3 Year Pride Theme 2009-2011

Thirty one years ago, a group of brave individuals took to the streets of Vancouver. This was a march to educate Vancouverites that the LGBT Community was here: we were your brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, next-door neighbours and colleagues.  We were as much a part of the diversity of this amazing city as all the other cultures. The march was met with opposition and resistance, but that did not deter the brave leaders of our community.

The march continued to grow, developing into a parade. This was the first opportunity for the LGBT community to stand up for our rights. It was a vehicle to share our message for change and a way to liberate ourselves.  The Pride Parade and subsequent festivals and activities became a setting for people to gather and find strength in numbers.  We have fought many battles on our road to equality — challenges like our right to marry, to adopt, to serve in the military and to have equality of employment and housing.

Over the years, many of our battles have been won. Pride had successfully become a vehicle to educate and liberate.  There was one thing left for our community left to do: CELEBRATE!  This is what the LGBT community does best.  Pride celebrations across the country have become a gathering of people from all walks of life. This is a time when our diversity is celebrated openly; a place where people can express themselves freely without fear of retribution.  A place for people to feel PROUD!

So, where should Pride go from here?  Looking back on our history, it is evident that we need to educate our own community. We need to recognize, remember and cherish those who have come before us and the battles they have fought and won, so that we can continue to enjoy a better quality of life. One of the roles of Vancouver Pride is to ensure that our history is never forgotten or taken for granted.

We also have to recognize that Pride is not always a joyous occasion.  In parts of the world and even in our own country, Pride is still a movement to liberate.  Homosexuality is still illegal in more than 80 countries in the world and punishable by death in 9 of them. Even in our home, Vancouver, there are still brutal attacks on people just because of their sexuality.  Most of the legal fights may have been won in our country, but true social acceptance has yet to be attained. Vancouver Pride continues to fight the fight, and celebrate our victories as we move forward.  Pride is a continuous circle of education, liberation and celebration.  Join the Vancouver Pride Society over the next three years as we:

Educate, Liberate and Celebrate

Special thanks to Definium Design Group for their creative graphics for our Pride theme. Visit them online at http://www.definium.ca/