Peterborough Pride Week Sept. 14-23 stands for fighting for rights

Passion+Action=Pride is this year’s theme for Peterborough Pride.

Peterborough Pride Week runs from Sept. 14 to 23, with more than 25 events scheduled.

A flag raising ceremony at city hall kicks off Pride Sept. 14 at noon.

The 2018 theme was developed to encourage citizens to take a stand on issues that impact LGBTQ residents and their families, according to a release from the Pride committee. That includes safety, access to services and concerns about the dismantling of the update sex-ed curriculum, which taught about diversity and inclusion, for instance.

“Peterborough Pride stands with those fighting to have their rights respected and to safely express their gender sexuality,” committee member Rick Lambert stated in the release.

With a diverse LGBTQ community, the committee invites residents or groups to host events during Pride week that reflect the gamut of interests within the community.

Pride started locally in 2003, with a parade involving more than 300. Over the years, its grown into a week-long affair of celebration.

This year’s parade is expected to include more than 750 people.

Events during Pride week range from euchre tournaments and drag bingo to karaoke and dances. Most functions are free, but some charge a fee.

There are also two Pride church services on Sept. 23. The Unitarian Fellowship’s on Weller St. is at 10 a.m. and Emmanuel United’s on George St. is at 10:30 a.m.

Norwood residents already celebrated their second annual Pride event. The one-day affair was held at the Norwood Legion on July 22.

NOTE: A full events list is at Peterborough Pride’s website at www.peterboroughpride.ca