I love June. It’s the time when school starts to wind down and everyone can tell that summer vacation is just around the corner. Yes, soon we will be free from homework and tests, presentations and book reports.
(I’ve been sleeping till noon on the weekends just to practice. It’s important to put in the work now, so we’re ready when the glorious time does arrive.)
But there’s another reason this month is important: June marks the beginning of Pride season across Canada.
As an ally, I think it’s important to write about queer issues for many reasons, but especially because I am a straight cisgender young man. Some guys with those attributes still find it acceptable to sling the f-slur at each other and use “gay” as a pejorative. They don’t represent all of us here in Straight Guys R US, but they’re a loud minority.
That’s not how we should be, and that’s definitely not how I want to be. It’s a disservice to my community, my queer friends and family, to not treat LGBTQIA2S+ issues with the same respect I’d accord anything else I write about. And let’s be honest here, Pride season is awesome!
Oh, Pride season. A joyous time indeed. A time of parades and fun and celebration. Celebration of the right to be who you are and love whomever you choose. Isn’t that wonderful?
This is something we’re so lucky to have as youth in Canada. I can’t remember a time when Pride parades didn’t flood the streets with colour and music every summer – but my parents and grandparents certainly can.
To not have the kind of societal acceptance that queer Canadians enjoy today seems so foreign and strange to me. I mean, certainly that acceptance isn’t universal, but legally, protections exist for queer people to be able to live and love freely. To not have something as basic as that is downright strange.
And yet, that is the reality for far too many people around the world.
And the thing is, our rights here aren’t guaranteed either. As we’ve seen in the United States, equality rights can be stripped away in an instant.
We have to understand how lucky we are to live in a country like this, especially during Pride season. It’s important to take an active role in our communities, because the stronger they are, the easier it is to defend against hate.
That said, let’s see what’s going on in the community. What sorts of queer shenanigans can everyone get up to this summer?
There’s not a lot happening in Langford, but if you’re willing to shlep out to Victoria, there are some interesting events with your name on them.
Go to the website for Victoria Pride, victoriapridesociety.org, to find all the great events you can participate in and maybe even volunteer.
And it’s not just Victoria. There’s Pride celebrations all over the Island, in Campbell River and Ladysmith and Duncan, oh my!
It’s exciting and fun to get involved with Pride events, and if you need community, now is a really good time to find it.
Or maybe these events aren’t for you. That’s OK. There’s no wrong way to Pride. (Oh yes, it’s a verb now.)
Pride is important for all of us. We all know and love at least one person who is queer, trans, or questioning in our lives.
If you’re an ally like myself, the best thing you can do is offer support to those who are struggling, and be kind, supportive, and non-judgmental. Life can be hard, let’s not make it harder. Let’s not be that guy.
Plus, let’s be honest here. Who doesn’t like parades and rainbows? No one, that’s who.
Happy Pride!
Gabriel Mackintosh is a student at Royal Bay Secondary School.
