Statement from Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter recognizing Pride Month in Oshawa
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June 1st marks the beginning of Pride Month. From the uprising at Stonewall, to the demonstrations against the bathhouse raids, Pride is a movement. It’s a movement that is forged from those who have had the courage to live authentically. It’s a movement that is built on the efforts of the 2SLGBTQ+ people who said, “We are not wrong.” And today, it continues as a movement to advance the message that we all deserve to be understood, respected and accepted for who we are.
Pride Month is an opportunity to recognize the beauty and diversity in the many identities that are part of this community and to celebrate the achievements and resilience of the 2SLGBTQ+ community. It also gives each of us the chance reflect on how to be more effective allies to the 2SLGBTQ+ community. As part of its commitment to being a strong ally, the City of Oshawa continues to deliver education and training about how to create safe and inclusive spaces for everyone. To mark Transgender Day of Visibility (March 31), staff participated in a session to learn more about transgender people and inclusive language we can use to be supportive and respectful. We are also proud of the rainbow crosswalk at City Hall, which is a visual reminder of our support for all of our community members.
While we celebrate this month, it is also important to acknowledge the barriers and challenges that the 2SLGBTQ+ community faces. Discrimination, homophobia and transphobia continue to hurt members of our community in all aspects of their lives. We want to remember to lift up our 2SLGBTQ+ family, friends and neighbours, to let them know we support them, while continuing to engage in the hard work needed to tackle hate and make meaningful change.
This month, we proudly fly the Pride flag as a symbolic reminder of the City of Oshawa’s commitment to creating a safe, equitable and inclusive city where everyone can fully participate and feel like they belong. And while the flag serves as a reminder this month, I am committed to doing the work beyond June to engage and learn from the community in order to address barriers and structural inequities.
This Pride Month, I encourage you to stand in solidarity with all people of different sexual orientations and gender identities and expressions. Please join me in celebrating and learning more about the diversity and brilliance of the 2SLGBTQ+ community; we can all learn from their example as we continue to work towards a more equitable and inclusive community for all of our diverse residents.
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