All posts tagged with: Proclamation

Pride Week kicked off today in the Okanagan and to mark the 4^th annual event, the City of Kelowna raised the iconic rainbow flag on the courtesy pole outside of Kelowna City Hall.

This is monumental event in Kelowna and signals a shift of change. In 1997, past Mayor Walter Grey declined to sign a proclamation of Gay and Lesbian Pride Week and abolished any future proclamations for the city.  The BC Human Rights Tribunal also ruled against the City of Kelowna, calling the action discriminatory.

The action of the past Mayor left a large cloud over the city and it wasn’t until 2005 when Mayor Sharon Shepherd was elected that the LGBT community would begin a long slow process to rebuild a relationship with the City of Kelowna.

Today, MayorSharon Shepherd overturned her predecessors decision, and on behalf of the City of Kelowna, had the rainbow flag hoisted and proclaimed August 8-13, 2011, Pride Week in Kelowna.

“It seems to be a way of acknowledging that we do have a diverse community and that we are also very respectful of differences in this city,” said Mayor Sharon Shepherd.

Gay Okanagan has been working with the city to have the rainbow flag flown at City Hall.

“We are extremely proud and honoured to have the rainbow flag flying high at City Hall this year,” says Pride Chair, Dustyn Baulkham. “The City of Kelowna and Mayor Sharon Shepherd have been extremely supportive of the LGBTQ community since Mayor Shepherd was elected in 2005.”

For more information on Okanagan Pride Week events, visit their website. 

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From the steps of City Hall in Vancouver, Mayor Gregor Robertson, proclaimed July 25 – 31, 2011 as Pride Week in Vancouver.

The event was held on the opening day of the 2011 North American Outgames. Notable attendees included John Boychuck, chair of the Vancouver Outgames, Ken Coolen, chair of the Vancouver Pride Society, Vancouver City Councillors, and local celebrity drag queen, Joan-E.

Following the reading of the Proclamation, the Running of the Flags relay for the Vancouver Outgames began, starting with the first group which headed to Whistler, followed by the SFU and UBC flag route groups.

Toronto Pride Week kicks off on Monday, June 27,  the City of Toronto will raise the iconic rainbow flag at City Hall and read the Pride Week proclamation.

• Date: Monday, June 27
• Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm
• Location:Nathan Phillips Square, 100 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON

The raising of the rainbow flag was in question earlier this year when schools in the Toronto school district banned the flags and the City of Toronto threatened to cut festival funding.

Notable speakers at the flag raising ceremony will include:

• Frances Nunziata, Councillor & Speaker
• Francisco Alvarez & Margaret Ngai, Pride Toronto Co-Chairs
• Angie Umbac, Pride 2011 International Grand Marshall
• Kristyn Wong-Tam, MC

For 41 years the Los Angeles LGBT community have gathered for the annual LA Pride, one of the largest LGBT pride parades in the world! New for 2011, Los Angeles Mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa will proclaim a month-long commemoration of LGBT Heritage Month at the historic WeHo Dyke March. LA Pride is held in West Hollywood, California from June 10 – 12, 2011.

As the producer of LA Pride, Christopher Street West recognizes people and groups that have had an impact on the LGBT community. The 2011 Honourees have demonstrated commitment to greater visibility and understanding, advocacy, human rights empowerment, marriage equality and service.

The 2011 Honourees:

Margaret Cho

• Morris Kight Lifetime Achievement Award
• Comedian, actress, activist and humanitarian

Andy Cohen

• Person of the Year Award
• Bravo’s Executive Vice President of Programming and Development / Host of “Watch What Happens: Live”

Dr. Isabel Gomez-Bassols

• George Moscone Award
• The nation’s leading Hispanic radio psychologist reaching 80% of Latino households around the country

Suzy Jack

• Harvey Milk Award
• Progressive activist working to make local government, elected leaders and law enforcement more accessible, responsible and collaborative with the LGBTQ community

Asian Pacific Islander Equality – Los Angeles

• Connie Norman Award
• Working tirelessly to build bridges within ethnic communities to garner support for marriage equality

Youth of Gay Straight Alliance Network

• Outstanding Youth Award
• Creating safer environments for all students by addressing homophobia and transphobia in schools

Frontiers Magazine

• Torie Osborn / Dick Michaels Media Award
• For 29 years, a leading resource for the greater LGBT community

Glenne McElhinney

• Pat Parker Arts Award
• Helping to remember, record and re-tell the history of California’s LGBT community

Valerie Spencer

• Berman Schaffer Award
• Renowned transgender advocate and educator focused on social service delivery

Eagle LA

• Sheldon Andelson Award
• Popular leather bar consistently supporting causes near and dear to the hearts of the LGBT community

Sergeant James Farrell

• CSW Special Community Award
• A veteran member of the West Hollywood Sheriff’s station and law enforcement leader

About Christopher Street West:

A non-profit organization, Christopher Street West is a leading partner in the advancement of rights and equality in the LGBT community.  Led by professionally-driven, volunteer-based Board Members, Christopher Street West produces one of the largest PRIDE celebrations in the United States with an ever-expanding global presence reaching millions of people annually.