LGBTQ

Books are displayed at the Banned Book Library at American Stage in St. Petersburg, Fla., Feb. 18, 2023. In Florida, some schools have covered or removed books under a new law that requires an evaluation of reading materials and for districts to publish a searchable list of books where individuals can then challenge specific titles. (Jefferee Woo/Tampa Bay Times via AP)

School library book bans are seen as targeting LGBTQ content

Teri Patrick bristles at the idea she wants to ban books about…

 

Attendees at the 2023 Fierté Canada Pride conference in Kelowna. (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)

Conference in Kelowna working to amplify queer voices in rural areas

Despite progress in big cities, queer people continue to feel unwelcome in small towns

 

Third Space Charity executive director Karen Mason (at right) interviewed counsellor and founder of This Space Belongs to You, Meaghan Duckett for the first episode of Mental Health Matters, a new TV segment produced with Shaw Spotlight in Kelowna.

Kelowna-produced TV show puts spotlight on mental health

Mental Health Matters is a collaboration with Third Space Charity

 

Billboard in Westbank First Nations. (Wilbur Turner/Submitted)

Controversial anti-‘woke’ education billboard in Westbank First Nations removed

The billboard stood for 10 days before being taken down

Billboard in Westbank First Nations. (Wilbur Turner/Submitted)
Jordan Peterson speaks to a crowd during a stop in Sherwood Park, Alberta, on Feb. 11, 2018. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson)

Controversial psychologist to make tour stop in Kelowna

Dr. Jordan B. Peterson coming to Prospera Place

Jordan Peterson speaks to a crowd during a stop in Sherwood Park, Alberta, on Feb. 11, 2018. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson)
Over the past year, pride events in Kelowna have been subject to increasingly large protests (File)

Kelowna church combats ‘attacks on 2SLGBTQIA+ rights’ with action and love

The Central Okanagan United Church stands with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community

Over the past year, pride events in Kelowna have been subject to increasingly large protests (File)
Reporter Jacqueline Gelineau interviewing Feedom Fighter and LGBTQIA+ ally Robin Boostrom. (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)

On anniversary of convoy, ‘Freedom Fighter’ supports Drag Story Time at Kelowna rally

Robin Boostrom said that freedom means both vaccine choice and gender autonomy

Reporter Jacqueline Gelineau interviewing Feedom Fighter and LGBTQIA+ ally Robin Boostrom. (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)
(Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)

Rainbow flags, motorcycle club and unicorns attend Kelowna Drag Story Time

Protestors of the Drag Story Time event were outnumbered by supporters

(Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)
Freida Whales will be reading stories to children at the library on Jan. 28. (Okanagan Regional Library/Submitted)

Drag defenders asked to bring signs, flags and love to downtown Kelowna rally

LGBTQIA2S+ advocacy groups organizing rally to show love for controversial Jan. 28 Drag Story Time

Freida Whales will be reading stories to children at the library on Jan. 28. (Okanagan Regional Library/Submitted)
Rainbow House or by the Kwak’wala word Gukwas sa Wagalus, and is the first of its kind in the country. Photo by Ali Roddam

Vancouver Island 2SLGBTQ+ youth housing project will be the first of its kind in Canada

Gukwas sa Wagalus or Rainbow House first of its kind in Canada

  • Jan 25, 2023
Rainbow House or by the Kwak’wala word Gukwas sa Wagalus, and is the first of its kind in the country. Photo by Ali Roddam
Pausing for a photo in the Salmon Arm office is Essie’s Place Executive Director Donovon Koch. Essie’s Place works to improve the quality of life for LGBTIQ2SA+ people in the Shuswap. (Martha Wickett - Salmon Arm Observer)

Quality of life: Survey shows psychological world for LGBTQ2S+ folks in Shuswap not good

Counselling now available through Essie’s Place pilot project, family members wanted for survey

Pausing for a photo in the Salmon Arm office is Essie’s Place Executive Director Donovon Koch. Essie’s Place works to improve the quality of life for LGBTIQ2SA+ people in the Shuswap. (Martha Wickett - Salmon Arm Observer)
Freida Whales will be reading stories at the Kelowna Public Library on Jan. 28, 2022. (Jillian Karpick/Photographer)

UPDATE: Drag queen speaks out after online petition condemns Kelowna Drag Story Time for families

Laura Baird started the petition which has more than 2000 signatures

  • Jan 16, 2023
Freida Whales will be reading stories at the Kelowna Public Library on Jan. 28, 2022. (Jillian Karpick/Photographer)
(Okanagan Regional Library/Submitted)

Drag Story Time returns to B.C. library more than 3 years after controversy

Frieda Whales returns to host

(Okanagan Regional Library/Submitted)
Renee Merrifield, MLA for the Kelowna-Mission riding and gender equity critic for the BC Liberal Party, is under fire for transphobic Twitter activity. (Black Press Media file photo)

BC Liberals’ gender equity critic called out for promoting transphobic content on Twitter

Renee Merrifield liked a post about transgender bathroom bans, retweeted a post from Jordan Peterson

Renee Merrifield, MLA for the Kelowna-Mission riding and gender equity critic for the BC Liberal Party, is under fire for transphobic Twitter activity. (Black Press Media file photo)
Taliban security personnel carry a damaged bus after a roadside bomb blast in Mazar-e Sharif, the capital city of Balkh province, in northern Afghanistan, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. A Taliban official says that a roadside bomb went off near a government bus in northern Afghanistan, killing several people. (AP Photo)

Refugee group says Ottawa will help bring 600 LGBTQ Afghans to Canada

Immigration department would not confirm the move, citing security risks

Taliban security personnel carry a damaged bus after a roadside bomb blast in Mazar-e Sharif, the capital city of Balkh province, in northern Afghanistan, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. A Taliban official says that a roadside bomb went off near a government bus in northern Afghanistan, killing several people. (AP Photo)
Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly speaks during a news conference to announce Canada’s Indo-Pacific strategy, in Vancouver, on Sunday, November 27, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Joly seeks reprimand of Russian ambassador as embassy tweets against LGBTQ community

Embassy posted images of a crossed-out rainbow flag and Orthodox icons of Adam and Eve

Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly speaks during a news conference to announce Canada’s Indo-Pacific strategy, in Vancouver, on Sunday, November 27, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Host Brooke Lynn Hytes is pictured with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who made an appearance on the Friday, Nov. 25 episode of “Canada’s Drag Race: Canada vs. the World.” THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Bell Media/Crave

Justin Trudeau talks allyship during appearance on ‘Canada’s Drag Race’ spinoff

He’s the first world leader to appear on the RuPaul-founded series

Host Brooke Lynn Hytes is pictured with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who made an appearance on the Friday, Nov. 25 episode of “Canada’s Drag Race: Canada vs. the World.” THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Bell Media/Crave
People take photos with the official FIFA World Cup Countdown Clock on Doha’s corniche, in Qatar, Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. Carrie Serwetnyk, the first woman inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame, is in Qatar for the 2022 World Cup and says the tournament is “still trying to find its joy.” THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Nariman El-Mofty

LGBTQ and other rights issues at World Cup a ‘huge blemish’ on FIFA: Hall of Famer

‘I also think the Middle East deserves a World Cup’: Serwetnyk

People take photos with the official FIFA World Cup Countdown Clock on Doha’s corniche, in Qatar, Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. Carrie Serwetnyk, the first woman inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame, is in Qatar for the 2022 World Cup and says the tournament is “still trying to find its joy.” THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Nariman El-Mofty
Protesters and counter-protestors shared their polarizing views on the contentious SOGI 123 curriculum at the B.C. Legislature in 2018. (Keri Coles/Black Press file)

What really is the SOGI 123 resource in British Columbia schools?

Q&A on the LGBTQ anti-bullying program with ARC Foundation’s national program manager

Protesters and counter-protestors shared their polarizing views on the contentious SOGI 123 curriculum at the B.C. Legislature in 2018. (Keri Coles/Black Press file)
Crime tape is set up near a gay nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colo. where a shooting occurred late Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Thomas Peipert)

Gunman kills 5 at U.S. gay nightclub, subdued by patrons: police

Shooting marks 6th mass killing this month in U.S.

Crime tape is set up near a gay nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colo. where a shooting occurred late Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Thomas Peipert)