The month of June is Pride Month and the first week of June in the Drumheller Valley is Pride Week.
To signify Pride Week, nearly 50 people were on hand at Rotary Park for a flag raising ceremony. The Badlands Pride Association handed out pride flags to those in attendance, as well as spoke on the importance of acceptance during the ceremony. Lana Phillips, Co-chair of the Badlands Pride Association was quite pleased with the turnout to the event. “Once again, it is great to see members of our community to come together and welcome folks for their own lived human experience and to be able to live authentically, especially when our rights continue to be challenged, and it’s an ongoing vigilance to keep that acceptance alive.”
If you notice the pride flag, there have been some changes over the last few years, this year including two feathers. Phillips explains that change is to continue with the inclusiveness. “Part of the joy of acceptance is that we continue to evolve the flag. Really, the feathers acknowledge the Indigenous component of this community, the Two Spirit community. It is a great learning opportunity to research all of the symbiology on the flag, if they are interested.”
The Badlands Pride Association continues to expand Pride Week with a number of events, acknowledges Phillips. “It has really grown thanks to our core board, which has expanded, and all the support of community organizations. We wouldn’t be here today without all the different local businesses and organizations supporting this event. We do have an event every day of the week for all different audiences and age groups.”
To find out more about the events of Pride Week in the Drumheller Valley, visit the Badlands Pride Facebook page or their website.
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