Pride Parade Support

PRIDE PARADE SUPPORT

From Dean Ken

Kamloops’ first Pride Parade titled ‘Out in the Street’ is scheduled to take place August 20^th beginning at Riverside Park commencing at 11 a.m. I hope that St. Paul’s parishioners will consider supporting this initiative in various ways.

Some may wish to attend our early 8 a.m. Eucharist allowing them to walk in the parade individually or as a group. If a group comes together perhaps someone could create some sort of banner to carry as a visible witness. There are a number of ways folks can participate:

You can apply to be a volunteer. Please note the rules and regulations and the need for an orientation session. Go to https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1EQTsK3DqIYJS-hpo24DxAM3wDqJ9uJU04CNn5-yXQk4/viewform?edit_requested=true

You can register to walk as an individual. Go to https://docs.google.com/forms/d/11fjY3FqyEld8nFXZzoisIvAfc6RvwATFSM0iXH_zbqU/viewform?edit_requested=true

For updates please visit the Kamloops Pride Facebook page; KP is hosting a number of events around the time of the parade: https://www.facebook.com/kamloopspride/

Here at the cathedral I will prepare special prayers and possibly produce some appropriate music celebrating our desire to be an inclusive and welcoming community to all who gather here.

While the Anglican Church of Canada does not have an “affirming congregation” designation available as with the United Church of Canada, I would hope that Cathedral Committee could in its fall conversations consider how we might identify St. Paul’s as an affirming congregation as a tangible way of supporting and welcoming the LGBTQ2S+ community. Internationally, nationally, and locally, recent discriminatory events reinforce for me personally the need for us to become more visible and declamatory in our advocacy.

Finally, the Kamloops Pride Mission Statement is below for your information.

Mission Statement:

To promote a more flourishing LGBTQ community and support gay culture in Kamloops.

Regardless of how you identify on the gender and sexuality spectrum, we welcome you! We are here to serve the diverse community within Kamloops and its surrounding areas and strive to be an advocate on behalf of people who experience discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. Through this site we hope to promote a better understanding for all people through education, acceptance, and the promotion of equality for all walks of life.