Winter Pride offers educational and fun activities in online festival
An online edition of Winter Pride takes place Monday to Friday, Feb. 8-12, with a program of events that includes guest appearances by author/activist Rodey Diverlus and reality-TV star Bob the Drag Queen.
Capital Pride executive director Osmel Maynes says it's important to provide opportunities for members of the queer community to connect with each other, especially during the pandemic.
“It's an isolating time for a lot of folks,” Maynes said. “And even more isolating for folks in our community who can't get together or have lost touch with their families because they're not accepting (of them). So we're trying to provide some support and some entertainment that folks can enjoy from the comfort of their own homes.”
The festivities begin on a serious note Monday with Our Voices: Anti-Black Racism — A Black Queer Perspective, a conversation featuring Diverlus, a founder of Black Lives Matter Canada, along with Kelendria Nation, a Black woman of trans experience, and Deborah Owusu-Akyeeah, executive director of the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity. To be streamed at capitalpride.ca/ live, the 7 p.m. discussion will be moderated by Maynes. Questions from the public are welcome.
Tuesday brings Drag Family Hour, led by nonbinary drag performer and current Mx. Capital Pride, Eve Anne Jellicle, with songs, stories and activities for children at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Meanwhile, job-seeking youths can tune in on Wednesday for a 5 p.m. webinar on how to make a good first impression online, presented by Alison Sochasky from Dress For Success.
Don't miss Bob the Drag Queen, winner of RuPaul Drag Race Season 8, on Wednesday at 8 p.m. hosting a virtual showcase of Ottawa's drag royalty. The entertainment continues at 7 p.m. Thursday with a Queer Acoustic Soul show featuring Ottawa's powerhouse singer-songwriter Kimberly Sunstrum.
Finally, young artists from the local LGBTQ+ community are in the spotlight at 2:30 p.m. Friday for the closing event, INStudio Winter Edition, a youth-focused art show presented by the Capital Pride Youth Committee and the Ottawa Art Gallery Youth Council.