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Flags were raised in Jasper on Sunday to mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.
Mychol Ormandy, director of OUT Jasper, hosted the event. He thanked everybody for coming and said: 鈥淚n these trying times I can literally say we are lucky to live in a town in which its diversity and its inclusiveness and its acceptance of who you are no matter your sexuality is extremely special.鈥�
The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia was created in 2004 to draw the attention to the violence and discrimination experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexuals, transgender, intersex people and all other people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and sex characteristics.
The date of May 17 was chosen to commemorate the World Health Organization鈥檚 decision in 1990 to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder. The day represents a major global annual landmark to draw attention to hardships faced by people with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities.
Ormandy said: 鈥淲ith this pandemic, homosexuals and transgender people are trapped indoors with people who don鈥檛 accept them for who they are, or they are along with no one to support them.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 why raising these flags today is more important than ever. They show them that they are not alone and that we support you no matter what and together we will get through this.鈥�
Ormandy and his son Nicholas Penney raised the rainbow and transgender flags together on Sunday. It was Out Jasper鈥檚 seventh annual flag raising for the special day.
