Friday, November 22, 2024
November 22, 2024

PRIDE 2024: Still far to go to ensure safety and freedom for all 2SLGBTQIA+ people

BY DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE SALT SPRING ISLAND BOARD MEMBERS

Nobody’s free until everybody’s free. 

~ Fannie Lou Hamer

Pride is a longstanding and beloved event in our community.

Our local Pride Festival celebrates our local 2SLGBTQIA+ community and draws in visitors from afar, offering a safer space for folks to be their full and authentic selves. At the Pride Festival, we share artistic offerings and, most importantly, we build a collective culture of belonging, support and celebration.

Queer joy is an act of resistance. With mounting violence against trans* and non-binary people, women and the queer community, we need to stand together, now more than ever, in solidarity for the rights of 2SLGBTQIA+ people.

Over the past year, we’ve witnessed an erosion of laws and freedoms for 2SLGBTQIA+ people here in this country and south of the border. Locally, we’ve seen attempts at censoring trans* books in the school system, and anti-trans* sentiments published in a small local publication. 

Here on Salt Spring Island, Pride is more important than ever.

The Diverse and Inclusive Salt Spring Island (DAISSI) board and organizers would like to express our deep gratitude for hosting our second annual Pride Festival on the unceded traditional territories of the Hul’qumi’num and SENĆOŦEN speaking peoples. We acknowledge that colonial systems of genocide and oppression are still alive today, not only on Turtle Island, but around the globe. 

Across Turtle Island, we have witnessed the weaving of related humanitarian causes into Pride celebrations, as demonstrations denouncing pinkwashing and corporate sponsorships have emerged. In light of these actions, we call upon the colonial government of Canada to decisively intervene and take tangible measures to ensure the safety and well-being of Palestinians. It is not just a moral imperative, but an urgent humanitarian and legal necessity. The situation demands all of our participation to help alleviate the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe.

We support the growing call within our 2SLGBTQIA+ communities to divest from corporations who are supporting the genocide, and we stand with Palestine, Sudan, Uganda, the Congo and many other places around the world where colonial violence is unfolding before our eyes.

We still have so far to go to ensure safety and freedom for all 2SLGBTQIA+ people, right here in our community, and around the world. As queer community, we know that to stay alive, we must find joy amidst the pain. Coming together in grief and celebration has always been our way. The essence of the first Pride parades were expressions of outrage and joy. We are proud to carry this tradition forward with all of our hearts.

Bring your open hearts and minds, and join us from Thursday, July 25 to Sunday, July 28 at the Farmers’ Institute to celebrate Pride! 

Some festival highlights you won’t want to miss:

All weekend long:

Camping at the festival grounds, with 2SLGBTQIA+ festival market, beverage patio open daily and hosted by Upper Ganges Liquor Store. Local musicians, DJs and performers will be on stage every evening. Join us for pop-up open mics, workshops and art installations offered by community for community, along with DAISSI-led activities, community discussions, and opening and closing ceremonies. 

Thursday, July 25: 

Opening ceremony, live music, open mic.

Friday, July 26:

Workshops, open mic, live music and performances, burlesque, karaoke and dancing at the festival grounds, starting at 6 p.m.

Saturday, July 27:

2024 Annual Salt Spring Pride Parade at 11:30 a.m.

Where: Starts at the library (McPhillips Avenue) with speakers and entertainment. The parade weaves through Shiya’hwt/SYOWT/Ganges village.

Join us at the Pride Festival grounds after the parade with the Ruwadzano Marimba Band, followed by a variety show, open mic, local DJs, headliner act Queer As Funk and karaoke. Wander the 2SLGBTQIA+ market and enjoy the beverage patio hosted by Upper Ganges Liquor Store. Entertainment all afternoon.

Sunday, July 28:

Morning Wellness Workshops: yoga, qigong, meditation, closing heart circle and community potluck.

Find out more:

Find tickets (weekend passes, Friday and Saturday night entertainment), view the weekend schedule and find out how to get involved: saltspringpridefestival.ca.

This celebration is proudly sponsored by our presenting partners: Raffi Foundation for Child Honouring, Country Grocer, Country Grocer Pharmacy, Upper Ganges Liquor store, and Harvest Moon.

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