East Coast Transwomen Awareness and Visibility Tour:
Although many Government entities have started to add human rights for trans people, and while some Governments have pledged to improve health care policies and ID changing policies, it appears many transwomen in Nova Scotia, are being given the run-around when they seek action.
Trans activist Jennifer McCreath from St. John's, Newfoundland will be travelling to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick for a two day trans awareness and visibility tour. Jennifer will be accompanied by Rad Pride Halifax representative, and transwoman activist, Trina Conrad.
While originally from Nova Scotia, Jennifer has lived in St. John's, Newfoundland since 2007, and has undergone her transition while living in Newfoundland. She is in the early stages of launching the Jennifer McCreath Foundation, a soon-to-be non profit organization that will carry out educational, activist, and peer support work for members of the trans communities all over Canada, with a core focus on Newfoundland and Labrador.
In recent months, McCreath has made several appearances in New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, to undertake trans education and awareness work, during the recent summer Pride season. Jennifer has actually focused little attention on Nova Scotia, given that she thought Nova Scotia was miles ahead of the other three eastern provinces. However, McCreath takes note of several recent news stories involving Nova Scotia transwomen facing discrimination or red tape. With this in mind, Jennifer has decided to focus this tour mostly on Nova Scotia towns. "It seems almost daily, there is a new story going viral on news sites. In a matter of weeks, Jessica Dempsey, Jainey Lee Bresson, and Jessica Durling all had to take their cases to the local media, and this resulted in their stories going national. I am ashamed to see Nova Scotia appear as leaders on paper, but in practice, it appears they are treating transwomen poorly. The time is now for me to come home and lend a hand and a voice as transwomen of Nova Scotia seek acceptance and equality," said McCreath.
Trina Conrad has been transitioning while living in Dartmouth, Moncton and Halifax, in recent years. She knows first hand what it is like to face Government red tape. "Everything from access to medical resources, access to name change, and access to appropriate ID documents, has been an ongoing struggle," said Conrad.
Trina looks forward to rejoining McCreath for this tour, after a very successful tour together this past summer in Summerside and Charlottetown PEI. "Jenn and I seem to be on the same page for the most part, in terms of understanding what it is going to take, to promote positive change for east coast trans people," said Conrad.
Trina has also recently become a leader in the grass-roots movement known as Rad Pride, in Halifax, a group of LGBTQ community members who feel that Pride movements have become too corporate and tend to not pay enough attention to the struggles still faced by many members under this umbrella community.
McCreath co-founded St. John's Pride Inc in 2010, but left the organization in 2012, due to reasons similar to those concerns of Rad Pride Halifax. "While there is definitely a roll for our cis allies, trans activism needs to be lead by trans people,"said McCreath.
Jennifer and Trina will be holding ceremonial trans flag waving events at the following times and places:
Sackville, NB - Town Hall - 31 Main Street, 3.30 pm, Monday November 3, 2014
Springhill, NS - Anne Murray Centre - 36 Main Street, 10.00 am, Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Pictou, NS - Town Hall - 40 Water Street, 12 noon, Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Truro, NS - Town Hall - 695 Prince Street, 2.30 pm, Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Halifax, NS - Province House - 1726 Hollis Street, 4.30 pm, Tuesday, November 4, 2014
note: lunch/supper social events will also take place concluding the events in Sackville, Pictou, and Halifax.
More information:
Jennifer McCreath Foundation
http://jennifermccreath.blogspot.ca/2014/07/jennifer-mccreath-foundation-inc.html
Jennifer McCreath Bio
http://jennifermccreath.blogspot.ca/2014/06/jennifer-mccreath-bio-november-2013.html
questions or interviews:
Jennifer McCreath
info@jennifermccreath.com
709-753-9529
Follow @Jenn_McCreath
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