Seth Compton, the executive director of OUTLoud North Bay admits it has been a trying summer but as he has stated many times in the face of adversity, and reaffirmed on Sunday, he and the organization will not, in the face of hate, relent in their mission to support youth with their mental health and well-being by providing a safe space for them at OUTLoud.
"Today is about unity," said Compton looking around at dozens of community members from local organizations such as the North Bay Police Service, North Bay Fire and Emergency Services, Children's Aid, Hands, Community Living and many more.
See related: OUTLoud receives support near and far following attacks
Great to be at @OUTLoudNorthBay yesterday for their #UnityIsCommunity event in support of the important and incredible work Outloud's team does. The #NorthBay #Police Service is committed to building a safe, supportive, and inclusive community for all. #hatehasnohomehere pic.twitter.com/Y4JVf3P5Ox
— North Bay Police (@NorthBayPolice) August 22, 2022
"We've experienced a lot of hate over the past month and so have other people that support our club," Compton shared. Several sponsor businesses associated with OUTLoud received hateful messages while OUTLoud was inundated in late July by a targeted campaign against the organization's plan to host a youth drag show.
See related: Youth safe space responds to death threats, online hate
Members of the North Star Guardians, a group of motorcycle enthusiasts that volunteer to "help disadvantaged, bullied and abused children and their families through support, mentoring and liaison services," stood with OUTLoud in the face of the hateful early July attacks and earlier in August had personal property vandalized and spray painted with anti-2SLGBTQ+ messaging (warning for graphic content).
No official connection between the OUTLoud and North Star Guardians series of incidents has been made public, NBPS Inspector Jeff Warner would say Sunday the investigations continue into the online and local in-person criminal activity.
Lorieann Whittaker is the treasurer for North Star Guardians and said the group came to support OUTLoud and to "show that the community is against this type of behaviour and it's not acceptable. The more organizations we could get to come together, to show that unity, the better."
Whittaker shared the North Star Guardians have received an outpouring of support from the community in the wake of the vandalism. "A lot of emails, Facebook messages and private messages have come in supporting us and thanking us for standing up and being in the forefront of the community. It's been positive — mostly. There haven't been any further incidents with respect to hate messages coming forward, so that's good, as well."
Compton continued, "We've spent a lot of time building healthy relationships with community partners and all of those organizations have come today to show their support for what we do. I'm not afraid. If I was taught anything last month it's that I have to...show the kids that love and acceptance is the only way."
Compton advised the scale of hateful messages has slowed but they do continue to make their way to their social media accounts.
"It doesn't stop but it hasn't been what it was for the first 72 hours we experienced in July," during the wave of messages.
Whittaker added the detractors and critics of groups like OUTLoud and the Guardians are in the minority. "It's 2022, that kind of behaviour is not acceptable and the community is against it."
Kelsie Etches, the Chair of the OUTLoud Board of Directors, told the crowd, "Love always wins. I think today shows, that although we have gone through some bumps, there is more love in the community than there is hate. This community is a driving force and I can't wait to see where we go. I'm so proud of everything we've done. I don't know where a lot of us would be without this."
OUTLoud North Bay was created with a mission to build a a strong and supportive community in which individuals can support, learn, collaborate, and inspire each other.
See also: Skateboarding offers lessons that reach far beyond the half-pipe at OUTLoud
Compton identified a need for support services and a safe local hangout space for 2SLGBTQ+ young people. The first location in downtown North Bay opened in 2019 to address these needs. High demand led to OUTLoud rapidly outgrew the downtown space and it was moved and expanded into a larger facility located at 123 Delaware Ave.
See: Teamwork makes the dream work in training youth to support peers
The space offers resources for all youth, with a focus on 2SLGBTQ+ young people. All are welcome. OUTLoud organizes, hosts and facilitates a number of activities, events, and workshops designed to engage local youth of all ages to build a supportive network of peers.
