As a crowd marched through the streets of downtown Âé¶čAV to Lady Gagaâs âBorn this wayâ and trans pride chants, the Rotary Centre for the Arts (RCA) raised the LGBTQ2+ and trans flags on the buildingâs rooftop Thursday evening.
The Youth Trans March and Social event was hosted by Etcetera, the youth division of Âé¶čAV Pride and the RCA.
âKids need to know theyâre OK,â RCA executive director Tyler Russell said.
The Rotary Centre for the Arts decided to raise the Pride Society flag to acknowlede that inclusion is important to the community.
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LGBTQ2+ supporters were delighted to see the flag raised.
'Because of you' is the theme of the 12th annual Pride Week, starting today and ending on Saturday, June 22 with the Festival in City Park and March starting at Stuart Park.
â City of Âé¶čAV (@cityofkelowna)
A group of other attendees called the gesture âmajesticâ, while Taylor Bray and Hollis, who are both affiliated with the RCA, said, âIt makes (us) proud that something Iâm a part of did that.â
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As a kid growing up in Âé¶čAV, Russell said he knew how it felt to be bullied and unaccepted.
âI know what itâs like to have people chase after you and want to beat the crap out of you because you look a little queer,â Russell said. âIn this town, on this street, we canât have kids feeling that.â
Âé¶čAV Pride will cap off with this yearâs festivities with the annual Âé¶čAV Pride Festival and March on Saturday, June 22 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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David.venn@kelownacapnews.com
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