Media
Unfiltered - February 18, 2015
Transgender rights were a topic of discussion on Unfiltered today, Jill Krop also spoke with QMUNITY Executive Director Dara Parker about the issues LGBTQ people face in day-to-day life.
Unfiltered February 24, 2014
Unfiltered tackles real issues, bringing you the stories and newsmakers British Columbians are talking about right now. Each weeknight host Jill Krop goes toe-to-toe with the province's key players, asking the questions you want answered, and digging even deeper with a diverse cross section of prominent British Columbians sounding off on the controversial issues that affect us all.
Unfiltered January 9, 2015
Unfiltered tackles real issues, bringing you the stories and newsmakers British Columbians are talking about right now. Each weeknight host Jill Krop goes toe-to-toe with the province’s key players, asking the questions you want answered, and digging even deeper with a diverse cross section of prominent British Columbians sounding off on the controversial issues that affect us all.
Here's The Deal
Unfiltered tackles real issues, bringing you the stories and newsmakers British Columbians are talking about right now. Each weeknight host Jill Krop goes toe-to-toe with the province's key players, asking the questions you want answered, and digging even deeper with a diverse cross section of prominent British Columbians sounding off on the controversial issues that affect us all.
Here's the Deal Dec 18
Unfiltered tackles real issues, bringing you the stories and newsmakers British Columbians are talking about right now. Each weeknight host Jill Krop goes toe-to-toe with the province's key players, asking the questions you want answered, and digging even deeper with a diverse cross section of prominent British Columbians sounding off on the controversial issues that affect us all.
Here's The Deal Feb 26
Unfiltered tackles real issues, bringing you the stories and newsmakers British Columbians are talking about right now. Each weeknight host Jill Krop goes toe-to-toe with the province's key players, asking the questions you want answered, and digging even deeper with a diverse cross section of prominent British Columbians sounding off on the controversial issues that affect us all.
Here's The Deal Nov 20
Unfiltered tackles real issues, bringing you the stories and newsmakers British Columbians are talking about right now. Each weeknight host Jill Krop goes toe-to-toe with the province's key players, asking the questions you want answered, and digging even deeper with a diverse cross section of prominent British Columbians sounding off on the controversial issues that affect us all.
Here's The Deal Oct 7
Unfiltered tackles real issues, bringing you the stories and newsmakers British Columbians are talking about right now. Each weeknight host Jill Krop goes toe-to-toe with the province's key players, asking the questions you want answered, and digging even deeper with a diverse cross section of prominent British Columbians sounding off on the controversial issues that affect us all.
Transgender man files complaint against B.C. health ministry over surgical delay
The Globe and Mail, November 12, 2014Print
Dara Parker, executive director of Qmunity, a Vancouver-based resource centre for the lesbian, gay, trans, bi and queer communities, said the lengthy wait for gender reassignment surgery is a recurring problem. “People stay on waiting lists for years,” she said in an interview Wednesday. Ms. Parker said the waiting list just to be assessed for gender reassignment surgery generally has between 100 and 200 people on it. The waiting list for an actual procedure – once funding approval has been granted – can have 100 to 200 more, she said. Ms. Parker said there’s still a general lack of awareness among the public when it comes to the need for gender reassignment surgery. “They’re essential, life-saving surgeries. But I think the average person still sees them as elective,” she said.
The Winding Road Back
The Vancouver Sun, August 4, 2012Print
URL: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/national/series+winding+road+back/7003758/story.html
Like so many Vancouverites, Dara Parker came west attracted by geography and the weather. She was 18 years old and on a gap year between high school and university. She taught snowboarding for a season at Whistler before heading back to Toronto. But she always knew she’d find her way back here. But Parker has taken a winding route.
Telus bets on LGBTQ initiatives to build influence
BC Business, January 26, 2016Print
URL: http://www.bcbusiness.ca/telus-bets-on-lgbtq-initiatives-to-build-influence
When QMUNITY—a small Vancouver-based not-for-profit that provides support services to queer and transgender youth—needed a secure way for crisis-line workers to talk to teens, a landline didn’t quite cut it. QMUNITY’s audience is more likely to message via Facebook and Whatsapp during times of stress, so the organization’s executive director, Dara Parker, turned to an organization with unique and deep ties to the city’s LGBTQ community to ask for mobile phones.
Teacher Daniel Ogloff suspended for slapping 'I'm gay' sticker on student
CBC, September 25, 2014Online
LGBT advocates, such as Dara Parker, executive director of QMunity, say they are stunned a teacher would have done something like this. "This is just an affirmation that, despite all of the progress that we've made and all of the legal equalities we've achieved, that the day-to-day lived equalities are still not there," said Parker. "This teacher thought it was acceptable to put a sign that says 'I'm gay' on a student's back. And that's completely wrong."
Qmunity executive director Dara Parker to leave position for Social Venture Partners Vancouver
The Georgia Straight, March 17, 2016Online
Over her four years at the organization, Parker boosted private and public funding by 61 percent, increased staff, and augmented client outreach. Also during her time, Qmunity received the inaugural City of Vancouver Award of Excellence for Diversity and Inclusion in 2014. She also helped secured a $10-million partnership with the City of Vancouver for a new community centre, and conducted a community consultation, reached over 750 people.
Hollaback! Vancouver aims to end street harassment against women, LGBTQ community
CBC, July 11, 2014Online
Dara Parker with Qmunity BC's Queer Resource Centre applauds the initiative. "Public spaces are some of the biggest targets for people in terms of their vulnerability so certainly on public transportation we hear stories about people being harassed," said Parker.
DARA PARKER: LIVING HER PURPOSE
Vancouverites, August 24, 2015Online
URL: http://www.vancouverites.ca/dara-parker-living-her-purpose/
The first thing that struck me when I met Dara Parker was her intelligence and knowledge of gender and social policy. She is the go-to person for local news programs when LGBTQ issues are on the agenda and is a frequent contributor to local newspapers. She doesn’t miss a beat when confronted with difficult questions and explains intricate subjects with patience and compassion, but perhaps her most inspiring feature is her quest for the job that fulfilled her purpose.
Why asking for a Pride flag to be flown is not "whining"
Published by The Georgia Straight
July 9, 2014
Our legal equalities have not yet translated to lived equalities. Which is why we must continue to work hard at empowering queer people, educating our communities, and raising awareness on the issues that matter most. Increasing visibility by waving the flag is just one of the thousands of ways that we create a safer, more inclusive world.
URL: http://www.straight.com/news/683241/dara-parker-why-asking-pride-flag-be-flown-not-whining
The challenge of the in-between
Published by Vancouver Courier
May 21, 2013
Exploring concepts like gender neutral washrooms and signage is an obvious step towards making our neighbourhood a safer and more inclusive space.
URL: http://www.vancourier.com/community/community-correspondent-the-challenge-of-the-in-between-1.383733
Proving queerness a challenge for LGBT refugees in B.C.
Published by The Georgia Straight
April 2, 2015
Every LGBTQ refugee who arrives in B.C. is required to testify in front of a hearing board. These boards have varying levels of queer competence. Which means that they may not understand why a lesbian has children. Or that a gay man was married to a woman out of cultural necessity. Or that a trans person could not live openly without fear of police-inflicted violence and therefore has no history in their gender indentity.
Qmunity's safety compromised by homophobic graffiti
Published by The Georgia Straight
August 11, 2015
The fact that someone would violate a place designated as an LGBTQ sanctuary, in a neighbourhood known for being inclusive, in a city where people assume it’s easy to come out, in 2015, is frightening. Homophobia has not disappeared.
URL: http://www.straight.com/life/505581/dara-parker-qmunitys-safety-compromised-homophobic-graffiti
Opposition to Vancouver school board’s gender policy rooted largely in fear and ignorance
Published by The Georgia Straight
June 3, 2014
This month was a stark reminder that many children in our community don’t have safe environments where they can come out. Which is exactly why this policy at the Vancouver school board is critical; we need to ensure that all of our children are safe and included.
It's time for Canada to champion LGBTQ rights at home and abroad
Published by The Georgia Straight
November 6, 2015
Today there are still more than 80 countries worldwide that continue to criminalize LGBTQ people, leading directly to harm, violence, and often death for our communities—this is despicable and should not be tolerated by us.
Gender policing affects everyone, not just LGBT people
Published by The Georgia Straight
March 10, 2016
Gender is complicated, unique, and often invisible. The world in which I want to live one day celebrates gender in all its beautiful forms.
How will media concentration affect queer stereotypes?
Published by The Georgia Straight
February 4, 2016
The brilliant Chimamanda Adichie warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding. Without a multiplicity of queer and trans voices in the media, we risk believing that all trans folk are able to easily access health care, gender appropriate clothing, and material security—the reality is anything but.
Biography
Dara Parker is a nonprofit executive with a background in social change and over 18 years’ experience working in social-profits and local government. Parker began her career working in international development and has travelled to over 50 countries, spanning five continents. She is a skilled public speaker who is regularly asked to speak on diversity and inclusion. A regular commentator on current issues, she has been featured on Global BC, CTV, CBC, CKNW, The Globe and Mail, The National Post, The Vancouver Sun, The Georgia Straight, and The Vancouver Courier. Parker's notable achievements include: working for QMUNITY, Kids Help Phone, the United Nations Association in Canada, the City of Burnaby, and Cuso International. For three years, she consulted with UN-Habitat on their inaugural Youth Advisory Board, helping mainstream youth participation throughout the organization. Parker currently serves as the Vice-Chair of Pivot Legal Society, a human rights organization that challenges the root causes of poverty and social exclusion.
Additional Titles and Affiliations
Vancouver Foundation Health and Social Development Advisory Committee
Roundhouse Radio Board Advisor
Pivot Legal Society Board Member
Co-Founder - Lezervations
Past Talks
Speaker
Scaling Up: Social Venture Partners Annual Conference
Los Angeles, USA, October 21, 2016
Speaker
Diversity Panel, National Philanthropy Day
Vancouver, Canada, November 23, 2016
Panelist
SFU: There Goes the Gayborhood?
Vancouver, Canada, June 2, 2015
Keynote Speaker
Reconciling Injustices in a Pluralistic Canada
Vancouver, Canada, January 23, 2014
Keynote Speaker
Women Transforming Cities Cafe
Vancouver, Canada, January 24, 2014