Victoria Pride Society (VPS) is aware of concerns raised within the community regarding past comments and social media posts attributed to Councillor-elect Wendy Bowkett.
At a time when transgender and gender-diverse people are facing increasing hostility, discrimination, and misinformation, it is more important than ever that those in positions of public leadership demonstrate a commitment to the dignity and safety of all community members.
We recognize the concern and uncertainty these reports have created for members of our 2SLGBTQIA+ community, particularly transgender and gender-diverse people. These concerns deserve to be heard and taken seriously.
Victoria Pride Society's role is not to engage in political partisanship, but to advocate for the rights, safety, and well-being of the communities we serve. We believe that all elected officials, regardless of political affiliation, have a responsibility to represent their communities with respect, compassion, and accountability.
While we continue to review the information that has been shared, our position remains clear: transgender and gender-diverse people deserve to live openly, authentically, and safely, without fear of discrimination or exclusion. Their identities, dignity, and human rights are not up for debate.
We encourage all members of Victoria's incoming City Council to demonstrate their commitment to equity and inclusion through both their words and their actions, and to listen to the voices and lived experiences of the diverse communities they represent.
Victoria Pride Society remains committed to standing alongside our transgender and gender-diverse community members, advocating for their rights, and working toward a city where everyone can feel safe and valued.
Pride is rooted in solidarity, and that solidarity extends far beyond our annual celebrations.
The Victoria Pride Society Team
The Victoria Pride Society acknowledges that it organizes and works on the traditional territories of the Lekwungen Peoples and that the land’s relationships with the Songhees, Esquimalt, and W̱SÁNEĆ Peoples have existed since time immemorial. Further to this acknowledgement, the Victoria Pride Society affirms that colonialism and the attitudes and practices that have accompanied it contribute to systemic discrimination and violence against Indigenous Peoples and all marginalized and equity-deserving people. Read more.
