Petition to create Whyte Ave 'Pride Corner' circulating in Edmonton
A petition has been started to reclaim a corner of Whyte Avenue and make it a safe space for LGBTQ2S+ youth.
Protests have been held recently at the corner of 104 Street and Whyte Avenue in opposition of street preaches that organizers say spread messages of hate.
Now a petition is calling on Old Strathcona and the City of Edmonton to permanently mark the spot as "Pride Corner" to ensure LGBTQ+ youth, especially those experiencing homelessness, feel safe and welcome.
"We're talking about the possibility of a sign with a pride symbol on it," said Claire Pearen. "[Something] that just really identifies this corner as pride corner and a safe space every weekend that everyone can come and not be berated."
Approximately 45 per cent of homeless youth in Edmonton are members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Advocates say the preachers have a right to free speech, but messages of hatred and homophobia have real consequences.
"Not only are they being kicked out of their homes having heard these words, but then they're coming to the streets where they now have to live and hearing these words again. The effects of it are that suicides have gone up," said LGBTQ2S+ advocate Douglas Parsons.
Parsons says there have been eight suicides among homeless LGBTQ2S+ youth in the last 10 months in the Whyte Avenue area.
"We know how to protest through music, through song, through dance, through organization but we can't make effective, long-term change unless we get the powers that be to help," said Parsons.
He says they need community support to help protect youth and create long-term change.
"We're simply making sure that those unhoused youths see us and know that perhaps the blood family did not work in their favour, but there's a chosen family that's here as well," said Parsons.
"You have a choice, and we just want to make sure you are around life-wise to be able to find your chosen family."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
BREAKING Manitoba government tables bill to end ban on homegrown recreational cannabis
Manitoba is planning to lift its ban on the home growing of recreational cannabis.
All Alberta wildfires to date in 2024 believed to be human-caused: province
There are 63 wildfires burning in Alberta's forest protection area as of Wednesday morning and seven mutual aid fires, including one in the Municipal District of Peace.