Humans of OUTniagara
My periphery vision saw a man approach. He assessed the little rainbow flag I was carrying, and the rainbow garland that wreathed my straw hat, in honour of the rainbow flag about to be raised at St. Catharines City Hall. The man carried a large hand-lettered sign on which I read the word “faggot.”
“Another fucking faggot!” he screamed as he stepped toward me. “I’m gonna take that fucking flag and shove it down your fucking throat!”
I was stunned into paralysis. As an ally, I had long understood from an intellectual standpoint the deep and lasting impact of bigotry and threats, but never from an emotional one. To this day, I don’t know who or what scared off the man, although I’m told the police spoke to him afterwards.
The confrontation took place years ago. I remember the fear like yesterday.
Imagine school kids facing this type of bullying every day, I thought. Imagine what senior members of the 2SLGBTQ+ faced. Imagine trans friends walking into bathrooms or change rooms.
The incident made me a better, more empathetic supporter and helped me to understand the real risk that the 2SLGBTQ+ community takes by being authentic.
– Joan Wiley
Humans of OUTniagara
