Calgary Pride is a movement dedicated to promoting a diverse society free from discrimination based on gender identity or expression, and sexual orientation. Pride is a completely volunteer-run organization that serves a beautiful and diverse community here in Calgary, and each year mounts one of the largest Prides in the country with over 30 events and 60,000 attendees.
Today Calgary Pride Week begins!
In ways both formal and informal, the volunteers of Calgary Pride are in constant consultation with our broad and diverse community. In recent weeks we’ve had the tremendous opportunity to step up that consultation in a big way and we’ve received lots of feedback on Pride. We really appreciate the input that all these individuals have shared on what the Pride parade and festival means to them, why they participate, and how they would like to continue to participate.
Pride is an inclusive movement, and we've experienced lots of different perspectives and opinions through this process. We are very happy to report that these perspectives have always been expressed respectfully, and believe there is real effort for every party to understand the perspective of others. This type of positive discussion and feedback is a gift.
As Pride Week begins today, we would like to take this as an opportunity to highlight a few of the initiatives that are already underway to provide greater opportunities for our diverse community to address issues and continue the conversation around LGBTQ2S rights:
Values
In order to participate in the Calgary Pride Parade every participant is required to sign our statement of values.
Political Participation
Calgary Pride has implemented a political screening process that is seen as one of the most progressive in the country. In addition to signing our statement of values, all politicians and political parties are required to provide a letter indicating their positions and actions in support of LGBTQ2S rights and issues.
Diversity Symposium
This fall Calgary Pride will launch Calgary’s first Diversity Symposium; a day-long event dedicated to exploring the themes, policies and issues that impact and affect our diverse and intersecting communities.
Education Events
Throughout the year and especially during the Calgary Pride Festival, in addition to the annual celebratory events, Calgary Pride is pleased to support events that focus on education and history as well.
Ongoing and expanding consultation
Calgary Pride is expanding advisory and consultation activities to ensure adequate representation and consultation with all members of our diverse community.
An open door
Calgary Pride is a 100% volunteer-run organization, presently served by a board of 7 and supported by hundreds of dedicated volunteers. If you want to get involved in a big way or a small way, no matter who you are, we want you. Just email: volunteer@calgarypride.ca
Advisory Board
Calgary Pride is currently developing an advisory board that would be made up of a wide breadth of individuals from the LGBTQ2S community.
Police Participation
Calgary Pride has participated in productive community consultation sessions with the Calgary Police Service and other diverse stakeholder groups, and will endeavour to maintain an open door so that these conversations continue.
All parties acknowledge that there is work to be done to improve relationships between police and segments of the community.
Calgary Police Service in particular has taken meaningful actions in support of the LGBTQ2S community. A frequent participant in the Calgary Pride Festival, CPS also has dedicated diversity outreach officers and a sexual and gender diversity advisory board. Calgary Pride is committed to expanding our engagement with them.
We also acknowledge the important meaning that participating in the Calgary Pride Festival has for both LGBTQ2S officers and those who wish to support them, as well as the importance that feeling the support of the Calgary Police Service has to many members of the LGBTQ2S community.
For these reasons, Calgary Pride will apply no special restrictions to any specific participants in this year's Pride parade. Members of the Calgary Police Service are welcome to attend the Calgary Pride Parade. Many of whom are members and allies of the LGBTQ2S community, and have volunteered to participate on their own time.
We are excited for how far our organization has come in 26 years. Without the passion of our community, Calgary Pride would not be the inclusive, vibrant movement it is today. We look forward to this year’s events that highlight Calgary’s diverse LGBTQ2S community and to our continued discussion on how to make Calgary a city free from discrimination against gender identity, expression and sexual orientation.
