Vancouver kicks off Pride Week

Vancouver has officially kicked off its annual Pride Week.

The city marked the occasion during a ceremony at City Hall Monday.

“We are proud to host the launch of Pride Week here at Vancouver City Hall, to recognize the significant contributions of the [2SLGBTQIA+] communities in Vancouver, in partnership with the Vancouver Pride Society,” Deputy Mayor Peter Meizner said.

Pride Launch at Vancouver City Hall on Monday July 31st, 2023. (CityNews Image)

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“As we gather here on the ancestral lands of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Peoples, the City of Vancouver is actively working on implementing their UNDRIP strategy. As we reshape governance and uproot systemic colonialism, we’re also reminded of the essence of Pride: a commitment to honour all unique identities and strike towards equity for everyone.”

In addition to a reading of the Pride Week proclamation, officials raised the Transgender and Progress Pride flags on the building.

Pride Launch at Vancouver City Hall on Monday July 31st, 2023. (CityNews Image)

Along with the Pride and Trans flags, the city is also flying Two-Spirit and Pride flags from the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, and the Greater Vancouver Native Cultural Society on the corner of 12th Avenue and Cambie Street.

The same seven flags are also being flown at the Vancouver Park Board building.

While Pride Week is an annual event, this year’s proclamation featured some changes, according to the Vancouver Pride Society (VPS).

“This is my sixth time at the reading of the proclamation at City Hall, and I’m deeply grateful that the city has changed the wording to reflect the issues that our community is experiencing right now,” explained Michelle Fortin, co-chair of the VPS.

Some of those issues include new bans on 2SLGBTQIA+ literature, as well as the hostility toward drag queens and performances in recent months.

“We are also reminded of Pride’s deep-rooted history in protest. I, personally, wouldn’t have some of the rights that I do today if it wasn’t for racialized trans women fighting for liberation. It is to these amazing, selfless, and heroic individuals that we collectively owe a debt of gratitude to,” added VPS co-chair Justin Khan.

“Our communities have fought through the AIDS epidemic, for our human rights and for our survival. Most importantly, we have fought for each other. Globally, 2SLGBTQ+ lives are at risk due to homophobia and transphobia, due to racism, due to violence, inequity, and oppression. We must continue to fight together. Wherever injustice exists, we must fight to extinguish it. Solidarity is our most effective weapon.”

Khan says Pride Week isn’t just for members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community — it’s also an opportunity for allies to stand alongside them.

Vancouver’s Pride Week runs until Aug. 6, when the popular Pride Parade is scheduled.