When the lives and safety of 2SLGBTQIA+ Islanders are at risk, it’s imperative that politicians communicate clearly what they are doing to make our Island safe and inclusive. The Green Party of PEI is committed to being better allies and working with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community to support them in every way we can.”
Peter Bevan-Baker, Leader of the Green Party of PEI
For media inquiries, please contact:
Jonathan Hamel
Director of Communications, Green Party of PEI
Tel: (902) 916-7816
Email: jonathan.hamel@greenparty.pe.ca
