Niagara MPPs denounce homophobic graffiti at Port Colborne high school
Published June 7, 2023 at 12:12 pm
Just a few months of celebrating its 100 anniversary reunion in September, Port Colborne High School found itself as the chalkboard for homophobic graffiti on its exterior walls over the weekend.
Niagara MPPs were quick to speak out against the intolerance towards the gay and trans community.
Niagara Falls MPP said that he had learned “a high school in Port Colborne was vandalized with hateful, homophobic language. Hate has no place in our community in Niagara or anywhere, and we should have zero tolerance for hateful vandalism. I stand completely with 2SLGBTQIA+ students.”
Niagara Centre MPP Jeff Burch, who represents the schoolin his riding, called it a “disgusting display of hatred. Homophobia has no place in our society. Students should feel safe to be who they are especially at school.”
He added that resources for the 2SLGBTQI+ were available at Pride Niagara, PFlag (Parents and Friends of lesbians and gays) Niagara and Egale Canada, an advocacy organization to advance equality for Canadian lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their families.
While St. Catharines MPP Jennie Steven didn’t comment specifically on the high school graffiti, she made her feelings very clear after a Pride flag was destroyed at a Lincoln church last week.
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Stevens said, “2SLGBTQQIA+ people deserve visibility & protection not only now, but all year. I will NOT tiptoe around denouncing the destruction of a Pride Flag in Beamsville this week as no one should ever be made to feel unsafe or less than for being themselves. It’s the bare minimum.”