Mayor names 2 'special advisors' for LGBTQ action plan
Deirdre Pike and Cole Gately have agreed to work with Eisenberger
Hamilton's mayor has named two people who will act as his "special advisors" on an LGBTQ action plan to take on hate and discrimination.
Deirdre Pike and Cole Gately have agreed to partner with the city to help repair the relationship with the LGBTQ Hamiltonians, Fred Eisenberger said Friday.
This morning, my family and I were awoken to over 20 agitators at my home, yelling profanities, leaving signs on my lawn and banging on my door.<br><br>This is absolutely unacceptable.<br><br>Harassment of my family, my neighbours or anyone is crossing the line. Police are investigating. <a href="https://t.co/NZWIwfkm1Q">pic.twitter.com/NZWIwfkm1Q</a>
—@HamiltonsMayorThe announcement was made just hours after a group of about 20 people showed up at the mayor's home yelling, swearing and planting signs stating he "doesn't care about Queer People."
After the morning protest at his house, Eisenberger said the anarchist "agitators" are a small group fostering divisions.
In a statement issued late Friday afternoon that started by recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots —which helped kick-start the modern fight for LGBTQ rights— Eisenberger says he stands in solidarity with the city's LGBTQ community and will continue working to increase inclusion.
The mayor has been under fire in recent weeks for the way he's handled LGBTQ issues, including a dispute over whether to fly the Pride flag as well as the city and police's reaction to Christian extremists who violently clashed with Pride celebrants.
He promised earlier this week that the city will "do better" and meet with the LGBTQ community to work on an action plan to combat hate.
"Deirdre and Cole will aid in the upcoming 2SLGBTQ+ meeting that will focus on building a stronger relationship, addressing hate and hate crimes, and developing a collaborative strategy to address discrimination against 2SLGBTQ+ communities in our city," according to Eisenberger's announcement.
He added Pike and Gately will also "aid in the broader conversation" about racism, anti-Semitism, Islamphobia and discrimination against LGBTQ and Indigenous people.
Pike is a LGBTQ activist who ran for the Liberal Party in the last provincial election.
The mayor's statement describes her as a "strong advocate for equity and inclusion" and says she is a two-time recipient of Hamilton's Pride Citizen of the Year.
Today is the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots. On this day, and every day, I stand in solidarity with our 2SLGBTQ+ communities & allies and celebrate the immeasurable contributions 2SLGBTQ+ people have made to our society. I'm pleased to share the the following statement. <a href="https://t.co/grSZRvpizd">pic.twitter.com/grSZRvpizd</a>
—@HamiltonsMayorCole is currently the Diversity and Inclusion Facilitator for the city's Trans Protocol as well as the chair and co-founder of Hamilton Trans Health Coalition.
"He is a well-known advocate of 2SLGBTQ+ rights, and he uses an intersectional feminist lens in his analysis and education," according to the mayor.
Cole is also a part-time instructor at McMaster University and Mohawk College. A brief biography on the university's website says he works as an educator in the city's "homelessness sector" and has been an activist for issues including feminist, LGBTQ and sex worker rights since the late 80s.
The mayor says he's looking forward to working with both on making Hamilton a place where everyone feels safe and welcome.
"With their help, and through a full community consultation, next year when we raise the Pride and Trans flags, we know our community will be in a stronger place."