By Joanne McQuarrie
Pride Month is a celebration of the progress across the world that the LGBTQA2S+ community has made in its arduous journey to understanding and acceptance.
Local support is strong through the OUT Jasper LGBTQA Society.
"We've come a long way," said Mychol Ormandy, executive director of the society.
"There are a number of people who - as they say - are still in the closet because they're afraid to come out to their parents or their family. They're scared of the unknown; they don't know how their family members are going to react.
"People come and talk to me, that their child may be gay, etcetera. That's why we do what we do. We speak for people who don't have a voice."
OUT Jasper's primary mission is to offer services and programs that create a safe and inclusive atmosphere of equality, acceptance, and support for members of the LGBTQAS2+ communities in Jasper. Information, education, and advocacy on related issues are also provided.
"Through education, programs, support, and advocacy," Ormandy noted, "LGBTQAS2+聽individuals聽and families will feel safe, included and welcome in the Jasper community and beyond."
A variety of events are hosted by the society throughout the year to both increase public awareness and to raise funds to support other initiatives. They include Fab-U-Lash and Loud and Proud, which is hosted by the Whistle Stop Pub. Community Outreach Services (COS) also organizes an interactive educational fair at the Jasper Junior Senior High School each year.
"The society has done presentations at schools about sexual and gender diversity," Ormandy said.
"We're working on a campaign about stopping bullying - period, not only because you're gay. It doesn't matter if you're gay, straight, fat, thin; some people just like to bully - at all ages."
Public awareness initiatives include the raising of the rainbow Pride flag and Transgender flag, done this year on May 17 - in support of International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.
Those flags, and the flag at the Whistlers Inn, remain raised for the month of June.
Ormandy noted Gilbert Baker, who was an American artist and gay rights activist, is the designer of the Pride flag. Each of the six colors on the flag has a meaning: red for life, orange for healing, yellow for sunlight, green for nature, blue for harmony, purple for spirit.
Another visual marker for LGBTQA2S+ support in town is the rainbow crosswalk on Patricia Street; it'll be getting a fresh coat of paint soon.
Speaking of rainbows, Ormandy said, "We give out rainbow stickers to businesses, to put on their windows, to show support for the gay community.鈥�
OUT Jasper also works with members of the local Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) at Jasper Junior Senior High School providing support and advocacy to assist students in coming out, being out, and being an ally. The society made a $500 contribution the GSA to help with costs of sending local members to Edmonton for its annual conference.
Moments in history
May 14, 1969 - Canada decriminalizes homosexual acts between consenting adults.
August 28, 1971 - About 100 people from Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto and the surrounding areas gather in the pouring rain at Parliament Hill for Canada鈥檚 First Gay Liberation Protest and March.聽
January, 1980: Edmonton holds its first ever Pride Festival; by 1983 the festival grows to a weeklong event.
May, 1990: The World Health Organization, votes to remove homosexuality from being designated a mental disorder in the 10th revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems.
April, 1998: Supreme Court rules that provinces cannot discriminate against people because of their sexual orientation.
June, 2003: Michael Leshner and Michael Stark become the first same-sex couple to be issued a marriage license and marry in Toronto, Ontario after the ruling by the Ontario Court of Appeals. In the next two years, seven provinces and one territory also legalize same-sex marriage B.C (2003) Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland, Quebec, Yukon (2004), and New Brunswick (2005).
July, 2005: Bill C-38 bill becomes federal law which gives same-sex couples the legal right to marry. This makes Canada the fourth country in the world to allow same-sex marriage.
May 23, 2019: The World Health Organization votes to remove 'transgender' from being designated a mental disorder.聽
From www.queerevents.ca
