The annual Ottawa Pride Week celebrating LGBT equality ran from Aug. 15-24, and members of the Carleton community showed their support throughout the week.
On Aug. 24, the Gender and Sexuality Resource Centre (GSRC) and Rideau River Residence Association (RRRA) participated in the annual Pride parade along with Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA) representatives, according to GSRC programming co-ordinator Merissa Taylor-Meissner.
The University of Ottawa Pride Centre and the Algonquin Queer Student Alliance marched with Carleton groups as part of the university contingent, Taylor-Meissner said.
Members of the Carleton chapter of Acacia Fraternity also had a truck with members wearing t-shirts saying “brotherhood doesn’t discriminate” on the back.
The parade began at the intersection of Bank Street and Gladstone Avenue and went up Bank Street before turning right on Laurier Avenue and finishing at Ottawa City Hall.
To start the festivities, the GSRC held activities before the parade such as face-painting, t-shirt giveaways, sign-making, and glitter-bombing.
“The GSRC believes that Pride is a political event where we must recognize the voices of marginalized people in our community,” Taylor-Meissner said.
Other popular Pride week events included the Rainbow Party, the Capital Pride Pageant, and the RuPaul Battle of the Seasons, Capital Pride chair Jodie McNamara said.
While Carleton does not collaborate with Capital Pride on events throughout the year, McNamara said she is open to building a relationship with the university.
“We don’t have an established partnership with Carleton, but would jump at the chance at having one in the future,” McNamara said.
Despite not partnering with Capital Pride, Carleton has its own annual Pride Week hosted by CUSA and the GSRC.
“For the past few years CUSA and the GSRC have hosted an annual Carleton Pride Week in January on campus with lots of great events and workshops,” said CUSA vice-president (student issues), Maddy Porter.
The goal of Carleton’s Pride Week is to educate the Carleton population and recognize all voices in the community, said Taylor-Meissner.
RRRA also holds sex week during the fall semester to educate students about consent, sex positivity, and relationships, according to RRRA vice-president (programming), Arpita Dar.
“There will be activities for everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, and it’s going to be a lot of fun,” Dar said.
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