By Molly Little
BELLEVILLE– Belleville’s gay, bisexual and transgender communities are preparing for their biggest Pride parade and park event yet. The celebration takes place in Zwicks Centennial Park in early July.
Local organizer Eric Hargreaves said everyone is welcome to celebrate and support the gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans-identified, queer, intersex, two-spirited, and questioning (LGBTQI2Q) community at the events being held on July 5.
“It’s a tremendous mix of everyone,” he said.“ A mix of all ages.”
The Belleville Pride Parade and Pride in the Park events are held in support of sexual diversity, particularly for members located in the Prince Edward and Hastings area. The events have recently gained popularity as the parade reached official event status in 2013 with the mayor reading a Pride Proclamation that had been adopted by city council.
Hargreaves, who has been involved with Belleville Pride for years, says it has taken off recently, becoming a successful event with hundreds of people participating in both the parade and park festivities in the past.
“It’s a huge demonstration of just how big the community is,” he said.
The park event has grown from a community picnic to an afternoon celebration with entertainment and activities. Hargreaves added that the committee wishes to make it a family friendly event, and in the past, the celebration has received a diverse public turnout.
Hargreaves explained that many people outside of the gay, bisexual and transgender community find the events powerful, but says there is still a common perception that being a part of the community is difficult. A perception that is agreed upon by Pride in the Park Committee member Sarah Michelle Ogden.
“Discrimination and homophobia are still experienced by LGBTQ+ people and therefore such events are even more important in reducing ignorance and hate, and helping LGBTQ+ people feel welcome, safe and accepted,” Ogden said in an email.
Ogden is a representative of Loyalist College on the Pride in the Park Committee. She says that her role is to ensure that youth, who she says are more likely to face discrimination and bullying, are comfortable in their environment.
“I am passionate about helping the LGBTQ+ youth … to feel not only safe, but welcome and celebrated in their community,” she said.
She later added that these pride events are beneficial to the public in making all members feel comfortable.
“Pride celebrations are an opportunity to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and their allies,” she said. “Such events help contribute to an inclusive and welcoming community.”