Ashley Smith: From sharing history to being part of it, 2023 didn't hold back
What a year! To think back on how 2023 started and how we’re bringing it to an end, as the first Director of Advocacy of Canada’s longest serving 2SLGBTQ+ resource centre, I have to say this year has been life-changing. From sharing history to being part of it, 2023 didn’t hold back!
For me, 2023 began in partnership with the Manitoba Museum, with the development of “If These Walls Could Talk: 50 years of 2SLGBTQ+ activism,” an exhibit that celebrates the story of Winnipeg’s 2SLGBTQ+ community. I was honoured to meet and hear the stories of the people, places, and events that won us the rights we have today. It was a process that helped create an exhibit that both the museum and Rainbow could be proud of, but also shone a spotlight on the characters who are still very much part of our community today.
However, in the weeks leading to the opening, the writing was on the wall – the fight for 2SLGBTQ+ liberation was far from over, and another wave of oppression was on the way. In the early spring, as soon as I stepped into the role, events across Canada and right here in Manitoba made it clear that anti-trans rhetoric was on the rise. In March, a transphobic presentation from Dr. Joanne Boucher, was quickly followed by the NHL and the cancellation of Pride Nights, then came the attempts to ban books, with Parental Rights rearing its ugly head soon after. In three quick months, things escalated quickly.
In May, in partnership with the Manitoba Museum, Rainbow launched "If These Walls Could Talk: 50 years of 2SLGBTQ+ activism in Winnipeg." The exhibit told the story of the people, places, and events that shaped 2SLGBTQ+ rights in Winnipeg. Pictured: Sally Papso (left), Ashley Smith (right).
Throughout Pride, and then the summer, it was pretty clear that election season was going to be a rough ride. That said, it really took us by surprise to see one party running on parental rights, among other divisive policies. It was so disappointing to see the people who had stood with us were turning their back in support of conspiracy theories and misinformation campaigns. As the election neared, none of us were prepared for the September 20th attack on our community, a dark day when far-right extremists overwhelmed counter-protesters on the grounds the Manitoba Legislature.
But out of that darkness emerged such a powerful, bright, optimistic sense of community. In the days and weeks that followed there was a surge of 2SLGBTQ+ support, a wave of resilience washed over the people of this community, and together we rose up as have often done before against the political and social movements that wished us harm.
From here, 2024 feel like a year when 2SLGBTQ+ people will start to make serious advances on the critical issues that impact this community, but there is no denying that the federal election of 2025 will be very difficult. It’s so important that, in the coming year, we bolster the laws, policies, and systems we rely on to keep us safe, for they will be tested again and at a much larger scale than this year. But Rainbow will be here, fighting for our rights, our spaces, and our people.
PS – Still haven’t seen “If These Walls Could Talk”? Well, the Manitoba Museum has announced the exhibit will stay open through to the end of June 2024! Check it out this holiday season!
In October, community came together once again to speak out against organizations that do harm to 2SLGBTQ+ communities.
