Queer kid in Gambo speaks out about homophobia after pro-Pride minister quits
CBC
The Pride flag is flying outside the town hall in Gambo but for members of the area's 2SLGBTQ+ community, being queer in rural Newfoundland isn't easy.
Evan Pritchett, 14, lives that reality every day.
They are in Grade 8 and live in Gambo with their parents, Nicole Denty and Hedley Pritchett.
Evan said their parents always knew they were a part of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, but support in the small town is not universal.
"There's definitely a lot of hatred for me and others like me in both just our regular lives and for some of us, our home lives," Evan said.
In school, students have threatened Evan and others like them, they said. Some parents won't let their kids be friends with them.
"We've had threats and we've had stuff thrown at us, and we've had people follow us home, and it's just been a really hard time in every town and every school I've been in so far," they said.
"They believe I'm a bad influence on their children just because I'm queer and they don't want me radicalizing their kids."
Other parents have blamed Denty and Pritchett, they said.
Denty said she worries about Evan every day and the family has debated moving to St. John's.
"You know, I figured it was 2024, maybe things would be different — so it's been really hard. I want to just take them out of here," she said.
Pritchett said other parents have been blatantly intolerant.
"It's been really rough, and a lot of this abuse too has come from parents directly to us, who would say, 'Your child is not welcome here' or deliberately misgendering our child," he said.
Pride Month is celebrated in June around the world, including in Newfoundland and Labrador, while St. John's holds Pride Week events in mid-July.
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