Author's note: On Sunday, July 3, 2016, the protest group, Black Lives Matter, held Toronto's Pride parade hostage, for 30 minutes, as they protested, against the inequality and exclusiveness of the Pride Parade, towards visible minorities, like Aboriginal and Asian Canadians. I wonder, what are they proposing to deal, with the rampant homophobia and transphobia, within the various Afro-Canadian communities? Having myself, experienced, first hand, these forms of hate-based ignorance, during various times of my life.
My first new poem that I have written, in almost 11 days, for me.
Author's note: For the first time, Canada has declared, the month of June, as "Pride Month", in support of the LGBT+ community, as the rainbow flag flies, on Parliament Hill, besides the Canadian flag. In Toronto, Pride celebrations have been extended from the usual 10 days, to the entire month of June, as well. A move, to cash in, on the tourists that Pride events draws, here. Ok, call me, a cynic, on this one.
The following link, is from Yahoo! Canada, and the series of daily articles, on Canada's LGBT+ community and the issues that we're facing. Here, are the past two day articles:
Author's note: Although, I was born, into a white, middle class Canadian family, I have known, what it means, to live your life, in abject poverty. Having spent time, in the Toronto women homeless shelter system. Not a place, I want to go back to, again.
Like the Afro communities, of Canada and the United States, the Trans community knows, all too well, what the phrase, "strange fruit", which Billie Holiday sang about. Having your application rejected for housing, because, the landlord wasn't comfortable, with having "one of those tenants". As if, all trans-people work the street or use drugs. Never mind, the hidden crisis of mental heath problems that remain largely unaddressed, by society, at large. One need to hold onto a dream of hope, if they want to grow and heal, as a community, as a whole.
