Municipality of Cumberland Mayor Murray Scott, Deputy Mayor Mark Joseph and Councillors Jennifer Houghtaling and Dale Porter joined with chairperson Emma Brown and members of Cumberland Pride on Monday, June 12, 2023, to raise a flag proclaiming the week of June 12 to 18 as Pride Week within the municipality.
Brown said June is recognized around much of the world as Pride Month. It is a time to honour our 2SLGBTQIA+ community, a time for the community to freely be themselves and show their love, a time to celebrate, but also a time to educate, and to remember that Pride started as a protest, and as a fight for the community’s right to exist.
“Current world events remind us that this fight is not over,” she said. “Laws are being passed by our neighbours to the South that put the very freedom and protections we have fought for in jeopardy. The health and safety of our transgender community is at risk. We cannot be naïve to think that those same laws would not be considered here as well by certain groups or political parties.”
She said there is a strong and vibrant 2SLGBTQIA+ community in Cumberland County and said it’s important to acknowledge, support and embrace them, not just during Pride Week or Pride Month, but every single day of the year.
“It is important to be a vocal and visible ally, to create safe spaces, to respect names and pronouns and to speak out when you see injustice,” Brown said.
Mayor Scott said the municipality is supportive of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and he said himself, council and staff are pleased to fly the flag on its municipal properties, “recognizing that everyone has the right to live in conditions of dignity, respect and peace, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.”
The mayor also signed a proclamation declaring the week of June 12 to 18 as Pride Week within the Municipality of Cumberland.
There are a number of events across Cumberland County this week, including:
Tuesday, June 13 – Pride Walk, 3 p.m., Parrsboro Service Centre; Bracelet Making, 3 p.m., Dr. Carson & Marion Murray Community Centre in Springhill.
Wednesday, June 14 – Reading with Royalty Storytime, 2 p.m., Pugwash Library; Chalk Drawing, 3 p.m., Parrsboro Bandstand; Chalk Drawing, 3 p.m., Dr. Carson & Marion Murray Community Centre in Springhill; Drag Makeup Tutorial featuring Mya Diction, 6-8 p.m., Cumberland Community Youth Development Centre in Amherst; Movie Night, 7 p.m., Amherst Library featuring the film, Venus.
Thursday, June 15 – Pride Themed Night, 6-8 p.m., Havelock Street Park in Amherst; Pride Health Information Session with Garry Dart, 6-7:30 p.m., Amherst Library.
Friday, June 16 – Tea with a Queen, 10 a.m. to noon, Maggie’s Place in Amherst; Pride Karaoke, 8 p.m., Two Islands Brewery in Parrsboro.
Saturday, June 17 – Rebecca Rose Book Reading, 9-11 a.m., Amherst Library; Rainbow Pride Vendor Market, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Victoria Square, Amherst; Pride Parade, 2 p.m., Amherst; Drag Show and Parade, 8 p.m. to midnight, at the Amherst Curling Club.
Sunday, June 18 – All Bodies Swim, 1:30-2:30 p.m., Cumberland YMCA.