A former Sooke councillor is urging her former colleagues to take steps to increase LGBTQ+ representation in the community.
“I hope I was able to inspire them that little things count, and they matter,” said Ebony Logins, a former Sooke councillor and current Sooke School District (SD62) trustee.
On Dec. 9, Logins appeared before council with several suggestions which she believed could improve support for LGBTQ+ individuals in the community. Her request follows a complaint she submitted to the BC Human Rights Tribunal in 2023 regarding a sign in the community, owned by Barry Marine, displaying discriminatory sentiments.
“What I have heard so far is that there is nothing you can do. I am hoping that the silence from our community's leaders will end and that some action will begin,” Logins told council.
“Because the silence and inaction are – unwillingly, I know, because I know you all well – complicit in and supportive of the spread of hate and fear.”
The sign in question displayed the message: “Get them woke Bud Lights out for target practice.” It references a video of musician Kid Rock shooting at cans of Bud Light in response to the news that the beer maker made a transgender woman a Bud Light spokesperson.
Logins' complaint was rooted in her belief that “the sign encouraged acts of deadly harm to a protected group, which caused many people in Sooke to feel their safety and the safety of their loved ones was violently threatened.”
After months of awaiting updates on her complaint, Logins learned from the tribunal that her case would not be processed until spring 2025. Her appearance at council was to encourage action to be taken before the tribunal's decision.
Aside from her request to have Barry Marine exempted from being grandfathered out of the current sign bylaw, her suggestions include hosting the SD62 Pride Parade in Sooke, which she told council had to have its route diverted from Sooke's own parks last year due to fear of harassment.
She suggested that council submit a motion urging the province to provide better resources for the human rights tribunal, that they create committees to develop tangible action items on issues of discrimination, and finally, that a rainbow crosswalk be installed in the district.
“It will be vandalized, but who cares? That is the point. You will be showing support and demonstrating your dedication to human rights in our community,” Logins said. While she was critical of the council's inaction, she acknowledged they face challenges.
“I understand legally their hands are tied, and they don’t want to cause too many issues by taking on things they’re not responsible for in a legal sense. But I think what’s been overlooked is that there are other things they can do,” she said.
“We need some kind of physical representation of, ‘We support you'.”
Although her plea to council follows her human rights complaint, Logins said her goal is broader than addressing the sign.
“I think what happens is that when you drive past that sign every day, it brings you down,” she said. “That’s not what Sooke represents.
“We need the joy, we need the happiness, we need the support.”
Logins said she’s pleased with the initial reaction from council and the initial steps taken to address the issue.
“I’m grateful because it really shows me that people listen, they care, and they’re trying,” she said.
“Will anything substantial happen? I mean, they’re trying, right? So, we’ll see what happens.”
While Logins hopes the sign in question will be mandated to comply with existing bylaws, her larger goal is to foster greater support for LGBTQ+ communities in Sooke.
“The other piece I want is for the people who have had the lowest times in their life because of that business to feel supported, to feel heard, and to feel celebrated.”
The Sooke News Mirror has requested comment from the district but has not received a response. Staff confirmed, however, that they are working on a report to council regarding Logins' request, which is likely to be presented Jan. 27, 2025.
