Nova Scotia is not immune to this pernicious phenomenon. A few notable examples are sufficient for present purposes:
- In 1987, amid demands that gays be banned from the classroom, gay elementary school teacher Eric Smith was forced from his job and community in Cape Sable when it became known he was HIV positive.[1]
- In 2013, New Glasgow gay activist Scott Jones was attacked and severely injured in an attack that Jones believes was provoked by his sexual orientation.[2]
- A 2015 report found that Dalhousie’s Faculty of Dentistry was poisoned by a culture of homophobia that created an environment that was unsafe for LGBTQ persons.[3]
It must be acknowledged that Canada in general, and Nova Scotia in particular, have taken steps to improve conditions for the LGBTQ community.
Canada’s Constitution guarantees equal treatment under the law and equal benefit of the law to all Canadians, regardless of sexual orientation. Sexual orientation is a prohibited ground of discrimination in Nova Scotia. A number of Nova Scotia organizations serve the LGBTQ community, and recognize events such as the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia.
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[1] http://www.cdnaids.ca/files.nsf/pages/homophobiareport_eng/$file/homophobia%20report_eng.pdf
[2] http://egale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/EgaleFinalReport-web.pdf
[3] http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/aids-activist-lauded-for-perseverance-1.971608
[4] http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/News/Regional/2014-06-13/article-3761083/Nova-Scotia-man-gets-10-years-for-beating-gay-man,-leaving-him-for-dead/1
[5] http://www.dal.ca/content/dam/dalhousie/pdf/cultureofrespect/DalhousieDentistry-TaskForceReport-June2015.pdf