P.E.I. Pride Festival has 'come a long, long way'

The P.E.I. Pride Festival started Sunday and includes a full week of activities, culminating in the Pride Parade on Saturday.

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Pride P.E.I. chair Tyler Murnaghan said his group is aiming to make the Island festival the second largest in Atlantic Canada. This year's events include a movie night, yoga in the park, and social events with Island politicians.

"We've come a long, long way. The first parade was actually held I was probably four months old then," said Murnaghan.

"But I know from hearing a lot of stories that there were some bad times back then."

Big changes

Early Pride parades in Charlottetown frequently encountered verbal abuse from people on the sidewalks.

Murnaghan said things have changed in the high schools too, even in the few years since he graduated himself.

"Kids feel so comfortable," he said.

"I'm not much older than most of them, but the knowledge that's out there, and the level of acceptance in high schools, has got to be just incredible."

A missing flag

Pride flags were raised Monday morning in Summerside, Charlottetown, Stratford and Cornwall.

But Montague refused, saying it would not fly a flag of any sort.

• Town of Montague won't raise any flags, including Pride

"We were obviously pretty disappointed. We were looking to get flags raised across the Island this year," said Murnaghan.

Murnaghan is meeting with Montague town council Monday night and hopes there will be a change of heart.

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