Pride Week
T u e s d a y, J u n e 4 , 2 0 1 9
Regina LeadeR-PosT
B5
REGINA PRIDE WEEK 2019
30 years of marching – Regina’s first Pride Parade
BY MICHELE TYNDALL
Thirty years ago Saskatchewan’s Human Rights Code did not list sexual orientation as prohibited grounds for discrimination – people could lose their jobs, homes, families and even their lives. Despite these very real threats, a small group of LGBTQ Regina citizens petitioned the Regina city council to proclaim a Gay Pride day. At first the council was in favour, but when they received many angry calls about the proclamation, they held an emergency meeting to rescind their votes. The proclamation could only be withdrawn by a unanimous vote, and Councillor Joe McKeown refused to change his vote. The proclamation stayed, but there were no public events that year. The next year when it was decided that a parade should be held to bring awareness to the discrimination still happening for the LGBTQ community, the chief of police rejected the request for a parade permit as he felt a parade for the purpose of expressing sexual preferences
Thirty years ago the first Pride Parade in Regina took place. It continues to be an expression of freedom and equality in the community. G ET T Y IMAGES
wasn’t an appropriate use of public streets or police resources. Despite this, the community chose to march anyway. It was a terrifying prospect. “We were afraid. There were about 90 people in the march and we feared for our jobs, our families, housing and most of all being out in public. Lyndon Surjik, one of the organizers, had also re-
ceived a life threatening letter if the parade took place but he felt we were all in this together and we decided to have the parade anyways. We marched on the sidewalk up to College Ave and Albert St. and then we marched on the Albert St. south bound lane, with masks and all,” said Mirtha Rivera, one of the original participants. The masks came about as a
mutual decision of the group to cover their faces in order to show solidarity for all the people still closeted because there were no protections in place from discrimination. After the parade, a complaint was filed against the chief of police, and in 1994, four years later, it was ruled that refusing the parade permit had violated the rights of participants to freedom of
expression and assembly. He issued an apology and retired the same year. It’s 2019. Same sex marriage is routine in Saskatchewan. Not only are gay men and lesbians protected from discrimination in the Saskatchewan, but gender identity has also been added as a protected status. Drag queens read to children in libraries, and new families are
growing in the province as same sex couples raise children of their own. There is much cause for celebration, and less fear than there was during that first brave march. “I am so happy to see so many young people freely expressing who they are, no masks on, celebrating their lives and being themselves. They can’t imagine what it was like during what we call the beginning of the gay and lesbian rights movement. But even now, they still hear in the news things that are happening in other countries. And even here, discrimination is still happening in small communities and in families who reject and disown their queer children,” said Rivera. There is still work to do. In the midst of celebration, we are still marching for true equality. For transgender rights, school safety, mental health and addiction education and senior care that too often fails older LGBTQ people. And so, the parades will still hit the streets of Regina every June, continuing the work of those first folks in their masks.
You Belong Here University of Regina has a long history of being a welcoming institution GET TY I MAGES
Spreading joy with the Bread Basket Sisters BY MICHELE TYNDALL
In 1979, on a beautiful Easter Sunday in San Francisco, three men dressed in traditional nun’s habits went out into the streets hoping to bring some fun and excitement with their outrageous antics. Only a few months later, they proclaimed themselves the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and so began one of the longest running LGBTQ charitable organizations in North America. The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence now boast Houses around the world including the United States, Canada, Australia, Europe and South America. The Houses are mostly non-profit or charity organizations that raise money for LGBTQ related cause, AIDS/HIV programs and mainstream community service organizations. The Toronto Sisters of the Jubilant Order of York were the first Canadian House to form in the early 80s. And now the Sisters have come to Regina. “Jenny and I had the idea of forming a mission house and it’s going really well,” said Sister Demona Lisa, co-founder of The Bread Basket Sisters. Sister Jenny Talia was already a leader in the LGBTQ community, having spent years supporting, performing with and celebrating local organizations such as the GLCR and the RSAR when the idea to form a chapter of the SoPI
along with Sister Demona Lisa became a reality. And now, with a mission statement that promises promoting radical diversity, shattering stereotypes, and spreading love, joy, peace, and carbs, the Bread Basket Sisters are a fully incorporated Mission, giving this international organization a truly Saskatchewan twist. Although the original San Francisco House is considered the ‘Mother House’, each House and Mission are their own group, with their own Habits, culture and rules that reflect their own environment. With wheat sheaves as a provincial emblem, it was only natural that Regina’s Mission take on the mantle of Bread Basket Sisters. Baguettes and glitter go hand in hand as the Sisters, in traditional nun’s habits decorated with everything from ribbons to slogans, advocate for marginalized people, work to promote diversity and challenge organizations that would discriminate against the LGBTQ community. “Some people think we are making fun of the church, but we’re not. We’re here to help the community and spread joy,” said Sister Demona. In fact, an important goal of the Bread Basket Sisters is to promulgate universal joy and to expiate stigmatic guilt, and their choice of costume reflects their desire to negate
the damage organized religion has done to marginalized people, and help those groups rekindle their joy and faith. “A lot of what we try to do is support other queer-based organizations. As well, we reach out to other people—for example, we handed out condoms and lube at straight bars one year on St Patrick’s Day and it was a really joyful experience. And now we will be holding our first event June 22 at the Black Arrow Bar, featuring the Sisters and other performers and all the proceeds from the door will go to support our charities,” said Sister Demona. Whether it’s promoting safe sex, performing glitter blessings at Q Nightclub and Lounge on a Saturday night, helping other organizations such as AIDS Programs South Saskatchewan or putting on their own events to raise money for charities, the Bread Basket Sisters are a vibrant and growing organization that is challenging traditional drag stereotypes, and encouraging everyone to experience divine self-expression without fear of judgment while bringing joy everywhere they go. To find out more about the Bread Basket Sisters and the work they are doing, visit their website breadbasketsisters.wixsite.com/breadbasketsisters, find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/breadbasketsisters or follow them on Instagram at www.instagram.com/breadbasketsisters.
The University of Regina was ahead of the times in 1978-79 when it amended its collective agreement with the University of Regina Faculty Association to include a sexual orientation clause. This movement to create a more inclusive campus was this kind of forward thinking that sparked 70 people to stand up for their rights nearly three decades ago – breaking the law by participating in Regina’s first Pride Parade.
Dr. Vianne Timmons, President and ViceChancellor of the University of Regina, is leading the way towards an inclusive and welcoming campus environment. PHOTO: U OF R PHOTO GRAPHY
Today, through the leadership of Dr. Vianne Timmons, president and vice-chancellor, the University of Regina remains at the forefront of inclusion and diversity movements, and is working to create a safe, welcoming environment for all. The University is committed to being an institution free from bias or discrimination based on gender, race, sexual orientation, disability, age, and religion, and a place where all groups are represented and
respected. To this end, gender neutral washrooms were opened and a rainbow flag has been permanently installed on the main campus. Since 2015, the option to self-identify gender preference has been available to students; they can also use their preferred name in all University processes. A wide variety of student supports are available on campus and through the Students Associations, including the UR Pride Centre’s Colourful Campus House 2LGBTQI+ student housing initiative that began last fall. Two six-bedroom apartment-style residences opened in the newly renovated College West building, offering a safe, affordable housing option for 2LGBTQI+ students. On March 21, the University of Regina launched the #YQRbelong campaign raising awareness about behaviours and attitudes – such as harassment, discrimination, bullying, and abuse – that are not acceptable on the University’s campuses and should not be acceptable in our world. This campaign will kick into high gear this fall with speakers and on-campus sessions drawing attention to the negative impacts of abusive behaviour and the world-changing impact that can take place when we treat one another with respect and kindness Also this past March, the University of Regina Faculty Association’s second Equity Week took place. The Equity Committee, in partnership with other campus groups, highlighted key equity issues, including accessibility, media literacy, and positive space, as well as, promoted campus and community resources. Research is highlighting that increasing equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in our world and in the workplace leads to increased creativity, innovation, and excellence. Inspired by the UK’s Athena SWAN (Scientific Women’s Academic Network) that began in 2005 with a charter that
recognizes and celebrates good practices in higher education and res earch ins titu tes towards the advancement of gender equality, the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Sport, Canada unveiled on May 9 the Dimensions: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Canada pilot projec t, along with the Dimensions charter. Minister Duncan also named the first recipients of the EDI Institutional Capacity-Building Grants that support the federal government’s commitment to tackle challenges encountered by underrepresented groups in Canadian research institutions. The University of Regina received a $384,000 EDI Institutional Capacity-Building Grant that will support the implementation of Mainstreaming Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: A Strategy for the University of Regina. Mainstreaming is a strategic approach that directs attention to all inequalities and creates multi-level accountabilities along with extensive engagement and consultation. The University’s EDI mainstreaming strategy and associated policies and programs will further the institutional commitment to ensuring equity, diversity, and inclusion are fully considered in all decision-making processes. The project will see the University design, implement, and evaluate a transformative model of mainstreaming EDI. “Being respectful of one another’s gender, race, sexual orientation, disability, age, and religion means our University — and our world — can become truly welcoming places where all groups are represented and respected and our health, environment, communities, and economy can thrive,” says Timmons. “Here’s to Queen City’s Pride Week! Let’s embody the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion all year long and realize the incredible benefits for generations to come.”
THIS STORY WAS PROVIDED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF REGINA FOR AWARENESS PURPOSES.
THIS SECTION WAS CREATED BY CONTENT WORKS, POSTMEDIA’S COMMERCIAL CONTENT DIVISION.