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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The NWT Pride festival featured three days and nights of events this past weekend.

The festival, in its second year in this incarnation, kicked off Friday with a breakfast hosted by Western Arctic MP Dennis Bevington.

Katie Santos, 20, displays her enthusiasm for NWT Pride festivities as volunteers hand out rainbow cake at the post office on July 9. - Daron Letts/NNSL photo

During the noon hour, those passing by the post office were treated to free rainbow-coloured cake dished out by volunteers Mikala Abbott and Tracey MacLean. Next door at Sutherland's Drugs, cashier Katie Santos, 20, dressed in a rainbow-tie-dyed onesie in honour of Pride.

"I'm straight, but I celebrate Pride to show support for my friends," she said. "I stick up for them because that's how it goes."

Lesbian, bisexual, gay, transgender, two-spirited, and queer (LBGTQ), along with other identities and related issues, were explored through a series of workshops throughout the weekend. Events at various venues featured live music, spoken word, games, art, and lots more food.

"The important thing about having a Pride in Yellowknife is being able to very blatantly create community and to be able to stand on top of a picnic table at the Folk on the Rocks site and scream, 'Yeah, we exist and we're here!'" said co-ordinator Iman Kassam, 29, who moved to Yellowknife two years ago from Ontario, where she was active in several LBGTQ advocacy organizations.

"It's incredible how much that unity helps you discover yourself and become OK with who you are."

Seven members of the Yellowknife United Church attended several Pride events, such as a panel discussion on LBGTQ issues and faith, dressed in T-shirts with hand-written messages of support. The congregation is in the process of becoming affirmed, helps the church define itself as inclusive and welcoming to LBGTQ members.

"This congregation has been very actively involved in being openly welcoming of gay and lesbian people," said Minister Peter Chynoweth.

Cat McGurk, 19, who refers to herself as "ridiculously queer," said the energy surrounding NWT Pride reflects a new generation of LBGTQ activists making real social change in Yellowknife. Awareness of gender and sexuality issues are important goals, however it's time to delve deeper.

"Now we're sort of in a new wave and we're able to address more," she said. "Not just oppression in the sense of gender and sexuality, but in all respects."

McGurk said queer Yellowknifers don't want merely to be tolerated.

"Forget the word 'tolerance,'" she said. "The word 'tolerance' is something that's held back the queer community for a really long time. I think it's more about general, actual acceptance and beyond just acceptance it's understanding."

Yellowknife musician Travis Mercredi, 31, of Erebus and Terror, echoed McGurk's message of inclusiveness.

"Once we move forward with this we move forward with everything else. These aren't separate issues. It's openness in our community, in our society. There isn't just one perfect way to be," he said.

Watching his transgender cousin make the transition from male to female opened his eyes to the struggles people face simply because of who they are, Mercredi said. "It's tough because it challenges the community. Some people will never learn how to accept a transgender person. I would imagine it would be one of the hardest things a person probably could do," Mercredi said. "I identify strongly with my masculinity and my heterosexuality, and that's a very easy route.

"Then you look at someone else, to be who they are their confidence is questioned because they are living in a world that doesn't accept them. It's sad."

Kassam said Yellowknife residents have shown a lot of support for NWT Pride since it formed last summer, but she recognizes some people still have questions about LBGTQ issues.

"There are always going to be people who don't understand the LBGTQ movement," she said. "But, we still love those people and we still welcome those people to come to our Pride festivals and as long as they're open to learning about us, we are open to teaching them about us and helping them become really strong allies."

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