Former city councillor Ellen Woodsworth is one of the LGBT trailblazers in our city who participated in both the women’s movement as well as Vancouver’s LGBT communities.
As part of a panel discussion on the history of queer activism at an SFU Geography class in June, Woodworth talked about a number of topics, including how, as a city councillor, she had worked with councillor Tim Stevenson, who was also openly gay, to create the city’s first LGBTQ2s, women’s, and multicultural advisory committees, as well as to hold the first Stonewall celebration in the city’s council chambers.
While Woodsworth said that she’s been glad to see that it’s easier to be out as queer in some places in the city, she said it’s been a “big shocker” to her to see things getting worse.
“I’ve never encountered such homophobia and racism, because I’m in an interracial couple, as I have walking around the Fraser River for 20 years—I don’t think it’s been as bad,” she said.
Consequently, she cited the need to expand Pride celebrations beyond specific areas, such as the West End or Commercial Drive.
Read More Here: http://www.straight.com/life/734501/lgbt-activist-ellen-woodsworth-emphasizes-need-queer-safe-spaces-throughout-metro#DVP
