As you may be aware, a young woman was attacked on the O-Train in early September. Like all violent expressions of hate, this assault occurred because of ignorance, intolerance, and prejudice—in this case, transphobia.
We at Bruce House are united in condemning all prejudice and bigotry, be it HIV stigma, transphobia, homophobia, sexism, racism, ableism, or any other “ism”. Acts of hate have no place in a compassionate society.
Please take every opportunity to address prejudice and ignorance. Please stand up to hurtful jokes and comments. Have conversations with friends and family. As simple an act as sitting down beside someone and greeting them with a smile can send a strong message of inclusion.
If you see someone assaulted, please call 911. When using public transit look for the emergency call button found at transit stations – a big yellow box—or the emergency button found on the back of buses or in the trains.
Members of the community have assembled a care package for this young woman. We hope that receiving this package will help reassure her that there is also kindness, love, and acceptance in this world.