Trans health-care session postponed in Halifax following safety concerns
Global News
The Halifax Sexual Health Centre provides gender-affirming care to hundreds of patients across the province. Threats of protests have led to safety concerns.
On Nov. 21, the Glitter Bean Cafe had planned to host a gender-affirming health care session, presented by the North End Community Health Centre.
Vivian Sheppard is the cafe’s events coordinator.
She says holding information sessions are vital when it comes to helping trans individuals navigate the health system
“Nova Scotia is the province in the country that has the most trans and non-binary people per capita,” Sheppard says.
“It’s important to run these events, because having access to this kind of health care, to hormone replacement therapy, to gender re-assignment surgery, can actually be life-saving.”
But unfortunately, the session had to be postponed indefinitely due to safety concerns.
“I got a message that said, ‘Hey we are postponing this event, because this event has been spread online to some right-wing groups, and they were planning on protesting outside,’ ” Sheppard says.
“Some had even registered for the event. I’m not certain as to why, I’m not certain as to what infiltration tactic that was supposed to be.”