The leader of a Renfrew County Pride group says Madawaska Valley council’s recognizing of June as Pride month is “a positive first step.”
But she also says the fact that the vote wasn’t unanimous and a motion to hang a physical Pride flag was defeated shows more education on 2SLGBTQIA+ issues is needed.
A recent motion to recognize Pride month with the hanging of a flag lost in a 2-3 vote. After, a motion to recognize Pride month with a digital sign won in a 4-1 vote. In both votes, Coun. Shelley Maika opposed supporting Pride Month.
Jill Holroyd, of Pflag Renfrew County, says more discussion on what the rainbow flag represents may make for less hesitation on hanging it in the future.
“First and foremost, it recognizes the decades of oppression and discrimination that the 2SLGBTQ community faced here in Canada,” she says. “So, it’s a symbol of a long fight for equality and human rights. It’s also a reminder that those rights need to be protected and upheld today.”
Holroyd says, throughout Renfrew County as a whole, there seems to be lots of support for Pride month. She says 10 other municipalities have agreed to hang Pride flags during June.