The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador celebrated the beginning of Pride Month with a flag-raising ceremony today at Confederation Building. Pride Month is held throughout Canada in June as an opportunity to celebrate diversity and the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community, and to raise awareness of the importance of acceptance and inclusion.

The Pride flag was raised by the Honourable Lela Evans, Minister of Women and Gender Equality. The Minister was joined by Inuit Elder Emma Reelis, the Spectrum Queer Choir, Stephanie Howlett of DiversityNL and Rebecca Rose of Breakwater Books.

On June 8, Confederation Building will be lit in the colours of the rainbow as a visual reminder of the importance of Pride. The Pride flag will be flown on the Confederation Building courtesy pole from June 8 to 12. Additionally, four rainbow crosswalks and rainbow benches are visible on the Confederation Building grounds year-round.

The Provincial Government is committed to working with the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community to ensure people are embraced for their rich diversity, experiences and perspectives, and to ensure everyone feels valued, heard and safe.

Quotes
“Pride Month, is a time to celebrate diversity, honour the strength and resilience of 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, and reaffirm our commitment to equality and inclusion. Our government is proud to stand with those working to build safer, more welcoming communities, where everyone can live openly, authentically, and with dignity.”
Honourable Lela Evans
Minister of Women and Gender Equality

“Pride is not just about rainbows. The first Pride was a protest, born from courage, resistance, and the fight for human rights. As we celebrate Pride, we honour the 2SLGBTQQIA+ people and communities who have paved the way, often at great personal cost, and recognize the importance of continuing to build communities where everyone can live, work, love and lead safely and authentically. True belonging means creating spaces where people are not asked to shrink who they are but are supported and empowered to thrive as their full authentic selves.”
Stephanie Howlett
CEO DiversityNL

“Pride is always important to recognize and celebrate, especially at a time when anti-2SLGBTQQIA+ discrimination is on the rise in this country. I’m honoured to be a guest of Minister Evans in celebrating pride in this province, and to have an opportunity to showcase the remarkable contributions of our queer writers and storytellers to Newfoundland and Labrador’s internationally applauded literary reputation.”
Rebecca Rose
President and Publisher, Breakwater Books

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Office of Women and Gender Equality

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