Pride Week 2019 Officially Underway

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Pride YMM is painting the town rainbow for Pride Week 2019.

On Sunday, dozens of residents gathered for the opening of the week that celebrates people of all ages, gender identities and sexual orientations.

Speaking to those in attendance, Mayor Don Scott says Pride Week epitomizes what makes Fort McMurray so great.

“What I believe in and what I think everyone here believes in is an inclusive community that is diverse and accepting of all people. That’s exactly what these types of events promote and I think it is so important.”

Scott also took time to note the Saline Creek Bridge will be lit up in rainbow colours all week long to mark the occasion.

Following his remarks, he promised when council resumes in the fall – they will be making an immediate motion to ban conversion therapy in the RMWB.

With all those in attendance, and all that’s planned for the week ahead – Pride YMM Committee Member Mitchell Bowers says it’s been amazing to witness Pride YMM’s growth in the past few years.

“We have lots of different programs across the community. So, we know have a transgender support group, we have a doctor that’s providing trans-medical care and we have story time with the “End of the Rainbow” at the library. So, there’s a lot of programs in the community that were not here before Pride was.”

Bowers adds despite all the positivity, there are still so many misconceptions about the LGBTQ+ community.

“A lot of people feel we’re freaks but really we are just normal people who either love the same gender or maybe we were born in the wrong bodies but we are just normal people who are here and part of this community and doing our part to make this community great.”

Pride festivities will be ongoing throughout the week – with a final celebration set for this Saturday at Jubilee Plaza from 12-4 p.m.

For a list of events, click this link.

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