International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia
On May 17, Magog celebrates inclusion and diversity as part of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. The organizing committee, comprised of people from several partner organizations in the Eastern
Township (Carrefour Jeunesse Emploi Memphrémagog, Centre des Femmes Memphrémagog, CIUSSS de l’estriechus (financing of the scouting project), Équipe Ressource Relais Memphrémagog, GRIS Estrie and Zone Libre Memphrémagog) along with the support of Center l’élan, is proud to present the second edition of ‘May 17 Memphré’ with a program of free activities that will take place mainly in Parc des Braves. The activity will be moved to the Community Center if it rains, so keep an eye on the Facebook page of the event. Considering the current socio-political context, the organizing committee considers that it is even more relevant to show support and love for the inclusion of people as they are and send the message: “Sexually and gender diverse people, we love you! We hope that people will come in large numbers.”
The day of activities will start at 1:30 p.m. with a panel presenting a wide variety of experiences of people who identify with different genders and sexualities, in the Ovila-bergeron room. The organizing committee has tried to get a good representation of people, by experience, age and gender. There will then be a showcase of booths of organizations that are very important to the 2SLGBTQ+ communities at Parc des Braves at 4 p.m. After the Mayor’s remarks and flag raising at 5:45 p.m. a bingo event hosted by well-known drag queen Gina Gates will take place at Parc des Braves. This will be followed by the Drag queer show at 7:30 p.m. at the same location.
Center l’élan, one of the lead organizations for the event, is a community resource that favours creativity and arts therapies as tools for recovery. Through individual followups and therapeutic groups, creativity workshops and community dinners, Centre l’élan aims to be a place where people can find their way to wellness.