The following statement was read in the House of Assembly today by the Honourable Lela Evans, Minister of Women and Gender Equality:

Speaker, I rise to recognize June as Pride Month in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Pride Month is about acceptance and human dignity for the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community. It is also an opportunity to stand together in support of diversity and to reaffirm that everyone deserves respect, belonging and equal opportunity regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

Pride is also about visibility. For many people, especially youth, seeing communities, workplaces, schools and governments openly support diversity can help reduce isolation and encourage acceptance. It also sends a powerful message for all of us that people are valued for who they are and that discrimination and hate have no place in our society.

As we celebrate Pride, let us continue building communities rooted in respect, inclusion and acceptance, where everyone is empowered to live authentically and proudly.

I invite all members of this House to join me at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, June 1, for the annual Pride flag-raising ceremony here at Confederation Building.

Thank you, Speaker.