Adam Prudhomme
Editor
An intersex inclusive progress Pride flag was raised outside Greater Napanee’s administration building on Friday afternoon, marking a simple, yet very symbolic gesture.
A small crowd was invited to the ceremony, which served as the official kick off to Greater Napanee Pride’s second annual Pride festival. Though the main celebration was held Saturday in Conservation Park-followed by a pair of drag shows at the Strathcona Paper Centre-Friday’s flag raising was significant. That’s because though the town has flown a Pride flag in previous years, never had it done so in front of its official administration building, owning in large part to the fact town hall was lacking a proper flagpole. Now relocated to 99 Advance Ave., the town just recently installed three flagpoles, one of which used to fly the Pride flag, the first flag to be flown as part of an official proclamation from the town at their new location.
Greater Napanee Pride chair Chris Beauchesne shows off the intersex inclusive progress Pride flag that was raised at 99 Advance Ave. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
Following the flag raising, Greater Napanee Pride board member Michael Wade was called on to say a few prepared words.
“I think it’s important to remember that every Pride celebration is a protest,” said Wade. “Beginning in 1969 with the Stonewall Riot, it was the beginnings of the gay liberation movement. Our community in Canada then witnessed the decriminalization of homosexuality in Canada in 1969, saw same sex marriage be legalized in 2005 and most recently in June 2007 with the passing of Bill-C16, we witnessed the inclusion of transgender and gender diverse Canadian’s rights in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. It is arguable that we are now in a third wave of protests for queer rights with the focus now being more in the rejection of the non-binary understanding of gender and supporting transgender politics. With this third wave of fighting for queer rights, we have witnessed a steady pushback. There are groups that protest activities like drag story time, who diminish the identities of members of our communities, refusing to use chosen pronouns or loudly making homophobic comments on social media.”
Wade said Pride celebrations were a chance to reach out to those who oppose the LGBTQ2S+ lifestyle.
“I want to take a few minutes to call in these kinds of people. Calling in is different than calling out,” said Wade. “Calling in is where someone is able to come from a place of patience and kindness to call in others to help them to understand. Calling out is something quite different and often becomes positional with both sides not listening and not learning.”
Wade also called on allies to the community to do more than spread the message of ‘love is love’.
Hundreds of people took part in the second annual Greater Napanee Pride march, which began in Conservation Park towards Springside Park and looped its way through town. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
“We need our allies to actively speak up where a queer voice has been silenced or doesn’t feel safe to exist in,” said Wade. “We need allies to stand up, to try to call in others when they can when they have the capacity to do so because it is exhausting work. We need our allies to stand proudly with us and to walk with us. We need our allies to do their best to understand and seek out information where they can.”
Drag queen Rowena Whey served as both a host and performer during the second annual Pride in the Country, held at the SPC. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
Napanee’s Pride celebration continued Saturday with the second ever Pride march, which saw over 200 people march through town in support of the LGBTQ2S+ community. Vendors and a kid zone were set up in the park all day long with a drag story time performed by Rowena Whey and Sonny Rays with special guest, Napanee’s own award winning author Catherine Hernandez. The afternoon continued with a performance by Lucas Silveria followed by an open stage with the event wrapping up later that evening with Pride in the Country, a 19-plus drag show and dance party.