P.E.I. Pride 2022 organizers promise a more inclusive community festival

P.E.I.'s Pride Festival is this month, and this year the event will have a new focus on diversity in the community.

"The events that we're planning to have are a lot more inclusive of all community members so everyone who is part of the LGBTQ community here on PEI," said Pride board memberAmirah Oyesegun.

Board member King Kxndisaid the new focus is a reflection of new members on the board.

"What makes the festival, almost every year, specialis Pride often has a new board," said Kxndi. "Each time that there's a new group of folks organizing for the festival it kind of creates its own culture."

More events will focus on gender diversity at this year's festival, due to the gender diversity of the people on the board.

'Pride was created by Black and Brown trans women'

Oyesegun said there will also be more about BIPOC queer folk, which will take Pride on the Island back to how Pride started.

"When we think of the history of Pride, Pride was created by Black and Brown trans women. Pride started with the Stonewall riot," said Oyesegun.

"Pride then became upper class and middle class centred. I think in a lot of ways, I think for a lot of younger, racialized queer people, when you don't see yourself represented in the media or in certain spaces you aren't fully able to process that, 'Oh, I can be that person.'"

One of the Pride events that will reflect this focus is the screening of a movie that'scentred around a racialized queer couple.

"A lot of the queer movies we see are very centred around white queer people or people with a lot of privilege, so this year we're trying to bring a different lens and a different perspective into the Pride events," saidOyesegun.

Wide Range of Events

Oyesegun said along with the standard events like the Pride parade, Pride in the Park and Pride After Dark, there are lots of "family-friendly events where children can come and participate and have fun."

With respect to COVID-19,Oyesegunsaid many of the events this year will be outdoors. In fact, the event they are most excited about is a seal watching tour.

At events that are held indoors, Pride board members and volunteers will be wearing masks, and participants will be strongly encouraged to wear masks as well.

Moving forward, Oyesegun said the Pride board members planto shift focus so that they not only organizethe Pride festival, butdomore community and advocacy work year-round.

The P.E.I. Pride Festival runs from July 16 to 24. A full schedule of events is available on the Pride P.E.I. website.

For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community check outBeing Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of.