ESTEVAN — Three people in the Estevan area are organizing Pride Month activities to celebrate and connect members of the local LGBTQ+ community.
Stryx Dubowski, Lilac Colibaba and Drew Kaip are looking forward to the events, which will start June 19 at 6 p.m. with screen printing at the Estevan Art Gallery and Museum. Pride rocks will be painted at the Estevan Public Library the following day at 4 p.m., and button making will happen at the Estevan Public Youth Centre on June 21 at 6 p.m.
Activities will wrap up with reflections on the Progress Pride Flag on June 22 at 1 p.m. in front of the Estevan Court House. Members of the LEBTQ+ community, and allies, will gather on the lawn to reflect on their experiences, and discuss why the flag and Pride Month are important.
Dubowski said they brainstormed events that could happen in Estevan. She recalled last year the Weyburn pride committee did events in Estevan.
"As Estevan LGBTQ people, Lilac, Drew and I decided to organize events ourselves. We … copied some of those events and made some new ones."
Dubowski believes it is important to have positive events happening in Estevan because there are people she knows who didn't feel comfortable coming out in the city.
"They felt they needed to come out after they moved away, and I don't want that to be a thing anymore. I want people to feel comfortable and safe being authentically who they are in Estevan, and for me personally, I want to live and die in Estevan. I want to grow old here and see the city change in one way or another.
"If it's not a safe place for LGBTQ people in Estevan, then I can't be here, either. It's partially for other people and it's partially for myself."
Colibaba said in the past, she had to travel to other communities for Pride Month events, and she is excited to have activities here.
"I've been getting to know the queer community a little bit through the GSA [gay-straight alliance] at the school, a group that we have that we have banded together. So, I have these connections and I want to celebrate with them."
Last year she had a lot of fun at the events offered in the community. Colibaba is excited to talk about and share her experiences, and she hopes other people will do the same.
"I think it's important because we get to show our pride of who we are and where we live at the same time, and sometimes we feel, in a smaller community like Estevan, that we're alone. These activities are going to make people feel like they have community," said Colibaba.
Kaip grew up in Estevan, and said events like these typically weren't something that happened when they were a teenager or a young adult. Kaip does recall being at a community event in 2016 and holding a clipboard to collect email addresses. Kaip is looking forward to having fun and connecting the community at the events this year.
"Those events were pretty good. I was still a little younger and a little nervous, and I wasn't out all the way," said Kaip.
It's important to have events like this in the community, Kaip said, because the members of the LGBTQ+ community need to find each other and know that they're in the community so they can help each other.
"I think it's important to show that we exist to everyone, and I do also think it's a great time for people who maybe don't know many of us to learn, get to know us and see us as people," Kaip said.
Kaip will likely share some of the history of the Progress Pride Flag, and share reflections on growing up in Estevan knowing they were queer. Kaip hopes this year will be the start of more and bigger events for Estevan for Pride Month.
Mayor Tony Sernick proclaimed June as Pride Month in Estevan at the June 9 city council meeting. Coun. Mathew Dubowski gave some brief history on Pride Month, which started in 1969 with the Stonewall riot in New York City.
"Pride does not celebrate just one [group of] people. It all falls under the LGBTQI+ umbrella. But make no mistake, there's still very much bigotry and hatred towards these people today, even within our own city," said Coun. Dubowski.
There are some people who are scared to be themselves, he said, while others will never bend a knee to the hatred.
"Regardless of how you identify, who you love, if or when you feel comfortable to be yourself or come out, you're a part of this community and you're as loved as anyone else is. So, let me be crystal clear about this: LGBTQI+ people are not your enemy. They are not punching bags. They are human. They are parents, siblings, people's children, friends, neighbours. They are family. And they are welcome in Estevan and deserve to be treated free of discrimination, hatred and bigotry," Dubowski said to applause from his fellow council members.
The Progress Pride Flag will fly in front of Estevan city hall, and the city's water tower will be lit in Pride colours during June.
