A special adviser on LGBTQ2 issues in Hamilton has decided to step away from the role.
Mayor Fred Eisenberger released a statement on Friday morning saying that Cole Gately has chosen to step down in order to focus on implementing the city’s Trans Protocol by educating city staff on transgender and non-gender-conforming identities.
Eisenberger appointed Gately and Deirdre Pike as special advisers on LGBTQ2 concerns following violence at Hamilton’s Pride event in June.
“I’m very, very appreciative of the work that he’s done to date,” said Eisenberger in an interview with Global News. “I’ve gained a better understanding of the needs in the trans community and he certainly was instrumental in helping pull some folks together to have an initial meeting of listening and learning.”
He said Pike will continue to fill the special adviser role, but there will not be a replacement for Gately, who will continue to train city staff on the protocol.
The protocol was developed by the city following an Ontario Human Rights tribunal settlement in response to a trans woman who was denied access to the women’s washroom at an HSR terminal in 2014.
So far, Eisenberger said 1000 city employees, including senior management, have been trained on the protocol.
He said the city will continue to make an effort to speak with members of the LGBTQ2 community.
“We have a collective responsibility to all come together and continue to work on these issues,” said Eisenberger. “Like any other issue, it’s not totally the purview of the city of Hamilton. There are many, many other players and individuals in our community that need to be educated, and be sensitive to the needs of all of these communities that are being set upon. So it’s a broader community effort and we’re going to continue to look for that broader community dialogue.”
In an email to Global News on Friday, Gately said he’s stepping down to focus on his role as the city’s Diversity & Inclusion Facilitator, as well as Chair of the Hamilton Trans Health Coalition.
“I feel that my work on education and advocacy for improved health care and better inclusion for Trans Hamiltonians must be my priority,” he wrote.
Gately also addressed criticism from some community members that the special adviser positions were replacing the city’s existing LGBTQ2 advisory committee.
“Our role was not to replace the Advisory Committee, which advises Council,” wrote Gately. “We were appointed as special advisors to the Mayor. I was communicating with community leaders and organizers, and realized that the better role for me in this is to continue my work in the community and at the City as an educator and trans activist.”
He also acknowledged the feelings of Hamilton’s LGBTQ2 residents in the weeks following the events at Hamilton Pride.
“I know that our diverse queer communities are feeling pain, grief and anger right now. There is no single answer, but I’m in favour of facilitated dialogue, deep listening, collaboration, and action. I don’t know what it exactly looks like, but right now I think people are needing to catch their breath and take stock of where we are and where we want to go in terms of addressing hate in Hamilton.”
Pike posted on Twitter following the announcement, saying that she will continue to fulfill the role of special adviser to Eisenberger on LGBTQ2 issues.
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