鈥淚鈥檓 just so proud of Jasper.鈥�
Those were the words uttered by Ottawa resident Marty Callsen as he watched his hometown mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia with a flag raising ceremony, May 17.
The day has taken on special meaning for Callsen in recent years after his 15-year-old daughter came out as trans female.
鈥淓specially in smaller places, my own experience has been about the importance of raising awareness,鈥� he said after the ceremony. 鈥淎s soon as you meet an actual trans person, it changes your perspective.鈥�
He said teenagers who have transitioned from the gender they were assigned at birth are often working through all of the same emotions and confusion all adolescents do. They need the love and support of their family and community.
鈥淵ou have to show by your actions and lead by example,鈥� Callsen said. 鈥淚 love this place and I always come back but I鈥檓 even more proud of it now. She鈥檚 going to be proud to come and visit here. I feel hopeful.鈥�
Mayor Richard Ireland and Out Jasper executive director Mychol Ormandy were given the honours to raise the flags.
鈥淥ur residents value diversity and they aspire to a community and a world free of discrimination,鈥� he said. 鈥淛asper is an international community. The message you鈥檙e sending today is not just local, it鈥檚 a message to the world that Jasper lives by its values.鈥�
Jasper Park Chamber of Commerce manager Pattie Pavlov said it鈥檚 natural to feel at home, safe and at peace in this community.
鈥淪trides still need to be made to the degree that words like homophobia and transphobia don鈥檛 exist anymore,鈥� she said, then paraphrasing a social media post: 鈥淥ne day we won鈥檛 have to say we have a boyfriend or girlfriend. We鈥檒l just say we鈥檙e in love, and that will be enough.鈥�
A group of Grade 9 Jasper Junior/Senior High School students formed the bulk of the crowd at the chilly noon hour ceremony. Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) members Hailey Duguay and Arianne St-Jacques were among them.
鈥淚t鈥檚 heartwarming and exciting that there is openness in our community,鈥� Hailey said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 wonderful and I鈥檓 happy.鈥�
鈥淛asper is a very welcoming community and there鈥檚 lots of diversity,鈥� Arianne added. 鈥淚 really like that because I feel safe. Everyone is very accepting - most people are, at least.鈥�
