It was a smaller than usual gathering at Innisfil Town Hall on Wednesday, to raise the rainbow flag and proclaim Pride Month in the Town of Innisfil.
But what the brief open-air ceremony lacked in numbers, due to COVID-19, it made up for in spirit.
Mayor Lynn Dollin and Deputy Mayor Dan Davidson were joined by members of Innisfil Pride, Jake Tucker and Amanda Wattie.
The rainbow flag that was raised included a brown bar,and a black bar – representing inclusivity and diversity. “It’s the same flag we raised last year, because we knew the importance of inclusion,” said Wattie.
What was different this year was that it was the first “virtual flag-raising” for Pride Month, streamed live on Facebook.
“I remember the first time we put this up,” said Deputy Davidson of the rainbow flag. “We got protests… When we raised the flag at the County (of Simcoe), only one member of County Council showed up.”
The flag-raising is the only event scheduled this year by Innisfil Pride, one of seven groups that make up the Partners in Pride coalition – although the Barrie group is looking at possibly holding a “virtual parade”
All the same, said Tucker, members of the LGBTQ2S communities are invited to reach out and connect on Facebook (click here), especially if dealing with any issues, and needing support.
And even with the COVID-19 restrictions, he said, “This is one more year of success.”