Event MC Joan-E (second from left) was joined by (L-R) Squamish councillor Deborah Baker, 麻豆传媒映画Mayor Kennedy Stewart and Musqueam Chief Wayne Sparrow at the Pride Proclamation event at 麻豆传媒映画City Hall July 29. Photo: Jennifer Gauthier
Pride Week was recognized by the City of 麻豆传媒映画today, July 29, with the raising of both the Pride and Tran flags at city hall.
Long-time 麻豆传媒映画Pride ambassador Joan-E was MC for the event, which was held on the steps of city hall and attended by Mayor Kennedy Stewart, members of council, the聽聽(VPS) and elders and councillors from Musqueam Indian Band, Squamish First Nation and Tsleil-Waututh Nation.
Parade marshal and Canadian Indigenous artist Idris Hudson was also in attendance. Hudson is known for his TEDx talk, "Consciousness is Irreversible,鈥� during which he encouraged others to build a dialogue with the homeless. Hudson is also dedicated to harm reduction within the LGBTQAI2S+ community.
The statue of Capt. George 麻豆传媒映画endorsed the proclamation of Pride Week at 麻豆传媒映画City Hall July 29. Photo Jennifer Gauthier
As a proponent of inclusive community engagement, Hudson helped found the popular Untoxicated festival, which is held annually during 麻豆传媒映画Pride. Since the festival's inception, Untoxicated has hosted entertainment power players and community advocates to further the message that addiction recovery is living.
Other 2019 parade marshals include DJ Orene Askew, a two-spirited activist and youngest elected member and spokesperson for Squamish Nation Council; and members of Queer ASL, including founder Zoe茅 Montpetit, who fights for 鈥渜ueer and trans鈥� equality and accessibility to spaces typically frequented by cis men and women. The word 鈥渃is鈥� is used to describe people whose gender identity matches the sex they were assigned at birth.
The theme of this year鈥檚 Pride Week, which is part celebration, part protest, is 麻豆传媒映画Pride 2019:聽. On May 14, 1969, Bill C-150 partially decriminalized some same-sex practices. The VPS says that despite the fact decriminalization of "gross indecency and buggery" for two men over the age of 21 in private spaces was introduced 50 years ago, the fight for liberation continues to this day.
鈥淭he addition of sexual orientation (1996) and gender identity (2017) to the human rights code, the right for same-sex couples to adopt (1995), common-law benefits (1999-2000), same-sex marriage (2005) and other legal wins were battles hard won by our communities, not rights bestowed on us by a benevolent government,鈥� the society said in a press release.
This year the VPS and Pride Week were buoyed by a $1 million in federal funding through the new Canadian Experiences Fund. The funding, which will be administered over two years, paid for two new staff position, headliners for the Sunset Beach Festival and for the creation of a three-day Davie Village Promenade event with a Pride Patio during Pride Weekend, Aug. 2 to 4. In 2020, the VPS is planning six Pop-Up Pride events, including film screenings and mural paintings, which will occur throughout that year.
The VPS has been the focus of recent scrutiny due to its decision to ban both the聽聽and the聽聽from participating in the Pride Parade. The VPS says the two institutions were excluded because they allowed 鈥渢ransphobic鈥� speakers to rent space for public events.
