Pride in bares it all
Variety of festivities planned for NWT festival
Robin Grant
Northern News Services
Friday, August 11, 2017
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Get ready to bare it all this weekend.
This is the theme for this year's NWT Pride festival, now in its sixth year celebrating sexual and gender diversity.
Ben Linaker hoists Keelen Simpson on his shoulders in celebration of Pride in Somba K'e Civic Plaza last year. LGBTQ allies play a significant role in ensuring there are safe spaces available for the LGBTQ community, says festival arts co-ordinate Lane MacIntosh. - NNSL file photo |
"We really wanted to promote people being their true selves, whatever it meant," explained the festival's arts co-ordinator, Lane MacIntosh.
"To bare it all, whether you are queer or queer allies ... Let love come through, in all of its forms."
The festival, which kicked off last night with a Queerlesque performance, is also focusing on taking action. Baring it all applies to "queer allies," MacIntosh explained.
This can occur from something like using the correct pronoun when referring to transgender and people who use non-binary gender designations such as "they," according to MacIntosh.
"It's important to be cognizant of the power of words and actions and make sure we have good intentions and are accountable," said MacIntosh.
Chelsea Thacker, executive director of the Rainbow Coalition of Yellowknife, said this year's theme is timely with the changes to the Vital Statistics Act.
The changes allow individuals born in the NWT who do not identify as male or female to choose gender X on their birth certificate.
"It's going to start acknowledging the queer and trans community," said Thacker.
Headlining Pride this year is Sc Mira, a rock band out of Winnipeg.
"When you hear a song by them, you know it's them," said MacIntosh.
Pride festivities include Queerlesque performances which began last night and run through tonight, free rainbow cupcakes in front of the post office today at noon, live music at Somba K'e Civic Plaza tonight and the Pride Festival and Rainbow Market tomorrow at the Folk on the Rocks site.
On Sunday, Pride is hosting a singalong brunch at Twist with SingPop Yk.
Pride organizers are offering free transportation to activities at the Folk on the Rocks site this weekend from city hall.
The Safety Squad featured at Folk on the Rocks in July will also be patrolling Pride as well.
