A new fund is being established to assist victims of anti-LGBTQ+-hate.
The Stratford Pride Community Centre (SPCC) has introduced an online ‘swag shop’ selling apparel and drink mugs with positive messages of support.
Bruce Skeaff, president of the SPCC, told StratfordToday that the idea for the shop was to drown out the voices of hate with positivity from the community.
“The idea was to give people a way of voicing their feelings,” he said. “What better way to do that than on something you can wear?”
Proceeds will support operations of the SPCC, a not-for-profit organization, and the aforementioned fund. What proportion of the proceeds go to this fund is still to be decided by the board overseeing the centre.
Skeaff clarified that the fund will not go to just LGBTQ+-owned businesses, but any organization that is a victim of hate and has suffered property damage.
He stressed that the fund and shop is still in its infancy and much still needs to be decided regarding the specifics.
The idea for the merchandise and fund came after a series of hate-related crimes in Stratford that included the vandalism at Sirkel Foods, a local 2SLGBTQ+ owned restaurant.
Seed funding for the project came from TD Bank Group, who wanted to support an awareness initiative that interests the SPCC.
“It is very unfortunate to hear about the vandalism and negative messaging that local 2SLGBTQ+ owned businesses have been facing,” TD Associate Cara O’Ray said in a media release from the SPCC. “but great to see organizations like yours stepping up to raise awareness and support the community.”
The ‘swag shop’ is online and ready for orders.
