Pride celebrations get underway on Vancouver Island this weekend
Events will be held in nearly 20 island communities this summer
Rainbows will be on display in the Cowichan Valley, the Alberni Valley, and Ladysmith this weekend, as Pride events get underway in the three Vancouver Island communities.
Festivities begin in even more locations in the coming week, including Victoria, Parksville and Nanaimo.
Cristin Elle, president of Cowichan Pride Society, says Pride is about both celebrating the 2SLGBTQ+ community, and advocating for their rights.
The Cowichan Valley, which includes the city of Duncan, is about 45 kilometres north of Victoria.
Elle told the CBC podcast This is Vancouver Island that her partner is trans, and growing anti-trans sentiment around the world makes it even more important to celebrate Pride.
"There's a real fear about their identities being erased," said Elle.
"So going to Pride, being involved in Pride … paves the road for the younger generation."
Cowichan Pride is holding five events over three weeks, starting with a concert and drag show on May 31, and ending with a parade on June 22.
Week of events in Alberni Valley
About 50 kilometers northwest of Cowichan Valley, organizers at Alberni Valley Pride are hosting a week full of events — starting with a car wash on Sunday, June 1 in the heart of Port Alberni.
"[The car wash] is a really good way to kind of just get the word out," said Crysta Stubbs, vice chair of the Alberni Valley Pride Society.
"People come out, hold up signs … Let people know Pride week is starting."
It's the first year Stubbs has been involved with the organization, and she said for the most part people in the Alberni Valley are excited about Pride.
She told This is Vancouver Island that she does hear some pushback from people who wonder why the 2SLGBTQ+ community needs a week of celebration.
But she said she's ready to explain that Pride is not about "us" versus "them," and that it's important for the queer community to get to celebrate themselves, and how far they've come.
""I am really excited about the opportunity to just talk with people," said Stubbs.
"I don't mind having hard conversations."
Nearly 20 island communities plan to celebrate
Ladysmith, about 90 km northwest of Victoria, is holding its Pride festival on June 1.
On June 2, Nanaimo, about 110 km northwest of Victoria, kicks off its festivities, which will wrap up with a parade on June 8.
Victoria has events June 1 and 12. It's main celebrations will be held at the beginning of July, wrapping up with a parade on July 6.
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There are also Pride events this summer in Parksville, Langford, Saanich, Gabriola Island, Sidney, Tofino, Campbell River, the North Island, Qathet, Denman Island, Pender Island, and the Discovery Islands.
For deaf and hard-of-hearing members of the community, ASL interpretation will be available at events in Nanaimo, Victoria, and the Comox Valley.
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