t's not to the scale of Toronto's festivities, but this week, Niagara's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community hoisted a rainbow flag for its own pride celebration.
St. Catharines Mayor Brian McMullan and Melissa Gray of OUTniagara raised a flag at city hall Tuesday afternoon, symbolizing the start of a month of pride events for the local gay community. Upcoming events
include a bike ride, a Pride Prom for youth and a family-oriented picnic.
The sexual-and gender-diverse are an integral part of Niagara, Gray said.
"We're your financial advisers, your youth workers. We work at Brock University," she said. "I don't think the community at large recognizes our contributions and the daytime jobs some of us have."
The pride picnic has been going for "more than a dozen" years, Gray said. This year's festivities include a winery tour and a cabaret talent show at the Sullivan Mahoney Courthouse Theatre. It is a celebration that fits the personality of St. Catharines, she said.
Still, the Toronto and St. Catharines pride events strive for the same thing.
"They're both about creating visibility and acceptance and being able to provide social events for our community," Gray said. "We want everyone else to be part of what we do."
Month of gay pride events kicks off
St. Catharines Standard, Canada
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