Diversity Unity #PrideMonth (A Special Edition)

Written by Andi Bazaar, Tydalé-Oliver Schofield and Yevhn Gertz | June 16, 2023

Pride represents diversity, an inclusive community a community that provides a space where people are safe to be who they are and love who they want.

We strive for equal rights and treatment under the law, we work towards an inclusive society free of discrimination and we just want to live like other Americans. Sounds reasonable and what does that look like?

HISTORY OF OUR WARRIORS

It is #PrideMonth and this is the story of Delwin Vriend, whose firing sparked a debate over sexual orientation discrimination.

Delwin Vriend was born in Iowa in 1966 and moved to an organic vegetable farm near Edmonton with his family when he was two.

As an adult, he earned a mathematics and physics degree and then started working as a laboratory coordinator and chemistry lab instructor at King's College (University) in Edmonton. In 1991, he was fired by King's College due to his sexual orientation.

Vriend filed a discrimination complaint with the "Alberta Human Rights Commission" but this was refused as sexual orientation was not protected under the human rights code. He then sued the Alberta Government and Human Rights Commission.

In 1994, an Alberta court ruled that sexual orientation was a protected class under human rights legislation. The Alberta government appealed this and in 1996, the court’s decision was overruled by the Alberta Court of Appeal. The case went to the Supreme Court of Canada.

The case, Vriend v. Alberta was ruled on in 1998 with the Supreme Court stating provincial governments could not exclude protection of individuals from Human Rights legislation based on sexual orientation. Religious groups lobbed the government to overturn the decision.

The Supreme Court case had large ramifications in Canadian law and was used as a legal precedent concerning civil rights and constitutional laws. Due to publicity of the case, Vriend eventually left Canada in 2000. In 2011, he was inducted into the Q Hall of Fame Canada.

ON JUNE 7TH, MARKS THE DEATH OF ALAN TURING 69 YEARS AGO

We have put together this thread where you can learn more about Turing’s extraordinary life and why it’s still so important we continue to remember and celebrate him #PrideMonth

WHO WAS ALAN TURING?

HE WAS HAILED AS THE "FATHER OF COMPUTER SCIENCE"

HE CRACKED THE ENIGMA CODE THAT HELPED BRITAIN WIN WORLD WAR II

HE WAS CHEMICALLY STERILISED FOR BEING GAY

HE RECEIVED A ROYAL PARDON FOR THE ILL-TREATMENT HE RECEIVED IN 2013

HE LARGELY CONTRIBUTED TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

IT TOOK A WHILE FOR ALAN TURING’S ENTIRE BRILLIANCE TO BE APPRECIATED

Human rights are for everyone, everywhere no matter who you are or whom you love we can all stand up for Human Rights and call out discrimination wherever we see it.

This #PrideMonth — stand up for the fair treatment of LGBTQIA+ people everywhere.

• why don’t you, a cisgender heterosexual person get a flag?
• why don’t you get a pride month?

LET'S IMAGINE YOU ARE ASKING THIS TRULY IN GOOD FAITH AND BREAK IT DOWN

The concept of "Pride" amongst LGBTQIA+ people originated around 1970, the word "Pride" was chosen as it is is the opposite of "Shame"

Shame being the emotion generally felt by and attributed to queer people, both internally and societally.

The rainbow flag in all variations represents a rallying cry against shame, discrimination and invisibility. It was also a way for people to recognise each other, come together, establish a community and a network. It was originally designed by Gilbert Baker in 1978.

SO WHY DON'T YOU GET ONE?

Well, as a straight person have you ever been made to feel ashamed for being straight? I'm not asking have you ever felt shame, we all have but have you ever been shamed for your inclination to be attracted to the opposite sex?

Have you ever been shamed for being the same gender as that assigned at birth? Again, I'm not asking about "shame" in general, but for the fact that you are the same gender as is on your birth certificate?

OK , NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT SAFETY!

Have you ever felt unsafe because of the gender of the person you are attracted to, or for being the same gender as that assigned at your birth?

Not fear in general and not for other things, but for those specific reasons?

You can be proud of so many things as a cis-het person: Your life, your accomplishments, the hardships you've survived but if you've never been challenged by your sexuality or for being cisgender then what would "straight pride" even mean?

Should we have a "wealthy pride" parade or an "able body pride parade" or a '"non physical deformity" pride parade?

What would flags or history months mean for these things, that are not deemed shameful and seen as "good" or "normal" or "correct"?

Also, without a flag or a parade have you ever struggled to find other cisgender heterosexual people?

Have you ever thought "I’m the only cisgender heterosexual person that I know and I’m completely alone?"

I can guarantee most queer young people have felt the equivalent. Finally, have you struggled to find stories of people that had the same sexuality and gender expression as you?

Has it even occured that this could be a thing? If you go to a library, would it be a challenge to find something written by a straight cisgender person?

Let me be clear, you're not bad for not experiencing these things differently. Indeed, in many many ways I am probably more privileged than you. You have experiences I could never fully imagine or understand just not in this one particular arena.

You don't get a flag or a parade, not because you're not deserving or you've done something wrong but because in this particular arena, you are considered the baseline, the archetype, normal, good, fine.

A straight flag, a cisgender parade would not be about pride. (how can you be proud of being universally "acceptable").

Instead it would be perceived as crowing over your own privilege within this one arena: celebrating your comfort, your security, your normality.

IT WOULD BE PERCEIVED AS CRUEL

• Pride is a ubiquitous human emotion, LGBTQIA+ people don’t own it.
• Privilege is a ubiquitous human trait, LGBTQIA+ people aren’t free of it.

But in this one way society divides people up, you are on the side that is deemed "better" so be kind. Finally there are very fair critiques of Pride:

• of how companies use it
• of how it can become a cynical marketing tactic
• of what exactly it should be in 2023

LGBTQIA+ people debate this furiously every year!

So, no flag for you. No parade for you (at least not for being straight or for being heterosexual)

Be thankful that you will probably never require one, in the meantime be supportive if you can and join in if you like or just close your eyes for a month.

"We strive for equal rights and treatment under the law, we work towards an inclusive society free of discrimination and just want to live like other Americans. Sounds reasonable and what does that look like?"

Being LGBTQIA+ doesn't automatically mean you will have issues with your mental health but you could be more likely to develop them. During this #PrideMonth find out more about mental health in the LGBTQIA+ Community

THE REASONS FOR THIS ARE COMPLICATED

Being LGBTQIA+ does not automatically mean you will have mental health issues but you may be more likely than the rest of the population to develop mental health issues.

• For example studies have found that LGBTQIA+ people are at more risk of suicidal behaviour and self-harm than non-LGBTQIA+ people.
• For example, studies have found that LGBTQIA+ people are 1½ times more likely to develop depression and anxiety compared to the rest of the population.
• For example, studies have found that 67% of trans people had experienced depression in the previous year.

The reasons why there are higher rates of mental health issues among LGBTQIA+ people are complex.

THE IMPACT OF SOCIETAL FACTORS AND PERSONAL EXPERIENCES CAN PLAY A HUGE PART.

There are lots of things that LGBTQIA+ people will have to deal with as a minority community which could play a part, we know that the mental health system can be doing so much more to better support LGBTQIA+ people with mental health.

Find out more about LGBTQIA+ mental health here:

rethink.org/lgbtq

A SPECIAL THANKS TO:

• Andi Bazaar (Writer)
• Yevhn Gertz (Director Photography)
• Dr Oliver Schofield, MD (Consulting)
• Dr Seth Gryffen, MD (Consulting)
• Timothée Freimann schofield (Photographed)
• Clayton Euridicé Schofield (Editor/Journalist)
• Scott Wynné Schofield (Publisher)
• Henrie Louis Friedrich (Analyst)
• Jwan Höffler Conwall (Art Interior Design)
• Hugo-licharré Freimann (Ass Director)
• Shot at GQ’s Studios by José Schenkkan and Benjamin Schenkkan Joseph
• In appearance by "Tydalé-Oliver Schofield" (Model) / Oliver Schofield
• MHMTID in collaboration with The Me: You Can’t See