PRIDE

Chico >> Pride means being yourself. It means being able to walk into a place and not worry about exit strategies. It means feeling comfortable. It means love; acceptance. Saturday, City Plaza was an array of rainbow tie-dye dresses, striped headbands, hair and flags for Chico Pride Weekend 2017. Children splashed in the fountain as drag kings lip synched to “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” and “Go the Distance,” from the Disney movie “Hercules.”

Friends, family and community members gathered in Frank Park on Saturday to show their support at the third annual Panhandle Pride Picnic. In between pizza and ice cream, friends and strangers shared stories, had a few laughs and played a few games while everyone competed to win one of several prizes donated by local businesses. The event brings together members of the public, regardless of whether they are a member of the LGBTQ community, a family member, friend or ally. Each year, the event has grown bigger. This year’s picnic saw more than 200 people in attendance.

After decades of fighting for basic rights and finally obtaining the freedom to marry, the LGBT community is gearing up for yet another battle to retain some of their gains. Faced with a hostile U.S. president, this year’s Jersey City’s Pride Festival will become the focal point of that struggle.

The festivities celebrating Montreal’s sexual diversity and plurality are nearly over, but not before the colourful and large-scale Pride Parade takes over downtown streets today. The parade started at noon at the corner of Drummond Street and make its way east along René-Lévesque Boulevard. The event will wrap up at Alexandre-DeSève Street in the city’s Gay Village.