Our Place Society responds to online backlash during Pride Week
The downtown Victoria shelter Our Place Society removed a Facebook post featuring a transgender resident after it drew a wave of hostile responses, then put the item back up with protective edits in an effort to challenge prejudice and show support for LGBTQ+ residents.
The post, published during Victoria Pride Week, told the story of a resident, Amanda Rogers, who arrived in Victoria with her partner, later experienced a breakup, battled addiction and homelessness, overdosed and ultimately entered detox before moving into transitional housing at Our Place. The profile was intended to highlight recovery and the shelter’s role in helping people move toward permanent housing.
- Our Place Society says it removed the original post to protect the resident from an influx of hostile commentary.
- After receiving the resident’s permission, the charity reposted the profile with a statement of support and with comments disabled on the updated post.
- The shelter leadership framed the decision as refusing to be silenced by hate while prioritizing the safety of the individual.
“We didn’t think much of that. We just put it up there,”
The comment above, from Julian Daly, CEO of Our Place Society, encapsulates the shelter’s initial intentions and its surprise at the reaction. Daly told CHEK News the post generated over 800 comments, of which he characterised more than 600 as hateful or hostile and aimed directly at both the resident and the organisation.
Daly said the decision to temporarily remove the post was not a capitulation to online abuse but a precautionary step. With Rogers’ consent the item was restored with a protective message and the comment function disabled. In doing so, the shelter said it wanted to both shield the resident and continue an active conversation supporting transgender people at Our Place.
Rogers, the subject of the profile, told reporters the aim of sharing her story was to let other transgender residents at Our Place know they could feel safe and supported. She described the repost as an affirmation that the shelter stands with trans people in the community.
| Metric | Count |
|---|---|
| Comments on original Facebook post | Over 800 |
| Comments described as hateful/hostile | Well over 600 |
The episode highlights tensions that can arise when local social-service organisations use public platforms to profile vulnerable clients. It also raises questions for Victoria residents and civic leaders about how community institutions balance storytelling, advocacy and client privacy when facing coordinated or widespread online hostility.
Our Place’s actions — removing the post to protect the resident, then reposting with safeguards and a clear statement of support — underscore the practical and ethical dilemmas faced by front-line organisations that both serve and speak for people living with poverty, addiction and marginalisation.
For downtown residents, the incident is a reminder of broader municipal responsibilities to protect vulnerable citizens and to foster a civic climate where public discussion about LGBTQ+ people can occur without threats or targeted harassment. Our Place’s public stance during Pride Week frames the shelter not only as a service provider but as an active participant in Victoria’s public conversation about inclusion and safety.
