SOUND OFF: Celebrating Pride across B.C.

British Columbians have long been on the leading edge when it comes to defending the rights of people to live as their true selves and love who they love. It’s something we should all be proud of.

As far back as 1964, Vancouver became home to Canada’s first gay rights group – the Association for Social Knowledge or ASK. The first gay rights protests held in Canada took place in 1971 in Vancouver and Ottawa, and a decade later Vancouver’s first official Pride Parade saw 1,500 people turn out.

In 1997 BC NDP Premier Glen Clark’s government passed laws giving gay and lesbian couples the same rights as straight couples in child custody cases. In 2003, B.C. became the second province (after Ontario) to allow same-sex marriage – and we gained an international reputation as a safe place for gay and lesbian people from around the world to come and get married, despite their relationships not being recognized back home.

In 1999, two landmark court cases in B.C. ruled that trans people could not be fired from a job because of their identity. And in 2016, the B.C. Human Rights Code was updated to explicitly protect trans people from discrimination.

This is all part of our history. Over the years, Pride has evolved to include not just fighting for rights – but celebrating our hard-fought victories.

You no longer have to be in Vancouver to join in. Celebrations happen all across B.C. – and not just in June. Vancouver Pride transforms the city over the August Long Weekend, and communities across B.C. have pride celebrations big and small all summer long.

In Kamloops, Pride celebrations happened across the city from June 8 to 14 and wrapped up with a Pride Festival that included vendors, food trucks, performances and a parade in Downtown Kamloops!

How ever and wherever you are celebrating this summer, I’m wishing you a happy Pride!

by Jennifer Blatherwick, MLA for Coquitlam-Maillardville and Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity

SOUND OFF: Celebrating Pride across B.C.

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