Homophobic attacks still happen in Sudbury's downtown, Zig's bouncer says

Morning North6:16Homophobia at Sudbury's gay bar

Feelings toward people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender may be changing. However, a bouncer at Sudbury's gay bar, Zig's Nightclub, encounters homophobia every day in her job. Alice Norquay spoke with the CBC's Marina von Stackelberg.Despite pride events celebrating lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people across the north, some members of the LGBT community in Sudbury say they still deal with daily harassment.

The bouncer at Sudbury's gay bar is speaking out about homophobic incidents, which she says are still a daily occurrence.

Alice Norquay, who works at Zig's bar downtown, said she often hears people yelling homophobic slurs. Norquay said there have also been cases of vandalism at the bar and physical violence.

"Most of what I deal with is some pushing and posturing," she said.

"But there are a fair few instances, where it's punching, kicking, spitting on people. It's frustrating, it's exhausting, it's offensive."

Norquay said she wants more bystanders to speak up and say something when they see homophobic behavior.

Happening less?

Encountering homophobia is something Norquay considers to be part of her job.

"It's every night. There's constantly someone walking by who says something, or does something, or makes gestures, or throws things," Norquay said.

"Because it's such a safe space, it becomes that much more traumatizing when people are specifically targeted for being queer. And even people who aren't queer but just at the premises become roped in and people assume that they're gay."

But things are changing, according to Vincent Bolt, a transgender person running a support group in the city, called TG Innerselves.

"I am hearing that it's happening. However, I'm hearing that it's happening less," he said.

"The attitudes in Sudbury 10 years ago were a lot worse than they are now."

Bolt said the queer community has worked hard with police to make sure homophobic incidents are treated seriously.