Rainbow Walks

Thursday, 15 May 2014 11:34

Oxford County Rainbow Coalition showing their support for International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.

OXFORD COUNTY -- The colours of the rainbow will be flooding the downtown's of Woodstock and Tillsonburg on Friday.

The Oxford County Rainbow Coalition are hosting two walks Friday afternoon to support and promote the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.

Oxford County Public Health Nurse and Coalition Chair, Gayle Milne says they are hosting two walks in support of the pro-inclusion movement. "It's going to start around 12:15 pm from the (Woodstock and Area) Community Health Centre and at the Clock Tower in Tillsonburg, then end the event with an opportunity for networking and conversation just to discuss the issue of homophobia in our community and inclusion and what we could be doing better in Oxford County to include everyone in the conversations that are happening."

International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia is actually May 17th but the coalition are hosting their event one day in advance. This is the second year for the walk in Woodstock and a first for the town of Tillsonburg

May 17th was the day the World Health Organization removed homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses, helping to put an end to homophobia through medical diagnosis and improving the status of gays and lesbians.

Milne points out that the pro-inclusion movement is something people around the world are promoting and supporting. "We certainly know that in the world there are many, many issues that people are facing around homophobia and in certain countries they are still facing huge human rights issues around the issues of homophobia as well and transphobia so that's one reason that this is such an important event."

According to the release by the Oxford County Rainbow Coalition, homophobia is defined as the negative attitudes that can lead to rejection and to direct or indirect discrimination towards gay men, lesbians, and bisexual, transsexual or transgender people or toward anyone whose physical appearance or behaviour does not fit masculine or feminine stereotypes.

Details for the Walks:

WHEN: Friday, May 16, 2014 at 12:15 p.m.
WHERE:Woodstock and Area Community Health Centre
35 Metcalfe St., Woodstock
OR
Tillsonburg Clock Tower
41 Bridge St. W., Tillsonburg