Happy Pride Month!

Written By Rebecca Rubuliak

The month of June is a time to celebrate and commemorate 2SLGBTQIA+ people and communities’ joy, resilience, and history. Pride month began as a commemoration of the 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York, USA where LGBTQ+ activists resisted and protested police harassment at the Stonewall Inn, a local LGBTQ+ bar. This was a defining event that sparked the start of the 2SLGBTQIA+ Rights Movement. 

In our own Edmonton community, the first recognized Pride event was in 1980 and eventually grew into a week-long celebration by 1983. Pride in Edmonton has continued to blossom, and in turn, has led to improved awareness and protections for 2SLGBTQ+ communities. Despite these advancements, there is continued discrimination faced by 2SLGBTQIA+ peoples. Notably, we recognize trans people and communities are facing growing amounts of hate and a lack of protection in our province. Pride month is a reminder each year that we need to continue to advocate for the right to diverse sexuality and gender expressions, and the right to access safe and inclusive communities and spaces. This Pride season, we continue to celebrate and are grateful for the many contributions of our 2SLGBTQIA+ community members. Skills Society remains a non-partisan organization committed to supporting the rights and dignity of marginalized peoples in our communities.

Celebrating Pride

Celebrating Pride looks different for everyone! We want to highlight the diverse events happening throughout the City of Edmonton. The event dates, times, locations, and venue information are listed below. This is a non-exhaustive list of Pride events happening in Edmonton, please check out Pride Edmonton, Queer Edmonton, Pflag Edmonton Chapter, and other 2SLGBTQIA+ community groups for more events and information.

Pride Events in Edmonton:

Other ways to celebrate Pride all year around:

  1. Learn about vocabulary related to gender identity, expression, and sexual orientation. See more information here.

  2. Use people’s affirmed pronouns. Share your own pronouns with others, include your pronouns in your email signature, do not assume other’s pronouns, and use gender neutral pronouns if you are not sure of someone’s gender identity.

  3. Donate items in need, money, or your time to local 2SLGBTQIA+ community organizations (several are listed below).

  4. Find and support queer-owned and queer-friendly businesses in your community. Find Queer YEG’s business directory here.

Resources

2SLGBTQIA+ Community Organizations. Below is a non-exhaustive list of community organizations and groups in Alberta who provide affirmative supports that 2SLGBTQIA+ people and their communities need and deserve.

  1. Skipping Stone - A non-profit organization who aim to support and empower trans and gender diverse peoples and their families. Skipping Stone supports trans and gender diverse youth, adults, and families across Alberta to access comprehensive and low-barrier supports.  

  2. Community, Health, Empowerment and Wellness (CHEW) Project YEG - A community-based initiative based in Edmonton which provides frontline support and a safe environment for 2SLGBTQ+ youth and young adults (aged 29 and below) who experiences barriers such as mental health, poverty, houselessness, substance use, discrimination, and more.

  3. Pride Centre of Edmonton - An organization which provides community resources, referrals, support, and programs that support the needs and health of 2SLGBTQIA+ people and their families, friends, and allies. Pride Centre of Edmonton disability-specific resources

  4. Disability and Sexuality Lab - A research lab from the University of Calgary led by Dr. Alan Santinele Martino. The Disability and Sexuality lab leads a range of research projects relating to the experiences of 2SLGBTQIA+ people with developmental disabilities. They have several academic and non-academic resources for individuals, families/guardians, allies, communities, and service-providers.

  5. Edmonton 2 Spirit Society - The Edmonton 2 Spirit Society aims to re-establish traditional roles and responsibilities of Two Spirit peoples in Indigenous communities and build supportive environments across all societies for Two Spirit peoples. Their work provides improved access to public services and programs, and gender affirming spaces to Two Spirit communities. 

  6. Fruit Loop - A volunteer-led and non-profit social enterprise based in Edmonton. Fruit Loop supports and promotes groups, events, and art led by 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. 

  7. Pflag Canada - A charity founded by parents which aim to help families understand, support, and love their 2SLGTBQIA+ children. Pflag Canada connects individuals and families with services, supports, and educational resources. They have volunteer-led chapters across Canada, including 6 chapters in Alberta.

Resources from disability and 2SLBGTQIA+ communities. People with disabilities have reported a lack of belonging and access within 2SLGTBTQIA+ communities and spaces. The resources below are from self-advocates who understand and recognize the unique and intersectional experiences of 2SLGBTQIA+ people with disabilities. 

  1. Disability after dark - A podcast by Andrew Gurza which discusses social topics where disability narratives are forgotten, such as sexuality, media representation, and 2SLGBTQIA+ issues.

  2. Disability Action Hall - Disability Action Hall is a self-advocate group who has led several initiatives that support the right to healthy relationships and self-expression for peoples with developmental disabilities, including Right to Love Advocacy Group and Queerly Disabled events.

  3. Pauline Bosma - Pauline Bosma is the coordinator of Rainbow Support Groups, a network of support groups of self-advocates who identify as people with developmental disabilities and a part of the 2SLGTBQIA+ community. Find a handout on supporting an affirmative environment for LGBTQ+ people with developmental disabilities here.

Rebecca Rubuliak
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