Stories

Descriptive: Jasmine and Melissa
00:00:00 Video opens with Jasmine and Melissa seated together on a couch. We see close ups of each of them while Jasmine is speaking. A rainbow made up of interlocking blocks of colour is seen in the background. Gentle guitar music plays throughout.

Jasmine

It was me and my parents, sitting at the kitchen table. I was actually about to leave for university, and I felt all this pressure to tell them that, you know, I am who I am, and I love who I love.

 00:00:12 Jasmine and Melissa are seated together on the couch against a white background. A video technician uses their film clapper while Jasmine and Melissa laugh. A dialogue bubble made up of rainbow-coloured interlocking blocks appears behind them. Text on screen: Real stories. Real support.

00:00:18 Close up of Jasmine with the rainbow shaped, colour-block graphic in the background.

Jasmine

And then I came out and I told them, and they were just like, I'll love you no matter what.

00:00:23 Jasmine and Melissa are seated together on the couch. They look at each other with love and respect, and then share an emotional hug.

Melissa

So, being an ally has definitely enriched my life.

00:00:32 Close ups of Melissa and Jasmine as they speak. We see views of the two together, often looking to one another and nodding encouragingly. The rainbow shaped colour-block graphic is seen in the background.

Melissa

Being able to understand what she's going through, being able to educate others and listening.

Jasmine

You're always listening to me. I think that's, like, the biggest thing.

Melissa

I remember in high school where it was like, someone said something, and we all would laugh and joke around. And I look back at that and I'm thinking, that was horrible.

00:00:45 Close ups of Jasmine as they speak passionately. We see views of the two together on the couch; Melissa smiles and nods with acknowledgment while Jasmine speaks.

Jasmine
I like to keep with my bubble and kind of remind myself of how lucky I am to have people around me who love me and support me. My little gang or my little huddle of people that we go together, we move together, and as we move together, it makes it easier, I think.

00:01:04 We see views of the two together on the couch, with close ups of Melissa as she speaks earnestly to the camera. Jasmine smiles and nods with appreciation and determination while Melissa speaks.

Melissa

I'm willing to learn and I'm willing to be corrected whenever I need to be, because that's part of life, too, right? And I've actually had to say something to someone at work to say, hey, I'm not sure if that's appropriate or not. I feel uncomfortable with your remarks. They're like, well, why do you feel uncomfortable? And I said, because we're all human, right?
00:01:31 Jasmine and Melissa seated together on the couch. We see close ups of Jasmine while Jasmine is speaking, and Melissa’s hand as she fondly rubs Jasmine’s knee. The rainbow graphic is seen in the background.

Jasmine

Having a strong support system allows me to be myself, allows me to feel comfortable to talk about things that I need to talk about, you know, things that are happening within me.

00:01:39 Jasmine and Melissa seated together on the couch. We see close ups of Melissa as she speaks emotionally. Jasmine looks to Melissa, and nods appreciatively.

Melissa

You come home and you say, this is my girlfriend. And you introduce her to the world, and you're proud. And we're proud of you because it's not an easy thing to be different than what people want you to be.

00:01:56 Jasmine and Melissa share a loving, emotional hug.
00:02:02 The interlocking colour blocked rainbow appears. Text on screen: Let’s build a safe, free world for all Canadians.
00:02:06 The colour blocks in the rainbow shape are replaced by black background and the word UNITY. Text on screen: canada.ca/unity
00:02:09 The Canada wordmark appears.

Descriptive: Theo and Erin

00:00:00 Video opens with Theo and Erin seated together on a couch. A rainbow made up of interlocking blocks of colour is seen in the background. They engage with each other with smiles, laughs, and positive body language. Upbeat music plays throughout.

Erin

I think when we first met one another, I didn't really like you.

Theo

That's so fair.

00:00:06 Theo and Erin are shown on a blank white screen. They approach each other and hold hands. A dialogue bubble made up of rainbow-coloured interlocking blocks appears above them. Text on screen: Real stories. Real support.

00:00:10 Theo and Erin are back on the couch. We see closeups of both reacting to each other’s dialogue with smiles and encouragement.

Theo

I was so nervous. The day we met was the first day of play rehearsal, and I was, like, fresh, fresh in high school, first year, and I had seen her in a production before, so I knew who she was, and I was like, “Oh, my God, I know her!”

00:00:22 Theo and Erin play around for the camera doing a pretend photo shoot in front of a heart shaped rainbow graphic.

00:00:27 They are back seated on the couch together with a rainbow shaped, colour blocked graphic in the background.

Erin

Since, like, that moment that we met, I think there's just like, our worlds collided, and we've been best friends ever since. It's been the best!

00:00:36 Theo and Erin stand hand in hand. The rainbow graphic is now shaped like a pair of lips. Erin leans her head on Theo’s shoulder.

00:00:39 We go back to them seated together. Theo uses hand gestures to help express themselves while they speak; Erin looks on smiling and nodding her encouragement.

Theo

You know, in my family, I was kind of the oddball out – the only one in my family who really is into the arts, is into theatre.  But Erin was always, always, always championing me and always saying things like “I think he's smart”, which I know is maybe a surface level compliment, but it actually means a lot to me.

00:00:55 We see close ups of Erin and Theo interacting full screen.

Erin

I think the most important way to be a good ally is to listen. You have to listen to the people you love most, you know, and acceptance, and that's a skill that you can take towards everything in life.

00:01:10 Theo and Erin walk towards each other and hug while smiling at the camera with the background graphic now in the shape of an eye, we then see them back together seated on the couch. The background graphic is now shaped like a rainbow.

Theo

She has taught kids in high school, and she has told me about how some of them have said some pretty hateful things, some pretty nasty comments specifically about our communities. And she tells me how she immediately nips that in the bud and educates those kids on what they're saying and why that's hurtful and just putting an end to it and stopping it right in its tracks. 

00:01:34 We see close ups of Erin and Theo interacting full screen. Their energy is supportive, happy, and caring. They occasionally exchange a reassuring touch on the arm.

Theo

The people will remember their whole life. Miss Erin stood up for me. Like, I'm so happy they have a Miss Erin. I wish everyone had a Miss Erin, you know? Yeah.

00:01:45 Theo and Erin are seated together; we see closeups of each of them as the other is speaking. They look to each other often and use expressive hand gestures while speaking.

Erin

You're my, like, three a.m. phone call and also one of the smartest people I've met, you have such a well-rounded view of the world and such a kindhearted spirit, and every single person that Theo meets, like, falls in love with them. And I've never met anyone like you, and I don't think I ever will – and I’m honoured that our paths crossed, yeah.

Theo

That’s sweet! 

00:02:10 Theo and Erin share smiles and a hug while taking selfies in front of the colour blocked graphic, now in the shape of a heart.

00:02:13 The interlocking colour blocked rainbow appears. Text on screen: Let’s build a safe, free world for all Canadians.

00:02:17 The colour blocks in the rainbow shape are replaced by black background and the word UNITY. Text on screen: canada.ca/unity

00:02:20 The Canada wordmark appears.

Descriptive: Jérémy and Myriam

00:00:00 Video opens with a close up of Jérémy. Jérémy and Myriam are seated together on a couch. Jérémy uses passionate hand gestures while speaking; Myriam nods and smiles in agreement, then laughs with Jérémy. A rainbow made up of interlocking blocks of colour is seen in the background. Upbeat music plays throughout.

Jérémy :

I find she’s a mix between the sister I never had and my platonic soulmate, as well as someone who could be an Army General: “We’re going this way. Yes sir!”

00:00:17 Jérémy and Myriam are seen still laughing together on a couch in front of a blank white screen. A dialogue bubble made up of rainbow-coloured interlocking blocks appears above them. Text on screen : Real stories. Real support.

00:00:21 Jérémy and Myriam are seated together on a couch. We see close ups of each of them smiling and nodding in agreement with each other. A rainbow made up of interlocking blocks of colour is seen in the background.

Myriam:

We met up again after some time, and he told me what he had been up to during the years when we didn’t speak. He told me he had tried it with a man. And I only remember saying: “Oh! OK. Was it nice?”

00:00:30 Close ups of each of them; Jérémy uses hand gestures, like air quotes, as they tell their story. Myriam nods encouragingly as Jérémy speaks.

Jérémy:

When you’re a young boy, technically a young male, you learn to do something that makes no sense, that really has no logic. It’s not necessarily being homosexual that’s going to be forbidden, but simply being unconventional.

00:00:46 Jérémy and Myriam are seated together on a couch. The rainbow graphic is seen on the background.

Myriam:

When you assume your sexual identity or gender in a different way from what society imposes on you, that’s the first thing you see. So, it’s hard to shake off the gaze of others.

00:00:58 Jérémy and Myriam take a selfie in front of a heart shaped rainbow graphic. They are smiling and laughing.

00:01:03 Jérémy and Myriam are back on the couch. We see a close up of Myriam’s hands while she counts on her fingers as she describes Jérémy’s attributes. Jérémy smiles at Myriam in appreciation.

Myriam:

I never considered myself an ally. I feel it’s part of the friendship I can offer to him. It’s simply about accepting who he is, accepting his choices, simply accepting him as an individual, giving him space so he can share his experiences with me.

00:01:03 Jérémy and Myriam are seated on the couch. Jérémy looks at Myriam with affection while she speaks. Jérémy nods in agreement as Myriam looks to Jérémy and gestures encouragingly to him.

Myriam:

As soon as I hear a negative comment or something that could go against Jérémy’s lifestyle or the person that Jérémy is, I categorically refuse to interact with the person, or I try to educate them. If I see that a conversation is possible, because some people are completely closed-minded.

00:01:03 We see a close up of Jérémy smiling and nodding in appreciation while Myriam speaks, then then two of them together with Myriam speaking to Jérémy.

Myriam:

I’m extremely proud of Jérémy for becoming who he is, for being who he is today and for continuing to improve.

00:01:38 We see a close up of Myriam looking to Jérémy as she speaks, then we see them together seated on the couch, smiling at each other and sharing a laugh.

Myriam:

I feel like we’re really just supporting each other. In the same way that I’m an ally, if I can call it a fight in the LGBTQ+ community, you’re my support in my life in general.

So we really do have this extremely complicit, non-judgmental, uninhibited and unconditional relationship.

00:02:03 Jérémy and Myriam share a hug and a laugh. The background shows the rainbow graphic in the shape of a smiling mouth.

00:02:08 The interlocking colour blocked rainbow appears. Text on screen: Let’s build a safe, free world for all Canadians.
00:02:12 The colour blocks in the rainbow shape are replaced by black background and the word UNITY. Text on screen: canada.ca/unity

00:02:14 The Canada wordmark appears.

00:00:00 Video opens with Abigaël, and Marie-Hélène seated together on a couch. They look to each other fondly; Abigaël uses hand gestures to express herself while speaking. A rainbow made up of interlocking blocks of colour is seen in the background. Gentle music plays throughout.

Abigaël

One of the first things I’d noticed about Marie-Hélène was her empathy—she takes a very human approach to things.

00:00:06 Abigaël and Marie-Hélène stand together in front of a blank white screen. They share a hug, and smile for the camera. A dialogue bubble made up of rainbow-coloured interlocking blocks appears above them. Text on screen: Real stories. Real support.

00:00:10 Abigaël and Marie-Hélène seated together on a couch. We see a close up of Abigaël as she speaks. The rainbow made up of interlocking blocks of colour is seen in the background.

Abigaël

From early on, since I was also going through a transition in my career, I felt like she was there to support me in everyday life.

00:00:18 We see a close-up of Marie-Hélène. She gestures with her hand as she speaks, the camera cuts to Abigaël and Marie-Hélène sitting on the sofa, and then we cut to close-ups of each of them smiling.

Marie-Hélène

What brought us closer? For me, it was just having another woman in IT. There are so few of us. I was like, yes! A woman who’ll be coding on my team. I just thought, okay. Abi? Okay, great. She’s a woman? Okay, got it. For me, there was nothing more to it.

00:00:37 Abigaël and Marie-Hélène take selfies in front of the background that now shows the rainbow graphic in the shape of a smiling mouth, then we are back to Abigaël, and Marie-Hélène seated together on a couch. We see close ups of each of them while Marie-Hélène speaks. A rainbow made up of interlocking blocks of colour is seen in the background.

Marie-Hélène

To me, being an ally means understanding someone else’s reality, being open to what they may be going through and being there for them when they need someone to talk to.

00:00:58 Abigaël and Marie-Hélène are together on the couch. We see close ups of both: Marie-Hélène nods encouragingly as Abigaël speaks.

Abigaël

With Marie-Hélène, the moment that meant the most to me, when I felt like she was truly an ally, happened a few months ago when we were seeing a rise in anti-trans hate in the news. I got a text from her that said, “Hey Abi, I’m seeing everything that’s going on in the news. It’s insane. How are you? How are you doing with all this?” And I was like, wow. I finally have someone who’s sensitive to what I’m going through.

00:01:30 Abigaël and Marie-Hélène are together on the couch. We see close ups of both: Marie-Hélène uses her hands expressively, and often looks to Abigaël encouragingly as she speaks.

Marie-Hélène

I think it’s something she goes through every day. It’s not something that I’ll experience—it’s just a matter of asking her how she feels. I’d say it’s all about your openness. Your openness to telling your story, to speaking honestly, your analytical spirit, your critical thinking, too. You’re like that in both your personal and professional life. We need people like you.

00:02:00 Abigaël and Marie-Hélène smile widely as they stand with their arms around each other to pose for the camera. The rainbow graphic in the background is now heart shaped.
00:02:04 The interlocking colour blocked rainbow appears. Text on screen:  Let’s build a safe, free world for all Canadians.

00:02:08 The colour blocks in the rainbow shape are replaced by black background and the word UNITY. Text on screen: canada.ca/unity
00:02:11 The Canada wordmark appears.