Music

Fredericton musicians raise money for transgender community

by Jeremy Mersereau

As of February of this year, New Brunswick is the only province in Canada that does not fund gender confirmation surgery. Transgender residents have no choice but to pay for their own sex reassignment procedures, which can often run into the tens of thousands of dollars. Add that to the discrimination and hardships trans individuals face on a daily basis, and you might get a sense of just how difficult life can be for New Brunswickers.

To help out, Fredericton collective the Shifty Bits Cult are hosting the inaugural Cult Classic. This live music event is raising money for three local residents, all of whom are seeking financial support for various gender confirmation surgery procedures such as mastectomies, vaginoplasty, chest reduction, and masculinization.

The event, which takes place Wednesday, December 23rd at Fredericton’s Capital Bar, will showcase performances by local scene mainstays like Motherhood, the Waking Night, Captain III, and many more. All proceeds will go towards supporting the non-government-assisted surgery price tag, which comes out to an astonishingly high combined $41,500 for the three individuals in question.

“The Fredericton music scene tries to be inclusive and supportive, so this is a good way to show it,” says head Cult member Penelope Stevens. “As broke-ass musicians, it’s hard for us to scrounge up enough cash for a pack of smokes, let alone donating to even the noblest of causes. The only thing we have to give is our music, so we’re stoked to be able to give in this way.”

For anyone – New Brunswick resident or not – who wants to help, you can donate to three individuals’ fundraising campaigns here, here, and here. And, should you feel that New Brunswick’s Liberal provincial government should be helping to fund gender confirmation surgery, please let them know here.