2020-07-18 Elderberries March

Under the Halifax Pride arch at the Garrison Grounds. Photo by John R. Sylliboy

2020 Elderberries Secret Flash March

Due to COVID precautions, there was no parade as such in Halifax in 2020, but the Elderberries, Atlantic Canada's LGBT Elders Association called for a MARCH!!

The march had demands: "As members of the Elderberries we call on all levels of government to take action on the following four key policy areas that impact our health and wellbeing"

1. We demand that the government of Nova Scotia take immediate action, in partnership with the National Housing Strategy and CMHC, to build additional affordable housing units for LGBT folk. Housing is recognized around the world as a key determinant of health and yet we see very little progress on the issue of safe, affordable and affirming housing for our LGBTQI2S populations in Nova Scotia.
2. In the face of COVID-19, we demand that the government of Nova Scotia in partnership with the longterm care sector take immediate action on a province-wide policy to ensure all healthcare workers have completed formal training in LGBTQI2S cultural competency and are certified when working in longterm care settings.
3. We demand that the government of Nova Scotia improve access to primary healthcare for transgender Nova Scotians. Current wait times for gender affirming treatments such as hormones or surgeries are unacceptably long and are causing undue physical and emotional harm to transgender populations.
4. We demand the government of Nova Scotia to make access to new HIV testing technologies available now. All other regions of Canada have access to point-of-care-testing for HIV and yet none of the Atlantic provinces, including Nova Scotia, have access. From a health equity perspective, it is unacceptable that in 2020 the province of Nova Scotia does not offer a provincially funded HIV POCT program.

Particulars

• July 18, 2020 Noon, downtown Halifax, rain or shine.
• We gathered at 12:00 noon on the lawn in front of the old library building, at Spring Garden and Brunswick.
• TumaYoung gave a speech before the march; the video is here.
• Inspired by early LGBTQ marches!
  • A paper bag over your head, in the manner of some 1980s marchers, will not be required.
  • And/or: make your own posters, signs, and banners
  • Here's an image from the 1988 March
  • Here's video of the 1989 March
• Our honorary marshall is Mike Sangster
• Among the Elderberries board, LynnMurphy and BarendKamperman were the main organizers. Lynn was official spokesperson, although we got no media inquiries.
• Some people counted about 30 people: a couple dozen Elderberries, and a few supporters.

Here is the Facebook photo album of the event, with photos by StooMetz, PatrickMaubert, and others.