[van-announce] ROAST THE LIBERALS

[Queers United Against Kapitalism]

ROAST THE LIBERALS
Abort Mayencourt / Lose Lorne

Queers are demanding that gay BC Liberal MLA, Lorne Mayencourt, stand up for
the interests of the community he claims to represent.  Mayencourt, who prides
himself as a hero of the queer community, has supported every action his
government has taken to attack gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people
in this province.  Mayencourt and the BC Liberals are clearly enemies of the
people of this province.

The attacks coming from this government are unacceptable.  We demand:

1) The restoration of the BC Human Rights Commission.
The BC Liberals' proposed Bill 53 will eliminate the BC Human Rights
Commission, along with it protection for marginalized groups such as queers.
Complaints will go directly to the Tribunal; there will be no investigation of
the complaint and access to legal support is highly questionable.  Hard fought
for queer rights have been enshrined through the BC Human Rights Commission.
Governments should be strengthening human rights; Gordon Campbell and the BC
Liberals are attacking them.

2) Funding for queer youth support programs.
Our community still faces homophobia and related violence. A disproportionate
number of youth on the streets and youth who commit suicide are queer.  Groups
like YouthQuest! bring an anti-homophobia message to schools across the
province, working to eliminate the abuse and harassment that queer youth face.
 This province has recently seen several homophobic and transphobic attacks
and murders, as well as youth suicides.  Instead of increasing resources to
stop these deaths, Lorne Mayencourt and the BC Liberal government are cutting
funding to queer youth groups like YouthQuest!

3) Health care for people living with HIV and AIDS.
People with compromised immune systems have greater health care requirements.
 Cuts under the BC Liberal government have seen medical and drug costs rise
while food programs have been eliminated.  Benefits have been cut, severely
restricting access to necessary nutrition and health support.  These attacks
on peoples health care are being carried out by Campbell, Mayencourt and the
BC Liberals.

4) Health care for transgender/transsexuals.
The transgender/transsexual community has witnessed an all out assault on
their ability to access health care.  Hormone prescriptions are no longer
covered.  Vancouver's gender clinic, which provides trans-focused counseling
and health care for the entire province, has been shut down.  Lorne Mayencourt
and the BC Liberal government have gutted health care for transpeople.

5) Re-funding of social services.
Queers are poor, youth, women, single parents, indigenous, people of colour,
immigrants, refugees, workers, seniors and disabled.  All these groups have
been targeted by the BC Liberal government.  People across the province are
being forced out of work, forced to work for sub-minimum wages, forced to go
hungry and homeless.  Mayencourt fully supports the Liberal agenda of
providing tax cuts to a rich minority, at the expense of social services and
public resources that benefit the majority of people of this province.

We recognize the importance of building an united fight back with all other
groups opposing the brutality being unleashed by Gordon Campbell and the BC
Liberal government.  Queers United Against Kapitalism (QUAK) is calling a
demonstration against the BC Liberal government and Lorne Mayencourt at the
Vancouver-Burrard 1st annual riding association dinner:

Thursday, October 17th - Starting at 4:30pm
Pan Pacific Hotel @Canada Place, Vancouver

The Liberal party is trying to crush the people of this province, it's time
the people crashed their party.  This government has been unrelenting in their
attacks against our communities; we are left with no option but to increase
our opposition and disruption of this government.  The Liberals must be held
accountable wherever they are.  We must organize across communities and across
the province to defeat this government.  Together we can fight and win.

In Solidarity,

Queers United Against Kapitalism - QUAK
______________________
Please forward endorsements to QUAK: quak at tao.ca

Organization: _______________________
Contact: ___________________________
Phone/Email: _______________________