Hollaback Alberta! in the Community
Hollaback Alberta! has been fortunate to participate in great local events with wonderful organizations and allies to support the LGBTQ community, specifically in Edmonton, Alberta. The following are pictures from events and local supporters! Thanks to everyone who join us in the fight against street harassment and who strive to create a safer and respectful community!
Hollaback Alberta Celebrates the University of Alberta Pride Week 2013!
The Hollaback Booth at The Pawnshop for the University of Alberta‘s Pride Week
finale drag show:
Ran out of our Holla stickers and pins!
Hollaback Alberta volunteers having a blast at the booth:
Local allies, the John Humphrey Centre, fighting for human rights in Edmonton, AB!
Local Allies in the Community:
Hollaback sticker sneaky on the bar fridge at a local live music
venue, The Artery:
Hollaback stickers in local Edmonton cafe, Remedy:
For more awesome pictures search for #hollabackalberta in Instagram and keep updated with local Holla pics!
CJ’s Bystander Story- Looking for Advice for Intervening Racist Harassment
I was taking the bus to work and a 30-something Asian man tripped over another – seated – man’s foot. The seated man proceeded to push the Asian man away, hurling abuse and threatening violence. The Asian man told the harrasser to stop, and eventually the harrasser stood and began hurling racist abuse at the Asian man – “Five-thousand year old civilization we still step feets (said in a derogatory accent, mimicking pigeon English)”.
Shortly thereafter, I stood up and told the harasser to stop, but I do not know if he heard me (it was a crowded bus). The harasser got off at the next stop, and the attacked man got off at my stop. He was so shaken up he nearly stumbled off the bus. I helped him to his workplace and then left, wishing him well.
While I was surprised by this encounter, I was also confused as to how to respond, namely because the harasser was a black man and I am a white woman. I did not want to get involved and be harassed myself, but I also did not want to get in trouble on the bus. I wish I had responded more loudly, taken a picture, or told the bus driver, but all this happened in a matter of 5 minutes or less. Any advice as to how to help in this situation is appreciated.
Grabbed and Told to “Chill Out” -Story from a Female Security Guard
I’m a female security guard. Last night I had someone try to make a grab for my radio mike so they could yell into it, while they were drunk at a NAIT event with other very drunk dude-bros. In grabbing for the mike he grabbed my shoulder and I was instantly triggered to remembering some extremely bad memories. I shoved him away and very loudly ordered him not to touch me. He reached out to ‘apologetically’ touch my shoulder again and I backed away and repeated that he was not to touch me. I heard someone call me a bitch, and then I was told by this guy and his buddy to ‘just chill out’.
Let me get this very fucking straight. You just GRABBED me, a female security officer, not thinking or even seeming to care that such an action would NOT be welcomed, and now you are telling me to just chill out even though by rights you just technically assaulted me WHILE I WAS AT WORK IN MY UNIFORM. Try me, buddy. I can quote the section of the Canadian criminal code that outlines my rights to a citizen’s arrest in situations like that.
I cannot count the number of times last night ALONE that I had men trying to grope me, trying to get my number, trying to get me to leave my boyfriend if I said I wasn’t interested, trying to grab my radio, or making snide comments about how I looked in my uniform or “oh, yeah, that little one over there looks like a total killer” accompanied by eye-rolls. This was at NAIT. In an area designed to hold a maximum of about 150 people. And I have worked packed concerts and metal shows where people were better-behaved and more polite than that.
People think that if a security guard is female, they were only hired to fill the quota. They don’t actually think that we can hold our own when we have to. Think that all you want.
But I am going to make one thing very clear to you. If you lay a hand on me when I am at work, I will do everything in my power to have you thrown out on your ass and arrested by the police or the peace officers on duty. If you lay a hand on me in public, I will break your hand. Do not touch me without my permission. Ever.
Aggressive Solicitation for Sex- Mattie’s Story
My name is Mattie and I am a straight male. On multiple occasions older men have pulled their cars up beside me, approached me on the street, in bathrooms, etc and offer to pay me for sex. I don’t know what about me makes them think that I am soliciting sex, I really don’t. It’s happened in both ‘bad’ neighbourhoods and ‘good’ and various times of the day, and I am really sick of it. The men have often been aggressive in their language and behavior towards me. It is often freighting and always completely unwanted. I discussed this on facebook and I was denounced because as a male I am less victimized. I suppose that’s true. and I sympathize with anyone who has had similar experiences, many much worse then mine. But I’m still fucking sick of it, and no one should have to deal with this, it happened around 10 times to me, and the next time I might break his nose. Anyways, thanks for reading. I love the site.
Hollaback Alberta Supports the UofA Pride Week 2013!
The first institutionally supported Pride Week at the University of Alberta has organized many great events throughout March 13th to 22nd. Events range from a Pride Parade, Rainbow Yoga, keynote by Dr. Janice Ristock, Travelling Tickle Trunk, film screenings, Queer art night, and many more!
For the finale of Pride Week OUTreach is hosting the 10th Annual Drag Show at the Pawn Shop from 7:00pm-10:00pm! Tickets are $10 and are on sale NOW! (18+ only). You can purchase tickets either at the OUTreach office located in the basement of SUB in office 040B in the SGS lounge (U of A campus) or the day of the Drag Show at the Pawn Shop from 7:00pm-7:45pm at the door.
Hollaback Alberta is excited to be part of the event and we will have a table where you’re welcome to grab FREE Holla stickers and pins as well as information handouts, and feel free to come chat, ask any questions, or just say hi!
The After Party will be held at Buddy’s! Bring your ticket stub from the Drag Show and only pay $3 cover! Offer only valid until 11:30pm. For more info check out the Facebook Event Page!
For more information about Pride Week check out their website www.prideweek.ualberta.ca !
See you there!
Hollaback Alberta at 2nd Annual Feminist Edmonton Conference
Feminist Edmonton Events hosted the 2nd annual Equality and Women in Alberta conference at Grant MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta on February 23rd, 2013. The event featured speakers including Megan Karius, Sandra Azocar, and Evelyn Hamdon. Hollaback Alberta was excited to table at the event along with many other wonderful local Edmonton organizations including our allies, ConsentEd.
Below the Hollaback Alberta co-directors, Renée and Lauren table during conference!
For more information about events or to become involved in the Feminist Edmonton conversation check out the Feminist Edmonton Facebook page!
Hollaback Alberta! At Edmonton’s 1 Billion Rising
For more information regarding 1 Billion Rising visit their website!
What Gives You the Right?- Dansya’s Story
Walking home with my sister and a friend from a night out. We walk past a bar and a group of guys start shouting vulgar cat calls. I tell them to get lost and then they shout that I’m a lesbian. (Obviously I’m gay if that sort of charm doesn’t make me weak). Get a few more blocks and suddenly another group of guys are following us making sexual comments. One walks up to me with his hands down his pants playing with himself. He gets close and I slap him. He gets angry and yells “who do you think you are? What gives you the right?!” the irony blows my mind. We try to walk on and he follows us and his anger builds to where we had to call the police who escorted us home. I just wanted to get home and be left alone! What gives me the right?
