On Sept. 1, the Progress Pride flag was raised above Squamish’s Municipal Hall in honour of Two Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, non-binary, queer and questioning (2SLGBTQ+) folks.
This flag, created by Daniel Quasar in 2018, builds on the traditional rainbow flag with a chevron or V-shape added.
“The arrow points to the right to show forward movement, while being along the hoist edge shows that progress still needs to be made,” explains Quasar on their webpage.
Two minutes on social media — where sadly ignorance, prejudice and hate pop up like moles in that Whac-A-Mole game — demonstrates in technicolour why such public flag raisings are vital.
It sets a tone for the whole community that says even the bureaucratic local government — let’s face it, municipalities aren’t usually known to be at the forefront of shifting cultures — is evolving and recognizing the importance and value of inclusion.
Anyone who has ever pretended to be someone they are not or stifled who they really are — at school, work, or home — knows how freaking exhausting that is and how much of your energy goes to maintaining the facade.
No one can contribute fully or reach their full potential that way. As a community, we all lose when potential is stifled.
A UBC report published in April shows that at least things are getting better for lesbian, gay and bisexual teenagers.
The study found the number of lesbian girls who reported physical bullying had dropped by more than half in the last decade, and physical assaults were lower for bisexual boys and girls.
And these teens were less likely to attempt suicide than a decade before.
These are pretty stark improvements — fewer beatings or attempts at “unaliving” themselves — but progress nonetheless.
The recent report by UBC’s Stigma and Resilience Among Vulnerable Youth Centre and the McCreary Centre Society, shows that sexual minority youth are still disproportionally unsafe at home compared to their straight peers. They are also more likely to endure violence or other abuse than straight friends.
And they are more likely not to get needed appropriate health care.
Given these disparities, it should be no surprise their mental health also suffers more than their straight peers.
Designer Quasar asks all of us to look at the Progress flag and sit with our feelings about it.
“I challenge you as the viewer to look at this design and acknowledge the thoughts and feelings it brings up within yourself. No matter what they are, take this opportunity to reflect,” they said.
Because the vaccine for many of the negative outcomes for queer youth is pretty simple — support.
“All young people benefit from caring families, safe and supportive schools, and caring adults in their community,” said Dr. Elizabeth Saewyc, the report's lead author and head of the Stigma and Resilience Among Vulnerable Youth Centre (SARAVYC).
“If we can keep focusing on inclusion and support across B.C., the lives and health of LGBTQ young people will continue to get better.”
