It was a pleasure to join the Positive Space Alliance yesterday to raise the Pride flag on campus to mark the beginning of Pride Month.
At VIU, we celebrate diversity and strive to be a welcoming space for two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning members of our community. We affirm and support 2SLGBTQQIA+ rights on our campuses and communities and are working to create a space where everyone feels they belong. You are seen and we celebrate who you are.
As a show of support for VIU’s 2SLGBTQQIA+ community, I encourage everyone to join VIUSU and the Positive Space Alliance to walk in the Nanaimo Pride Parade and Festival on June 11. The parade will begin on Victoria Crescent and head along Commercial Street, making its way to Maffeo Sutton park for a celebration from 12 to 6 pm. For a full listing of Pride events in Nanaimo visit the Nanaimo Pride Guide.
This year’s parade theme is “Pride is Protest” in response to the steep rise in anti-2SLGBTQQIA+ sentiment in recent years. Pride Month calls on all of us to not be silent or stand by, but to stand up against hate and fear. At VIU, homophobia, heterosexism, and gender identity oppression have no place on our campuses.
Please join me in affirming, celebrating, and supporting our 2SLGBTQQIA+ community members.
