Press Release: June 9 2024 re: Protest Party
200 People Gathered in Protest to Celebrate Queer Joy and Oppose Anti-Trans Event at Cowichan Community Center
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 9 2024
Unceded Quw'utsun Territory (Cowichan) — On June 8, 2024, approximately 200 community members gathered outside of the Cowichan Community Center to protest the anti-trans panel hosted by a group called “Vancouver Island Speaks!”. The purpose of the protest, organized by 2SLGBTQIA+ community members, families and allies, was to uplift Queer joy and community care while publicly rejecting the harmful nature of the panel that claimed to be about “safeguarding women’s rights.”
Concerns were based on the recent “Vancouver Island Speaks!” event hosted in Victoria on May 31 2024, where Meghan Murphy said, “Why don’t we get to say what a woman is? …because the perverts want that word now.” This derogatory statement is considered hate speech under the “publications” section of the B.C Human Rights Code. At this same event Murphy also falsely described the origins of transgender identities as beginning with “autogynephilic men and their sexologists”, which is an easily disproved claim. (video clip available on Murphy’s X/Twitter account dated 2024/06/02 @MeghanEMurphy). These are just a few examples of harmful rhetoric used in these panel discussions.
“Panels like this harm the very people they claim they're trying to protect and make collateral damage of other marginalized communities. Intersectional feminists understand the nuanced interplay of all women’s challenges, especially those who do not have born privilege.” - P.E. (identity withheld to keep community members safe).
Protestors collected several boxes of mutual aid donations of menstrual products, toiletries, new clothes, stuffed animals, and other essential items to be donated to the mutual aid donation box at Kin Park and various women’s shelters across the Valley.
“Mutual aid is important to me as a marginalized individual,” said P.E., a protestor who helped organize the event. “Marginalized communities benefit from mutual aid by supporting each other — any community can only grow stronger when we help fill in the gaps and provide a larger support system.”
The protest’s atmosphere was steadfast, energetic, fun and uplifting—no violence occurred despite a few counter-protestors who arrived to heckle, instigate and shame 2SLGBTQIA+ community members by shouting harmful tropes and proselytizing. A woman who opposed the peaceful protest broke a protestor’s umbrella and attempted to steal several items from organizers before driving away.
Several individuals attended the protest for approximately 1 hour to film protestors, who did not consent to being filmed or interviewed. Despite clearly indicating that they did not want to be filmed, the individuals continued to ask for interviews and film peoples’ faces. We recognize that it is legal to film in a public space, but it is not ethical to harass people, especially youth, in public who do not want to participate in interviews.
“As a parent of transgender youth it feels vitally important to me that we support having safe and inclusive environments within our communities. Hosting an event at a community center that claims to be a safe environment goes against that,” said K.R.
The “Vancouver Island Speaks!” event, titled “Pushing pride: when activism conflicts with women’s rights, gay rights, and the safeguarding of kids,” was branded as a “feminist” panel to “defend” women’s rights. However, this is a false dichotomy: making the world safer for trans people does not make it less safe for cis women. We proudly stand up for women’s rights (including trans women). Conversations about sexual abusers, sexism and all forms of oppression are crucial to have, but they must not be falsely equated with transgender and queer identities.
More quotes from protestors:
“It was so beautiful seeing people there of so many ages, backgrounds, and identities - all coming together to support intersectional feminism and our trans and queer community in the protest of hate speech in our “safe” community spaces. Trans folks deserve to be treated with dignity, love, and respect. We won't tolerate anything less.” - R.R., a disabled trans youth.
"It is important for Pride to be both a celebration and a protest, intentionally creating a joyful resistance that connects and uplifts our intersectional community." - K.G., a trans youth.
“I think it is vital to uplift and proudly represent voices that inspire hope and kindness rather than ones that promote fear and hatred, and I am so lucky to have been a part of an event that did exactly that. I know we made it abundantly clear that this is a very accepting and connected community and we do not tolerate anyone or anything that tries to break it apart. We are not going anywhere.” - T.L., a trans youth.
About Revolve Cowichan
Revolve Cowichan is a grassroots collective that is non-hierarchical, does not receive funding, and seeks to build community resilience against extractive and oppressive late-stage capitalism, fascism, and xenophobia through community events, mutual aid, and community organizing.
- END -