I very much appreciate all the support and solidarity that @NicESpurling and I have been getting. Thanks everyone for being there and speaking up.

I’d like to share some of my reflections on the stream of hate and transphobia that’s occupying my inbox and others’ as well. 1/10

First of all, it’s terrifying to read, it’s dehumanizing, twisted, and confused. The ideology that it comes from is not clear and uses many arguments that do not hold up, or are crafted one way or another to use marginalized groups against each other. 2/10

There is no room for discourse or reason. As a scientist I would love to dive into the background of these issues, discuss evidence and points of view, and get to where we understand each other, but that’s not possible when one side has decided not to listen. 3/10

My goal for equity is simple, that every single person be able to be themselves and be safe, accepted, loved, cared for, and have an equal opportunity to flourish and live life to the fullest. This can never be done by putting the well-being of some above others. 4/10

As a public person I have the responsibility to stand up for everyone, create safe spaces, and I believe also, build bridges. I accept that being visible and in the position I am in, stuff like all this hate will come my way. 5/10

It’s a learning experience to see how divided we have become, how hateful we have allowed each other to be, and encourages me to continue to build a just future, not push people away, and combat misconceptions. 6/10

Sometimes for safety though, this also means muting over a hundred accounts that have no interest in discourse, and only seek to divide, spread hate, and an ideology that encourages violence. 7/10

The hardest part of this for me has been that my crew has also had to deal with the horrible attacks and hate. I accept it as part of what I am doing, but it is absolutely disgusting when it’s directed at minors. It’s abuse, and in this case it’s child abuse online. 8/10

I call on any organizations such as the @BCGreens and @CanadianGreens to do whatever they can to protect their youngest members and volunteers. If any of these hateful people are in our spaces and refuse to listen, they must leave. 9/10

Thank you all for your solidarity, and taking the time to read this! 10/10