Flags raised in Oxford and Huron counties to mark start of Pride month – London | 24CA News
Despite the current controversy in Norwich Township, space Pride officers say they sit up for a month of celebration, training and continued protest.
Progress Pride flags had been raised throughout Oxford County Thursday and in Goderich for Huron County to mark the beginning of Pride month.
In Oxford, seven flag-raising ceremonies had been held throughout a number of municipalities, together with Woodstock, Tillsonburg and Ingersoll.
One place with out Pride flags on municipal property is Norwich, which lately banned all non-civic flags on municipal property. The 3-2 resolution resulted in Ward 2 Coun. Alisha Stubbs resigning from her seat earlier than the tip of the assembly when the vote occurred.
Tami Murray, president of the Oxford County Pride Committee, says she believes narratives from the United States have trickled into communities in Canada, “giving people permission to express their negative narratives.”
But regardless of these narratives, Murray says the LGBTQ2 group in Oxford is powerful and able to rise up.
“Pride is protest, and we need to continue to protest for our human rights,” mentioned Murray.
Despite Norwich council’s resolution, Murray says a non-denominational service will probably be held this Sunday on the United Church in Norwich for the second yr in a row.
“We have faith, and we want to maintain our faith and I think the rejection from alternative faith is challenging,” mentioned Murray.
Along with the church service, different Pride-centred occasions in Oxford embody a bingo evening on June 7 at Upper Thames Brewing co. in Woodstock, drag story time in Ingersoll and Tillsonburg on June 10 and the primary Pride competition on June 17 in Woodstock.
With a “Hollywood Glam” theme, the competition will function drag story time, performances by Josh Braiden and Maxxsinger and henna tattoo artwork.
While Pride is at its coronary heart a protest occasion for equality, organizers like Murray and Dawn Allen, the Huron County Pride group vice-chair, say training is a significant factor of Pride month.
“With something new and maybe something people don’t understand… this is a way to broaden your horizons and maybe change some minds,” mentioned Dawn forward of Goderich’s flag-raising.
For the primary time, Huron County will probably be internet hosting a Pride competition on June 10.
“The idea behind the festival was to give the queer community and allies a safe place to take up space and to enjoy each other’s company,” mentioned Allen.
The competition will function morning yoga, a well being panel Q&A and drag queen and king performances.
Most Pride occasions in London don’t happen till mid-July. Despite that, Pride flags might be seen waving at police headquarters and all colleges within the Thames Valley District School Board starting on Thursday.
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