The rainbow flag may be flying, but Innisfil and other communities still have some heavy lifting to do.
In recognition of June’s Pride Month, local dignitaries and representatives from UPlift Black and Innisfil Pride helped raise the Intersex Progress Pride flag for 2SLGBTQI+ communities outside town hall Thursday afternoon.
“Pride is a month to not only celebrate but take into consideration it is a fight for all queer individuals that have to fight for who they are — their identities, their names,” UPlift Black’s Honey Johnson said. “A lot of individuals think this is just a party. It is not. We all have to take into consideration that even though we all celebrate it and that June is Pride Month, it’s all year-round.”
Pay attention to the companies that incorporate Pride into marketing during June, but don’t talk about it again for the rest of the year, they said.
“Our youth are still struggling every single day for their identities,” said Johnson, who identifies as a two-spirit (2S) individual. “Let’s uplift our youth, let’s uplift ourselves and those who are still in hiding. Let’s bring them out because they shouldn't be left in the closet. This was a fight, this was a protest. Pride wasn’t just rainbows and colourful things. I’m still fighting. There are people older than me, there are youth, still fighting for their rights. We all need to take accountability for our actions.”
A few dozen employees from the municipality, South Simcoe Police Service and Innisfil ideaLAB and Library were in attendance, along with several residents.
That’s a huge jump from the roughly half a dozen folks who showed up for the first such flag raising at town hall in 2018, Innisfil Pride’s Jake Tucker said.
“It was a big turnout today,” they said, noting the municipality and local police department have supported Innisfil Pride since its founding. "The town has always had our back. I'm enjoying that we're growing."
But the event did have a minor hiccup — a couple of typos were noted on the government proclamations that were read aloud, including one from Barrie-Innisfil MP John Brassard's office, which left off the “2S.”
Mayor Lynn Dollin noted the areas of “significant progress” that have been achieved in recent years, while acknowledging that “many continue to face social intolerance, systemic barriers and that a need for education and awareness still remains.”
“We’ve never had a turnout this big,” she said. “As long as we keep trying, that’s what it’s all about. The Town of Innisfil highly values every individual and emphasizes the importance of equality, dignity and freedom. (We) believe every family, regardless of its composition, deserves a place to call home where they are safe, happy and supported by friends and neighbours.”
Within town, the library is advertising a number of events in honour of Pride. Among those, its popular Tween Takeover and After the Bell youth programs will host special editions, with After the Bell offering participants a chance to work together to create a Pride flag art piece on June 14, and Tween Takeover inviting kids ages 10 to 13 to share words of affirmation and colourful crafts on June 19.
On July 6, the library will also host a drag queen storytime. Representatives from the Barrie-Simcoe County chapter of pflag will be on site to provide information, and answer questions about how to support 2SLGBTQI+ youth.
And the library is also promoting a curated book list highlighting the work of authors from queer communities.
“I see hope for sure. It’s not just Innisfil. Barrie and surrounding areas are doing what they need to show their support, which is important,” Johnson said. “Our ancestors didn’t have that. It’s a huge, huge thing.”
For more information on the upcoming library Pride events or the book list, visit innisfilidealab.ca/pride.
