A gathering Tuesday morning in Orillia informed attendees of the strides made in the Pride movement, but also reminded them of the work that still needs to be done.
The rainbow flag was raised for the eighth consecutive year, outside the Orillia Opera House, and the significance of the location was not lost on Fierté Simcoe Pride president Brandon Rhéal Amyot.
In the early 1980s, police raided the opera house and a number of men were arrested for gross indecency and had their names published.
“It’s not only Toronto that had bathhouse raids. It was right here at the Orillia Opera House," Amyot said.
Orillia has been setting an example for LGBT awareness and advocacy, Amyot noted, praising the Couchiching Family Health Team for its trans health program as well as Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital for its LGBT committee, since health-care services still present some barriers to the LGBT community.
Mayor Steve Clarke read a proclamation Tuesday and referred to the work being done by Fierté Simcoe Pride as “very progressive, very ambitious.”
“Congratulations on what you’ve done to make it (successful) over the years,” Clarke said.
Simcoe North MP Bruce Stanton was also on hand for Tuesday’s event.
“These guys work immensely hard at this,” he said. “Because of their work, the progress being made is fantastic.”
It was a special moment for Gerry Hawes, too, who said he is the first openly gay person to run as a candidate for MP in Simcoe North.
“It’s marvellous to see us out here putting up a flag and celebrating our community — something that, when I was growing up in Orillia, wouldn’t have happened,” said the Liberal candidate.
Fierté Simcoe Pride Week runs until Aug. 11. Orillia will play host to one more event. The fourth annual Trans Pride March on Thursday will start at Veterans' Memorial Park at 6 p.m. and proceed to Couchiching Beach Park for a picnic.
The fifth annual Simcoe County Pride Awards gala will take place Saturday at CFB Borden. Dinner tickets are sold out, but there are still tickets available for those who want to attend the awards ceremony and dance. For more information, click here.
