Strathroy: Small Town Pride
The Importance of Understanding We spend a lot of time talking about acceptance. Meeting people without judgement, recognizing differences make our world an interesting place to live, and that diversity helps us grow. But we can’t forget about understanding. We are living in very stressful and uncertain times. All of us dealing with it in our own way. The pandemic has impacted each and every one of us. As we mask and take precautions to pick up groceries, run an errand or catch up with a friend , we are passing people fighting battles we cannot see. Formany inourcommunity, thepandemichascreatedinsurmountable stress. Financial hardship, relationshipchallenges,more time required to manage children, loneliness, grief, sadness and depression. Right now more than ever, understanding is key. Not only of those that might seem different than us, but of everyone we interact with. Patients and understanding. As we go out into the community, wemust take time to understand the invisible battles that are happening around us, perhaps even within ourselves. The rules of kindergarten must apply: slow down, take turns, be kind. Give those having a bad day space, take a deep breath before you lose your patience, and remember nothing at the grocery store is worth fighting about. Remember the healing power of helping others. A little bit of kindness not only helps the recipient, it also lifts the person offering the assistance. Hold a door, let someone go first, check on a neighbour, buy a coffee or offer up words of encouragement. In this moment, we don’t need judgement. We don’t need gossip, harsh words, or hurtful words- we need kindness. It’s going to be a long winter. We are all going to need to work on our understanding.
On a drizzly Saturday morning in July, I was standing in front of Strathroy town hall, holding my umbrella in one hand and notes in the other. In a few minutes, we’d be live to kick off Strathroy’s very first Pride celebration with the raising of the Pride flag. And while a part of me was feeling camera jitters, I remember looking around at the people and families gathered… and for the first time in a long time, I felt a true sense of Pride. Our original plans for an outdoor celebration needed to be cancelled and this pandemic forced us to reimagine our ideas. Our Drag Queen story time and live entertainment transferred nicely into online versions. We held a successful T-shirt design contest and sale. We coordinated an LGBTQ2+ speakers panel and a pride-inspired virtual art gallery. We were committed to put in the hard work but had no idea how well it would be received or if many people would tune in.
To our delight, the events were a huge success. The online viewing surpassed our expectations and the community interaction was overwhelmingly positive. We had unexpected media coverage and family interaction. We proved that a small town can gather and play an active part in Pride celebrations. It shows that our community truly is diverse and inclusive. But the best part for me was that it gave queer youth the opportunity to see that our genuine selves are worthy of pride and celebration! Be sure to check out the video section of our Strathroy Pride Facebook group.
Lockdown Debt Relief Call Today FREE Consultation 519-646-2222 www.fixmydebt.ca
Licensed Insolvency Trustee
PRIDE Villager
Page 5 Issue 5 • Fall 2020 To advertise here, please contact Barb@VillagerPublications.com
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs