The month of June commemorates PRIDE- an annual series of events that celebrate 2SLGBTQ+: Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and people who identify as part of sexual and gender diverse communities. This year’s theme is “Celebrate YOU” and the strength, unity and pride of the community.
There are many events occurring throughout the month of June and into July in Winnipeg and across the province. For more information, visit Pride Winnipeg: https://www.pridewinnipeg.com/pride-season/
While it is important to honor the resilience and beauty of the community, Pride is also about raising awareness of the issues affecting the 2SLGBTQ+ community, advocating for freedom and equality and supporting mental health and social well-being.
Pride began as a protest and a fight against oppression. It commemorates the Stonewall riots of 1969, a pivotal moment in the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights with the first pride marches taking place in June 1970 in New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, to mark the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall riots. Fifty-six years later, the struggle for visibility, equality and belonging worldwide is ongoing. So, when the month-long celebrations and festivities are over, how can we continue to provide meaningful support for the rest of the year?
Being an ally is not about something you did once, wearing a rainbow pin, a state of being or a label. It has been described as a “continual act of becoming”. It is a commitment to ongoing learning, listening, reflecting, and taking meaningful action. “Active allyship” is about holding ourselves accountable, acknowledging our mistakes without defensiveness, being willing to grow, and using our privilege to challenge injustice (D. Guillas, Braiding Colours Consulting, 2026).
What can you do today? These are some ways to actively engage in supporting 2SLGBTQ+ rights:
- Unlearn. Challenge your own internalized stereotypes and biases (both conscious & unconscious)
- Listen & learn from 2SLGBTQIA+ perspectives and experiences- reading books, watching films, listening to podcasts, following influencers and creators etc.
- Share your pronouns when introducing yourself, on business cards, in email signatures, on virtual platforms etc.
- Language matters! Use inclusive and gender-neutral language when you can and don’t make assumptions.
- Show up! Attend community events and gatherings around the province.
- Support thecommunity’s artists, businesses, and organizations that are queer run or that make a difference in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
- Speak up and interrupt bias. Intervene when you hear offensive language or witness discrimination. Silence is part of the problem .
Egale Canada is a great place to access resources including downloadable PDFs on ways to respond with allyship. To keep this learning journey going, visit: https://egale.ca/awareness/tips-on-how-to-practice-lgbtqi2s-allyship/
