By Tyler Marr

Pride Parade an exercise in advancing diversity acceptance

Jun 9, 2018 | 2:42 PM

Some carried flags, others bore face paint, t-shirts, bandanas and buttons, signs, stickers and rainbow stripes, but all were gathered in a collective force to promote inclusion, diversity and acceptance.

Over 200 supporters spilled into the streets Saturday afternoon for Prince Albert’s 2018 Pride Parade. The event is the pinnacle of Pride Week in the city, and a stunning show of unity and celebration of gender diversity.

The parade, led by a police cruiser, snaked through the East Hill, from the Court of Queen’s Bench en route to Kinsmen Park, where a full slate of events was scheduled to take place. 

“A fabulous day, beautiful weather, you couldn’t ask for anything more,” Marc Roberts said, who donned a tie-dye shirt and waved a massive flag as he marched. “We are here to show we are open it is an open environment for everyone to be here and it is important to say that we are here,” the chair of Prince Albert Pride added.

He was overjoyed to see a bounty of people come fully decked out prepared to join in on the action. The large swath of youth taking part was of particular importance, he said. 

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“It is important for youth to be able to express themselves as well as come out and be the next generation to continue this on,” he said. “I think it is a sign that times are changing and people can be whoever they want to be.”

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Equally as enthusiastic to take to the streets was Lana Wilson, who likewise was draped in a tie-dye shirt and bandana, carefully equipped with a wide range of buttons and purple beads. Though straight, Wilson said she learned of gender diversity at a young age, with one of her first boyfriends identifying as bisexual, and since, has been a passionate advocate for gender and sexually diverse rights.

“Our friends, our family, our lovers, our daughters, our sons, our relatives, inclusive rights … it really does affect all of us,” she said, adding she strives to be an ally of the LGBTQ+ community.

She said witnessing many of her friends and family members face persecution, discrimination and oppression, only fuelled her push to encourage, support and strive to create an accepting community. Allies of the gender diverse community, she said, must carefully listen to the community and marginalized voices to help bridge the gap.

“I try to use the privilege that I have to be able to speak in my places and help to raise awareness of the issues that the community is telling us need to be raised,” she said. “As straight people, as allies, we need to speak out and say ‘hey, you know what, maybe you should be thinking about being more inclusive and how your words and actions … in your daily life and your policy and churches and organizations, those things are affecting people.’”

tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr