Pride lives here – and is on the move to Thunder Bay. Thunder Pride Association has announced they are partnering with Borderland Pride to expand the “Pride Lives Here” campaign to Thunder Bay. The campaign is about promoting visibility of 2SLGBTIQ+ people and promoting inclusion and diversity in northwestern Ontario. It has taken on added significance with the decisions by the municipal council in Emo Ontario not to recognize Pride month.
Thunder Pride Association stands in solidarity with our regional Pride organizations and is encouraging city residents to showcase their sense of Pride and inclusion through window displays, lawn decor, social media content, and other creative rainbow displays throughout the month of June, which is recognized internationally as Pride month.
“The Pride Lives Here campaign is an incredible opportunity to continue to highlight that the fight for equality, equity and inclusion for our 2SLGBTIQ+ communities continues. I thank Borderland Pride for bringing this great campaign forward and sharing it with Thunder Pride and Thunder Bay. I also want to say to all those troubled by the homophobic comments and actions taken by officials in Emo. We hear you, we see you, and we will continue to stand and fight with you to ensure this type of behaviour is eradicated from our world,” stated Jason Veltri, Chair of Thunder Pride Association.
Due to COVID-19, traditional Pride month events, such as parades, are on hold until next year. However, residents are encouraged to show their pride and acceptance at their own homes. To get the community in the spirit, Borderland Pride had created lawn signs, which can be displayed throughout the month. They are available for contactless pick-up along the fence at 700 Victoria Ave. A voluntary donation box is available. The signs are also available through Rainy River pride. The signs in both communities are in high demand – if no signs are available, keep an eye on Borderland Pride and Rainy River Pride’s Facebook pages to track availability, and learn about events taking place throughout the month.
