The Red Deer Queer Community Association is offering plenty of opportunities for residents to celebrate Pride Month.
Throughout June, there will be a series of events hosted by the association, in collaboration with the Downtown Red Deer Business Association, Red Deer Public Library, and Red Deer Museum and Art Gallery.
Pride Month is about promoting inclusivity and diversity, and showcasing representation, said Rhys Pugatschew, RDQCA board chair.
“Sometimes you don’t know what it is you’re feeling until you see it out in the world,” Pugatschew said, adding it’s also about providing a safe space to those in the SLGBTQIA+ community.
The first Pride Month event, the Queer Prom, was held this past Saturday.
“It was awesome. It was so good to see the kids happy and able to express themselves while feeling safe enough to do so. It’s just so heartwarming to see,” said Pugatschew.
The RDQCA attended the Pride Week celebration at Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School Monday and is scheduled to be at the Hunting Hills High School event Tuesday.
There will be several other events to attend throughout the month as well:
- Pride Car Parade at Goodlife Fitness and an after party at Gary W. Harris Celebration Plaza on June 11
- Guest lecture at Red Deer Polytechnic on June 13
- Youth Poetry Slam at the Northside YMCA on June 14
- Queer Art Gallery at the Red Deer Museum and Art Gallery on June 16
- Adult Poetry Slam at the Northside YMCA on June 18
- Red Deer Native Friendship Society Pow-Wow at Servus Arena on June 20
- Fabulous Fantastic Storytime at the Red Deer Public Library’s branch on June 21
- Pronoun Day at at the Northside YMCA on June 24
- Panel on Queer History at at the Northside YMCA on June 26
- Panel on Importance of Pride at the Northside YMCA on June 30
The RDQCA hasn’t been able to host in-person events the past couple of years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But that will change this year.
“We’ve got a lot going on,” said Pugatschew.
“It’s nice to see people again and it’s nice to be able to have the space to do so. We’ve been working with the YMCA for a lot of our events and they’ve been so awesome.”
For more information on Pride Month, visit www.rdqca.org.
sean.mcintosh@reddeeradvocate.com
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