Transsexual activist leaves gay and lesbian support group

Jennifer McCreath helped lead a group to fight discrimination — but now, she feels that group is discriminating against her.

McCreath says that, as one of the few transsexual people in St. John's, life is difficult.

Some 18 months ago she helped incorporate St. John's Pride — a support group for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual community.

But McCreath said she doesn't feel the group is comfortable dealing with transsexual issues. So she's resigned.

"A lot of people there could not relate to me and I felt it was in the best interests of the organization that I step away from it," McCreath said.

McCreath says the group has helped raise awareness about lesbian, gay and bisexual issues, but she says transsexuals still have a long way to go.

"The gay [and] lesbian community has struggled to work with trans community," McCreath said. "The fact [is] that we've got a lot of different issues and a lot of different priorities."

The group will hold a public meeting next week to elect a new board of directors.

Pamela Sheaves, a volunteer with St. John’s Pride, indicated she wasn’t surprised when she heard McCreath would be leaving.

"These were discussions that had been going on for some time," Sheaves told CBC News.

Sheaves said they would miss McCreath’s input and were sorry to see her go.

But Sheaves stressed that St. John’s Pride has a wide range of members, from teens to seniors, with a philosophy to be "inclusive of everyone who wants to take part."