HSA members: Show your Pride! Upcoming events in Vancouver and Richmond

Vancouver Pride Parade Sunday August 6; Register to participate by July 26
 
Vancouver Pride Parade is back this year, and HSA will participate in the BC Federation of Labour’s Multi Union Pride parade entry on Sunday, August 6 in downtown Vancouver on the stolen lands of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples.

Please join us in making a strong showing of union members in one of the highest profile Pride events in Canada. Event organizers just approved the BC Federation of Labour entry last week, which will include a vehicle and 250 marchers – that’s where you come in.

HSA’s designated contingent of marchers is limited to 10, let us know as soon as possible if you can join our entry by sending an email to @email. Folks with accessibility needs will be accommodated on the Multi Union Pride float, so please indicate if you require accommodation.

Putting on an event of this size is a huge undertaking, and the Vancouver Pride Society requires details of each entry’s participation in advance – so don’t delay, commit today to participating in this important – and more importantly, FUN celebration and show of Pride. The BC Fed must submit details of its entry by July 27, including how many marchers will participate in the Multi Union Pride entry, so please let us know by July 26 if you will join.

Now, more than ever, we need to be public about our support for 2SLGBTQIA+ communities which are under threat from increasing transphobia and homophobia across the United States and Canada. This is not just a problem in the USA; our federal government just announced new funding for safety and security at Prides because of this increase in anti-2SLGBTQIA+ hate.

The entire labour movement, including the BC Federation of Labour and the Canadian Labour Congress, has and will continue to stand in solidarity with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Your union is proud of the advances — ratified by members like you — in the last round of collective bargaining, including access to gender-affirming leave and supports in most collective agreements.

Please help us show that Pride by committing today to join in the Vancouver Pride Parade. All you need to do is send an email to @email.

Richmond Pride Walk: Saturday July 29 11a.m. – noon

Richmond’s first-ever Pride walk, organized by Richmond Steveston MLA Kelly Greene, is another chance to show support visible inclusion.

The Walk will take place along the Steveston boardwalk beginning at the MLA’s office at Imperial Landing (115 - 4011 Bayview St. Richmond). 

Richmond needs visible support for inclusion. Greene has heard from residents that Richmond lacks sense of belonging for many queer folks and that Richmond needs to do better in recognizing our local 2SLGBTQIA+ (Two Spirit, Lesbian, Gay Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual) community, from visibility to consultations relating to policy planning. In her work, Greene I’m passionate about bridging cultural silos, enhancing public education, and encouraging girls, women, and gender-diverse people to leadership roles.