AMHERST, N.S. — The road to ending the stigma surrounding the LGBTQ+ community has been long, and sometimes appears never-ending, but Emma Brown is optimistic that attitudes are changing.
A member of the Cumberland Pride Committee, Brown is helping organize a series of events to celebrate Pride Week in Amherst and around the county.
“We’re getting there, but we still have a long way to go,” Brown said. “The important thing, though, is we’re making progress and things you never would’ve seen just 10 or 20 years ago are more open and more accepted. There’s much more acceptance even if we have a long way to go before there’s equality.”
Brown’s daughter, Sarah, is transgender and her experience has been a positive one with supportive friends and teachers at Spring Street Academy, where the nine-year-old goes to school.
She’s like any other nine-year-old and Brown said she’s proud of who she is.
“She’s nine, going on 16 – just like any other nine-year-old,” Brown quipped.
It’s to continue raising awareness for the LGBTQ+ community that Cumberland Pride exists and why it’s hosting numerous events this week around the county that celebrate diversity and overcoming stigmas that are still attached.
At 11 a.m., there will be a flag-raising ceremony at the Indigenous Services Canada office in downtown Amherst while Amherst is hosting its annual flag-raising ceremony on Monday at the flag poles in front of the Cumberland YMCA beginning at 4:30 p.m. while for the first time ever the Municipality of Cumberland is hosting its own flag-raising ceremony on Tuesday at 10 a.m.
Up until last year, the county refused to fly the Pride Flag saying policy prevented it from flying anything other than the county, provincial and Canadian flags. The flag was raised last year by staff, even though the policy had not changed, while the county has not only officially changed its policy but wanted to hold its own ceremony at the E.D. Fullerton building in Upper Nappan.
There is also a Pride Movie at the Four Fathers Memorial Library on Tuesday at 6 p.m., featuring Love, Simon, that will be followed by a discussion. There will also be a free will offering to support Autumn House
On Wednesday (June 12), Oxford is hosting its second flag-raising ceremony at 6 p.m. in the park across from town hall while there’s a coffee house and open mic at the Art of Eating Deli from 6:30 to 8:30 pm.
Other events include events at the Dr. Carson and Marion Community Centre in Springhill on Thursday (June 13) from 4 to 7 p.m. and a Pride Swag Making party for Grades 7 to 12 at the River Hebert Library from 6 to 8 p.m.
On Friday, June 14, there’s a Drag Show and Dance Party (19 and over only) featuring Haus of Jekyll at Teazer’s Pub with the drag show from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. and the dance running from then until 2 a.m.
Tickets for both area $20, $15 for the drag show only and $10 for the dance only.
Amherst is hosting its third Pride Parade on Saturday, June 15, at 2 p.m. with Mason Carter, a Grade 12 student from ARHS, leading students from other Gay-Straight Alliance (or Gender-Sexuality Alliance) organizations from other county schools.
There will be venders and music in Victoria Square from 2 to 5 p.m. with parade following the route of the Big Block Walk around downtown Amherst.
Sunday, June 16, will see an all-bodies swim and Rainbow story time at the YMCA with the swim from 1 to 2 p.m. and story time from 2 to 3 p.m. and a multi-faith Pride Service at Victoria Square at 3:30 p.m.
Brown said it’s also worth noting 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the decriminalization of homosexuality in Canada.
