Pride across P.E.I.
Annual Pride Festival underway with wide variety of events and locations for all ages
Colton Curtis is looking forward to the week ahead of him.
As P.E.I.’s Pride Festival photographer, he’ll be taking pictures at as many events as he can.
And there’s no shortage to choose from.
After kicking off on July 18, the 2021 Pride Festival offers 47 events at locations across Prince Edward Island.
Flag-raising ceremonies helped officially get things in motion, including one outside the Coles building in Charlottetown where the premier and several MLAs were present.
Curtis didn’t see Pride flags in front of government buildings growing up, and he said symbols like this matter.
“The important part of it is the visibility, these flags being up on these really influential buildings. The fact that we’re in front of the legislation building and there’s a Pride flag, that’s a big deal for a lot of young people to see that.”
Curtis did also say, though, it’s important to back up the symbolism with commitment.
“You slap a rainbow picture on your door, and it’s like OK, then what? ... in a way, it’s our responsibility to hold them accountable after this week is over. Like, you opened your doors to me; you can’t close them again.”
“The important part of it is the visibility, these flags being up on these really influential buildings.”
Colton Curtis
MANY EVENTS
With a whole festival to cover, Curtis’ day was just beginning when The Guardian spoke with him on the morning of July 19.
“A lot of (events) happen at the same time in different communities, so I’ll always be at one,” he said.
For example, there was a Pride Talk the afternoon of July 19 at the Delta, focusing on mental health awareness. Later that evening, there was a drag show at The Guild, which he also photographed.
Later in the week, Pride is hosting some accessible, dry events.
“I’m really looking forward to Saturday for the Pride March, as well as Pride After Dark and Pride in the Park,” Curtis said, noting that he thinks dry events are a good idea.
“I think sometimes people have an idea that Pride is just a bit of a party constantly. But Pride P.E.I. is working really hard to make sure it’s clear that it’s for the entire community, for entire families.”
Last year’s Pride Talks involved a discussion around sobriety, said Pride secretary Andrea MacPherson.
“That’s why there is a huge number of events here that aren’t at bars. We want to make sure there is dry events.”
That’s also one of the reasons Pride After Dark – the big party the night of the march – is dry this year, she said.
“We want to make sure that all members of the community feel open.”
“We don’t need substances to have a good time,” added Scott Alan, the Pride Festival’s operations manager, who was hired to organize and run this year’s festival.