Members of Pride organizations from across Canada have gathered in 麻豆精选 for the 2023 Fiert茅 Canada Pride conference.
Representatives from more than 75 Pride organizations have gathered at the Delta Grand hotel downtown 麻豆精选 to learn, share experiences and ideas, network and spread love, said Chris Kennedy, the Board Communications Director for Fiert茅 Canada Pride.
The theme of the 2023 conference is 鈥楢mplifying Rural and Remote Voices鈥�. Fae Johnstone, Executive Director of Wisdom2Action said that amplifying queer voices in rural areas continues to be important as anti-2SLGBTQIA+ rhetoric, bigotry and hate continues to impact queer people across the country, particularly those in places without an established Pride community.
鈥淲e鈥檙e seeing rising 2SLGBTQIA+ hate across the country and it鈥檚 important that we come together as a community to plan and strategize to create safer spaces in our communities and across the country,鈥� said Johnstone.
鈥淗ate, bigotry and stigma is a whole different world in a small town,鈥� said Johnstone. They explained that they are not exposed to the same negativity or prejudice that some queer folks in rural communities experience.
鈥淲e鈥檙e seeing a lot of radicalization of young men, and that鈥檚 particularly hitting some of our folks in rural communities.鈥�
Johnstone said that it is important to stand together to support each other and the unique struggles that communities across Canada face.
鈥淲e鈥檙e seeing a lot of progress in our big cities, but we still see context where queer and trans folks have to run away from small towns.鈥�
Julie Nobert-Demarchi, the President of Fiert茅 Canada Pride said that their ultimate goal is to create space for all people 鈥渨here we can thrive and really be ourselves.鈥�
She explained that in rural and remote areas, Pride organizations often have to take on many unique roles to serve their communities despite having limited resources.
The event is being held from March 9-12.
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Jacqueline.Gelineau@kelownacapnews.com
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