The flag is flying and the crosswalk in front of St. Albert Place has its distinctive rainbow-coloured stripes all freshly painted bright. June means Pride Month and the pride in the city’s LGBTQ2S+ community is strong, indeed.
While the Pride Festival had to be delayed for public-health safety reasons until the fall, there is still much activity and excitement happening with OutLoud, with fundraisers, a return to live meetings, and more, according to Terry Soetaert, the executive director of the Outloud Foundation for LGBTQ Community Supports and Services.
“We've got our live meetings – we started one back this week – and that one was good. We were maxed out with the 10 that we could have for physical distancing. It worked out well with all of that, but we don't know what's going to happen whenever. Hopefully, restrictions will lift more, and then we could have more group meetings outside where we can have our regular 30, 40 kids getting together and having that magic come back in that group setting,” he said, noting that the situation for most of the members is not worse than what they had before, but “it's definitely not better.”
Groups really are the key for many LGBTQ2S+ youths who become reclusive, “playing video games in their basement and not being really social,” Soetaert said, and the pandemic has only made things more difficult for many of them.
OutLoud now has two staff members as well as a practicum student who has been trained to help the group’s members navigate away from psychological struggles and toward happier days. Hanging out, having meetings, and participating in OutLoud’s events is what everyone wants.
“That's pretty much the magic that we figured out of OutLoud. It's kids coming there and learning that they're not the only ones. There are 25, 30 other kids that have somewhat the same story. They're all struggling, but at least in this instance, they get to struggle together. They get to see that, yeah, there are other people going through exactly the same thing at the same time with maybe some of the same background … that nobody’s alone.”
OutLoud has seen more than 500 members during its six years of operations in the city, with a current roster of about 60, some of whom live in Edmonton and its outlying areas, others from as far away as Smoky Lake, Slave Lake, and Bonnyville.
Even if group meetings aren't fully back in business just yet, seeing the rainbow flag at City Hall (and on many city residents’ front lawns) is a strong reassurance of the love, support and acceptance that is out there.
"To see things like the Pride crosswalk, and of course, the flag that are up right at the most prominent place in St. Albert is a big deal."
There are many other events its members are participating in as part of Pride Month. You can follow along with them at outloudstalbert.ca or through its and St. Albert Pride's social media channels.
Showing support
Those flags are just one part of OutLoud’s fundraising efforts, found on the group's online shop filled with pins, stickers, clothes, and more for purchase. The flag rentals cost $50 for one week or $80 for a month. Buying the flag and a pole outright is $150.
A new initiative found on PrideMask.ca offers even more alternatives for that ever-popular clothing accessory in the age of COVID-19.
"I think we've got 41 different kinds of masks on there ... and everything is Pride-flavoured."
All proceeds from purchases of these bright and colourful masks go straight to supporting LGBTQ2S+ youths in St. Albert.
Soetaert added that everyone is excited for the 2021 Pride Festival on Saturday, Sept. 18. More than 1,500 people are expected to join together from 2 to 6 p.m. at Rotary Park.
