In wake of homophobic tirade LGBTQ+ advocate says bigotry and harassment on rise
An 2SLGBTQ+ advocate believes hateful online rhetoric is fuelling a rise in real world harassment against members of the queer community – and says a recent homophobic tirade caught on video in downtown Vancouver is only the latest example.
"That started in America through far-right groups and it's also growing here as they translate online rhetoric into in-person harassment,” Fae Johnstone said. “And that is what we should all be on guard against."
Johnstone is executive director of Wisdom2Action, which describes itself as a 2SLGBTQ+ consulting firm with a focus on anti-oppression and social justice.
In the video, shot Saturday night and posted to TikTok and Twitter, a man can be seen using homophobic slurs and xenophobic language towards a couple who claim he followed them off the SkyTrain.
Jamie Pine and Reg Acervo said the confrontation took place late on Saturday night as they rode the train downtown for a night out.
"He was rocking back and forth with his beer can. He was looking at my boyfriend,” said Pine, who posted the videos. “He just kept looking and I was looking at the reflection (in the train window).”
Uncomfortable and frightened, Pine began recording on his cellphone and says the man followed the couple when they exited the train at Burrard Station.
"He chased us down the platform, up the escalator, up to the bus,” Pine said in the TikTok video.
Once outside, the man unleashed a torrent of inflammatory comments at the couple.
“If your boyfriends, get a f***ing hotel room. We don’t need to see that f***ing sh*t in public!” the man yells. “Don’t like it? Get the f**k out of Canada.”
According to Pine, Acervo may have placed a hand on his knee during part of the train ride.
“There’s kids on the SkyTrain,” the man says at one point.
Pine and Acervo said nothing about their interactions with each other before and during the encounter would be considered inappropriate in any context.
Premier David Eby took to Twitter to condemn the aggressive man’s actions.
“Jamie, I’m sorry this happened to you and your boyfriend. This is disgusting behaviour. If two people in love makes someone this angry - they’re the problem, not you. We must always stand up against racism, homophobia and all other forms of hate,” the premier wrote.
CTV News asked Eby about the tweet during a media availability from Ottawa, where he and Canada’s other premiers are taking part in health care talks with the federal government.
"I just felt it was important to send that message to that young couple and say you are not alone in this,” Eby said. “The vast majority of British Columbians support you."
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim also used Twitter to talk about the video.
There is no place for this kind of behaviour in our city.
“Hateful and bigoted comments are never acceptable in Vancouver, or anywhere else. This is an important reminder of work that we must do to combat racism and homophobia in our city,” the mayor tweeted.
“Events like this aren’t all that uncommon,” said Johnstone. “It’s just a rarity we get them on video.”
She said members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community are being targeted by online extremists and the mainstreaming of their ideas leads to confrontations like the one Pine and Acervo experienced.
“The real worry here is that this isn’t isolated. Across Canada we are seeing an unprecedented surge in anti-2SLGBTQ+ hate,” said Johnstone. “This is connected to far right groups that are mobilising all across the country targeting drag events and targeting inclusion in schools.”
A Vancouver police officer saw the videos of the interaction posted online and proactively reached out to Pine and Acervo, who had not reported the incident.
VPD says an investigation is underway, and it has interviewed the couple and viewed the videos, but has not yet identified the man acting aggressively towards them.
In an email to CTV News, a VPD media liaison specifically referred to that man as "the suspect" but police have not said what kind of charges might be considered if they are able to identify him.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Bouchard lifts Edmonton Oilers to 4-3 overtime win over Canucks in Game 2
Evan Bouchard scored 5:38 into overtime and the Edmonton Oilers bounced back for a 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.