Pride Week is a chance for all of us in Richmond to honour and celebrate the resilience, spirit, and history of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
Pride parades and celebrations are now common in cities around the world, but they originally began as a protest against oppression. Even today, Pride is a reminder that many 2SLGBTQIA+ people are still fighting for equality.
Nobody should face violence or discrimination because of who they are or who they love. That is why I proudly stand in solidarity with Richmond’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community, this week and every week. My Richmond colleagues MLA Henry Yao and MLA Aman Singh and I are proud to be part of a government that has worked hard to advance the rights and freedoms of 2SLGBTQIA+ people and build a more inclusive province. For Pride 2021, the BC Government raised the Pride and Two-Spirit flags with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community at the Legislature Parliament Buildings and reaffirmed our commitments to inclusion.
Our government re-established the B.C. Human Rights Commission, an independent office that addresses the root causes of inequality and injustice in our province, after it was dissolved by the previous government in 2002. We improved services and care for trans and non-binary people, including making the X gender marker an option on provincial identification.
As a government, we worked with all 60 school districts to introduce SOGI-inclusive codes of conduct, so students can learn, play, and grow at school without fear of being bullied based on sexual orientation or gender identity (SOGI).
We know there is still more to do and I am committed to hear from and work with our Richmond Steveston community. As citizens of Richmond, we can all do our part to make our city more inclusive. A great way to start is by attending one of the fabulous Pride events taking place this week.
On Thursday July 29, you can get active while showing your true colours at the Zumba Pride Party held at the Minoru Centre for Active Living from 5-6pm.
On Friday July 30, the Hamilton Community Centre will host a Drag Queen Story Time at 12pm, with a story that teaches kids about diversity presented by a local teacher and drag performer.
On Saturday July 31, come to South Arm Park to tie-dye a rainbow t-shirt and listen to music by local artist Jason Qiu. You can get all the details and register for these and many more Pride Week events at: www.richmond.ca/services/communitysocialdev/inclusion/prideweek.htm
Pride and Two-Spirit flags were raised at the BC Legislature, and, Grace Lore, Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity, released this following statement in honour of Pride 2021: news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2021FIN0041-001244
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