A celebration of diversity and differences kicked off Monday, June 27 when the York University community marked the beginning of Pride festivities with a flag drop at the Keele and Glendon campuses.
Glendon’s Flag Drop Ceremony took place from 10 to 11am in York Hall, and the Keele campus Flag Drop Ceremony ran from 3:30 to 4:30 in the Student Centre.
Representatives from York Federation of Students (YFS) and its five community service groups – Access Centre, The Aboriginal Students Association at York (ASAY), TBLGAY at York, the York United Black Students’ Alliance (YUBSA), and the United South Asians at York (USAY) – spoke to patrons in the Student Centre before the official flag drop.
Students shared message of both fear and encouragement, reflected on the recent tragedy in Orlando, and offered thoughts on how to move forward to create a safe and inclusive space for people of all communities.
“Each and every one of you knows at least one person who belongs to one of these communities,” said Daulton Scott of the Access Centre.
The presentations ended with a grand flag drop from the upper level of the Student Centre.
The festivities continue through the week with these events:
- Display Your Pride Poster Pick-Up
Wednesday June 29, noon – 4pm, Vari Hall - Positive Space Training
Wednesday, June 29, 2:30 – 4pm, 280N York Lanes - What Ally-ship Looks Like Workshops
Thursday, June 30, 2 – 3pm & 3 to 4pm, 280N York Lanes - Trans Pride Rally and March
Friday, July 1, rally at 7pm, march at 8pm, North Stage, at the intersection of Church and Isabella Streets - Pride Community StreetFair
Saturday, July 2, 11am – 5pm, Church Street - Dyke March
Saturday, July 2, 2pm, Church at Bloor Street - Pride Parade
Sunday, July 3, 2pm, Yonge Street from Bloor to Dundas Square
Contact Melissa Palermo at YFS Campaigns & Equity, at campaigns@yfs.ca, for more information on how you can march with York@Pride in the parade. Bring your re-usable water bottles. It’s going to be hot, hot, hot!
York@Pride is generously supported by the Vice-Provost Students, Osgoode Hall Law School, AGYU, Centre for Human Rights, TBLGAY, YFS, GLgbt and the SexGen Committee.