Dear MSVU Community,
Pride season is here – a time for those in the 2SLGBTQIA+* community and allies to come together to learn, reflect and celebrate the diversity of gender identities, and advance advocacy in support of the rights of 2SLGBTQIA+ people.
This event is particularly significant for me as a member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community myself. I believe it’s also particularly significant this year, in light of the rise in anti-2SLGBTQIA+ hate in Canada and beyond. My family and I have experienced this kind of harassment, discrimination and hate first-hand; we know well that the world is still not an equitable place for those who are 2SLGBTQIA+.
Pride is celebrated in a variety of ways and began as a series of protests against police harassment that occurred at the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City, in June of 1969. In Halifax and at MSVU, Pride is an annual gathering primarily celebrated in July. Events like Halifax Pride, which includes the Pride Parade, take place during the eleven-day pride week held this year from July 20-30 and attended by thousands.
MSVU will be part of the Pride Parade again this year and invites all students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends to join us. The parade will take place on Sunday, July 23 at 2 p.m. in downtown Halifax. Please email events@msvu.ca by Wednesday, July 19 to sign-up for our parade walking group. Pride t-shirts (150th anniversary edition) will be provided to members of our group.
On Tuesday, July 25, MSVU will also be hosting the Annual Pride BBQ as a celebration of Pride on campus. Mark your calendars for lunchtime that day and confirm your attendance by sending an RSVP email to events@msvu.ca by end of day on Wednesday, July 19. And stay tuned for full details.
At MSVU, we embrace all that makes each of us unique, including sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. We are grateful for the contributions of MSVU community members engaged in 2SLGBTQIA+ research, course delivery and development, support services, and advocacy.
As part of MSVU’s 2023 Pride celebrations, the Progress Pride Flag will be raised on the flag pole on the front of the Seton Academic Centre. The flag, which was provided by the MSVU 2SLGBTQIA+ (Pride Advocacy) Committee, includes the six-stripe flag colours and additional colours to represent transgender people and people of colour.
No doubt there are things happening across campus to mark Pride 2023. I encourage you to show us how you are recognizing Pride on social media using #MSVUPride.
Happy Pride!
Joël
Dr. Joël Dickinson
President and Vice-Chancellor
Mount Saint Vincent University
*2SLGBTQIA+ is an acronym for two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual, while + stands for other ways individuals express their gender and sexuality outside heteronormativity and the gender binary.
We’re advocating for equity, diversity, inclusion & accessibility, and building on community engagement. Learn more about these MSVU Strategic Plan Themes.