Pride is for everyone

I went to the flag raising for Barrie Pride at City Hall this morning.  I met and chatted with an elementary occasional teacher.  She was talking about the upcoming Pride Week in Barrie and expressing a concern that not enough teachers know about it.  She went on to say that as a supply teacher, she gets into a lot of schools but just didn't know to whom 'Pride' would apply.  I told her that Pride applies to everyone.  Pride isn't just for members of the LGBTQ community.  Pride is for every human (probably for the animals too).  I think we all need to care about equal rights for all and what we can do to achieve them.  This isn't about tolerance, this is about acceptance and and getting to a point it doesn't really matter if you're different.  
There are Pride events continuing in Barrie all week.  I am inviting all of you to participate.  Come see Priscilla Queen of the Desert (for free) at the Uptown Cinema on Wednesday.  Come for some socializing at the Flying Monkeys brewery on Friday evening.  Come to the Pride parade.  Better yet, come march in the parade.  We have a group registered with OSSTF D17 TBU but there are many other groups.  Pick one and join them, or just join the big group.  Stay for the festival at Heritage Park afterwards.  There will be a BBQ and community groups and a fire truck and an ambulance and music and a lot of fun.  The fun continues later that night at Wild Thingz on Mulcaster.  
Barrie Pride has amazing support and sponsors in the community.  Come and participate and celebrate everyone having the right to be who they are.

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