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(Adrian St.Onge/CHAT News)

Dozens show out to Veteran’s Park for International Transgender Day of Visibility

Apr 1, 2024 | 9:48 AM

International Transgender Day of Visibility saw over 40 people from Medicine Hat’s 2SLGBTQ+ community show their support at Veteran’s Park on Sunday.

The day of visibility aims to bring to light the accomplishments that the transgender community have accomplished as well as the discrimination still affecting the community.

With potential government programs coming this fall, organizer Kim Large said that breaking stereotypes and raising awareness is important more now than ever.

Large said that children are crucial to breaking generational trauma and having the 2SLGBTQ+ community become more accepted.

“It is absolutely important that we teach kids and kids carry that forward because we need a way out of this,” Large said.

“Kids are learning, they’re more accepting and these things are becoming more normal and more seen,” she added.

“They know it’s okay and accepted and valid to be that way and to support this community.”

Large said that she’s received messages online asking about the community and how to get involved.

She recommended reaching out to the local pride community on social media.

Large’s husband Ashley Large in February spoke out against Premier Danielle Smith’s proposed youth gender policies during a town hall in Medicine Hat.

“I’ve been to two funerals of children who have taken their lives because of this issue. Two of them,” Large said as he walked out of the town hall in what became a viral moment.

“Go to one of those funerals, watch those parents bury their kids. This is pathetic.”