Harmful billboards best met with critical thinking says Hamilton educator

Billboards began popping up in Hamilton last year, with new ones continuing to surface in St. Catharines as well.

A Hamilton man says these billboards should not be published, after his own experience in transitioning.

“We have to think about what is being said, who’s saying it, and why,” said Chris Paul Rainbows.

Rainbows is an author and educator who trains others to create safe spaces for trans youth.

They say we need to use critical thinking when seeing harmful billboards and hate speech in general.

“Kids are not going through medical transition,” said Rainbows.

Rainbows explains there are different levels of transition besides medical.

Legal, where you do things like change your driver’s license or name, and social, where you try out hairstyles or clothing that suits how you feel.

This, they say, is what kids should be free to explore.

“Parents, therapists, doctors, years and years of therapy goes into a transition of a trans person,” said Rainbows.

“I’m a trans man, I’ve struggled with my mental health and transitioning saved my life,” said Finnick Brisson.

According to the Trevor Project, an American advocacy group, every 45 seconds an individual in the 2LGBTQIA+ community attempts suicide.

They also explain one accepting adult will bring that number down by 60 per cent.

Brisson, a fourth-year student at McMaster University in Hamilton, knows this first hand.

“Before my top surgery, it felt like I had these two giant tumours — balls of fat — on my chest that were disconnected from my own body,” said Brisson. “Everywhere I moved…it was the most horrible thing ever.”

Brisson wrote on Instagram saying, “I encourage you to just talk to a trans person. Just listen. Then you’ll learn gender-affirming care is life-saving care.”

Through his Instagram page and activism on campus, he’s hoping to change minds.

Brisson believes the most important thing for people to know is “to listen and believe trans people.”

“We need to take these billboards down and trans kids deserve to grow up.”

Anyone who needs support, or knows someone that needs help can visit the McMaster University wellness website here.

WATCH MORE: Hamilton city hall heads to court after its removal order of digital billboard deemed ‘transphobic’