May his legacy inspire future generations to keep fighting when the odds are steep, the news is bleak, and victory is not assured.
Rest in power, Richard.
The portrait pictured here was made to honour Richard as part of Canada’s National ArQuives Collection.
Today, we live in a more inclusive Ontario because Richard refused to let anyone treat his humanity as less than.
While discrimination remains, I cannot reflect on Richard’s life without thinking about how remarkable it is that he kept fighting for our community during a time when active discrimination went unchallenged.
And his late 1990s human rights complaint against the then Mayor of London helped launch London, Ontario's Pride Festival.
Richard put his own name on the line many times when challenging the unjust targeting of 2SLGBTQI+ Londoners by the London Police's "Project Guardian".
He co-founded the AIDS Committee of London, Ontario, in 1985 and launched some of Ontario's first community supports for people living with HIV/AIDS.
He worked with vital organizations that championed 2SLGBTQI+ rights as they grew, including the Metropolitan Community Church and PFLAG in Ontario.
Richard founded and led the Homophile Association of London and successfully fought for expanded community services for 2SLGBTQI+ Ontarians.
But this campaign was just one chapter in Richard’s illustrious resume of wins for inclusion.
I personally had the honour of knowing Richard when he organized with the Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Rights in Ontario, as our community fought for the recognition of same-sex relationships and marriage.
If any on-screen producer wanted to memorialize his life, they would need several seasons of screen time to capture all he did because he did far too much to fit into a single movie.
Ontario's 2SLGBTQI+ community is marking the passing of Richard Hurdler. Richard's life's work made the lives of everyone in Ontario better.
My heart is with every single person waiting for news about their loved one's safety amid deliberate internet blackouts imposed by the regime to conceal horrific state violence. My statement is available here: www.kristynwongtam.ca/iran-future-...
Thousands of Iranian civilians have been murdered while bravely taking to the streets demanding basic economic security, social dignity, and political freedom.
Jewish Ontarians need our government to confront antisemitism with action such as making investments into education to prevent hate at the source. Hate has no place in Ontario. This hate crime might be abroad, but we put Ontarians at risk if our government fails to heed the warning and act now.
The antisemitic terrorist attack that killed eleven people in Australia on Bondi Beach is an evil act of hate. My heart goes out to Jewish communities whose gatherings today will have grief and fear when they deserve to gather and light menorahs in faith, community, and joy.
Survivors deserve honesty. Not gaslighting. Ford's team is doubling down on the lie that AI wasn't involved in writing their IPV report. And making up every excuse to avoid being accountable. Survivors can see our proof and read our dissenting report at kristynwongtam.ca/ipv-epidemic... #ONpoli
“Survivors deserve to have their voices heard. Ontario's Official Opposition believes that we must now produce our own dissenting report to ensure that survivors' voices and calls for change are heard."
"Because report writing takes place in-camera, MPPs are not allowed to disclose or discuss what is transpiring during the report-writing process.
Choosing to ensure that the process has integrity, accountability, and respect for survivors now requires that we withdraw from the government's report-writing process.
"Today, after serious reflection, we are continuing to make decisions guided by our respect and gratitude for survivors, advocates, experts and service providers.
Ontario New Democrats have engaged with the government process, determined to honour their voices and fight for changes that will meaningfully strengthen Ontario’s response to the IPV epidemic.
"Last year, survivors, frontline advocates, community experts, and service providers gave important, courageous, and oftentimes painful testimony to the Standing Committee on Justice Policy's subcommittee on Intimate Partner Violence (IPV).
Ontario NDP MPPs Statement on the IPV Committee Report
QUEEN’S PARK — Ontario NDP MPPs Kristyn Wong-Tam (Toronto Centre), @alexagilmour.bsky.social (Parkdale—High Park), and @lgretzky.bsky.social (Windsor West) have issued the following statement:
Ford will not unlock housing by undermining tenants' security of tenure. This Bill is a new low that signals existential threats to every renter in Ontario. We need to go all out to stop it www.kristynwongtam.ca/stop-bill-60 #ONpoli #TorCen #Bill60
Ford has done nothing to fix Ontario’s broken ticket resale market:
⚾ World Series Tickets in 1993: $32 per ticket
⚾ World Series Tickets today: $2000 – $3000 per ticket in the upper levels.
Enough is enough. Sign the petition demanding that Ford act NOW www.kristynwongtam.ca/fans-first #BlueJays
Fans are price-gouged because Ford broke the ticket resale market in 2019. He can act to fix it or keep sitting on his hands. Email Ford to demand action NOW: kristynwongtam.ca/fans-first #OnPoli
Happy October 3rd to all who celebrate!
Today marks 10 years since the triple femicide of Nathalie Warmerdam, Anastasia Kuzyk, and Carol Culleton in Renfrew County in 2015. The memories of Nathalie, Anastasia, and Carol demand action: not just acknowledgment. www.kristynwongtam.ca/tenth-years-...
Read my statement here: can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=http%3A%...
