Hundreds celebrate LGBTQ2 community at Saint John Pride parade – New Brunswick | 24CA News
Vivian Myers Jones would say it hasn’t been straightforward in New Brunswick the previous a number of months, however as she leads the best way for the Saint John Pride parade, it feels particular.
“This is a really huge honour that I’ve been asked to do this today,” she stated. “I’m very thankful.”
She is a member of the LGBTQ2 group and fears the rhetoric getting used to talk negatively about her group.
“Hearing some of that in contrast to some of the progress we’ve made, it’s scary.”
In latest months, the queer group has been rallying towards a change to Policy 713 for college kids that requires parental consent to make use of a special identify or pronoun.
Several advocates have stated it can power lecturers and faculty directors to misgender college students and doubtlessly expose some to house environments that aren’t supportive.
It’s one thing that made Saint John Pride organizations really feel this yr carried a bit greater than only a celebration.
The satisfaction parade comes after months of rallying by the LGBTQ2 group towards modifications to Policy 713.
Nathalie Sturgeon / Global News
“I think this year, more than a lot of recent years, queer joy is so important and showing that queer joy,” SJ Pride board president Mariah Darling stated. “Especially over the last few months, there has been such a focus on some of the more negative aspects of having to live in and be in the community.”
This yr the organizers required political occasion leaders, members and elected officers to take part in an training session as a way to take part.
“We wanted to make sure that folks, especially folks from elected provincial parties, were not just kind of doing the walking in the parade, which is something I considered performative allyship,” Darling stated.
She stated all political events had been represented within the session.
Progressive Conservative Saint John Lancaster MLA Dorothy Shephard walked within the parade and attended the session. She resigned from cupboard following the modifications to 713 and considerations over Premier Blaine Higgs’ management.
PC MLA Dorothy Shephard walked within the SJ Pride Parade on Saturday.
Nathalie Sturgeon / Global News
New Brunswick Liberal Leader Susan Holt, Green Party Leader David Coon and NDP Leader Alex White additionally participated within the parade.
Holt stated she felt it was essential to take the training session to point out that political leaders and MLAs are studying about lived expertise and creating safer areas.
“You are welcome in my New Brunswick,” she stated. “Your rights will be respected and defended to the end and thank you for continuing to be strong and resilient and for standing up and staying here in this fight we need to do today.”
For these in the neighborhood, Pride is a lot greater than a sequence of occasions.
“Listen to us, listen to our experiences; these are some absolutely amazing people, and I’m honoured to call them family as well,” Myers Jones stated. “I’m just absolutely thankful to be alive and to be here and just to be a part of an amazing family.”
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