It was a bright sunny morning at Nanaimo City Hall On Monday, March 31 as a small group of city officials and community members gathered to raise the transgender pride flag to mark Transgender Day of Visibility.
Tami Nutting and Trish Hope Bingham organized the event, which was attended by Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog, city councillors Hilary Eastmure and Erin Hemmens and federal NDP candidate Lisa Marie Barron.
“It means everything to us that the city shows support for our community at a time when we’re being split into so many little factions to divide us,” Nutting told The Discourse.
Nutting says she has felt safe and included as a trans woman in Nanaimo.
“A lot of people might think Nanaimo is redneck and going to beat your bum if you’re gay or whatever,” she said. “And I did have those fears when it came out eight years ago, but honestly, it’s been a wonderful experience in Nanaimo.”
Bingham told The Discourse that is also her experience in the city.
“This city is very inclusive. I’ve been out for eight years, and I’ve never had to hide myself. People here are very friendly and inclusive.”
According to 2021 census data, Nanaimo has the fourth-highest percentage of non-binary and trans people of any city in Canada at 0.57 percent of the population, or roughly 570 people in the city.
Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog, decked out in his official mayoral “bling,” spoke at the flag raising ceremony referencing the rising transphobia in the United States.
“Down south, there are elected politicians who are passing — with vigor and enthusiasm — laws that exacerbate, create [and] support a fear-based view of their fellow citizens. That this should be happening in 2025 is unbelievably appalling,” he told the small crowd. “Here in this city, everyone is welcome and accepted for simply who they are.”
Federal NDP candidate Lisa Marie Barron spoke at the event, saying she wants people to know that while “there are people in positions of power that are seeking to divide us, we know we are much stronger together.”
She commended the City of Nanaimo for flying the trans pride flag at City Hall.
“As a proud queer woman, I want to let you know that I stand with you every day and that I’m so proud of everybody that showed up to show support today,” she said.
Nanaimo city councillor Hilary Eastmure, who is the chair of the city’s advisory committee on accessibility and inclusiveness, attended the flag raising.
“It makes me feel good to see so many people come out and support this and be willing to stand up for our trans friends, who are often the target of hate and bigotry,” she told The Discourse. “There’s just no place for that in the city of Nanaimo.”
After the flag raising, the mayor asked anyone who wanted to participate to get together for a group photo and Barron handed out small trans pride flags to everyone.
After the ceremony, people stood around and chatted and signed trans pride flags with messages of love and support.
“It’s really important to see — in a time of divisiveness and indecision that we have — the city has our backs,” Nutting said.
