St. Paul’s shows its Pride

Thursday, June 18, 2020

Pride flag flying at St. Paul's

In recognition of Pride Month, St. Paul’s proudly flies the Pride flag in celebration of the many achievements and contributions of the LGBTQ2S+ community.

We continually work with experts across the Waterloo campus to train our Residence Life staff on the best ways to create a strong and inclusive environment for all students. Some steps forward in the residences have included training our Dons to raise awareness of LGBTQS2+ issues, supporting students by having an open-door policy to listen to their concerns and streamlining their access to support services on campus and in the community.

“I made a decision decades ago to be out as an Indigiqueer Two-Spirit woman because I know firsthand what a critical lifeline it can be to have visible role models in the community,” said Lori Campbell, Director of Waterloo Indigenous Student Centre (WISC). “I am proud to work at an institution like St. Paul’s, that recognizes the Pride Flag as an important symbol of belonging and affirmation for LGBTQ2S+ community members.”

This striking rainbow flag has changed in configurations many times since its inception in 1978 by Gilbert Baker, representing many peoples and experiences throughout human history. The flag is strongly connected to its origins in the LGBTQ2S+ community, but also represents social change and is viewed as a symbol of hope and peace.

“When corporations and public institutions like St. Paul’s raise the pride flag, it shows they are proud of who they are, and they value the people and culture within their community,” said the Glow Centre for Sexual and Gender Diversity.

Glow, on the UWaterloo campus works closely with St. Paul’s students and staff as an educational resource and support system.

Throughout Pride Month, Glow is hosting weekly virtual events for students, such as:

  • Glow Teatime Talk: Pride
  • Glow Pride Month Movie Night: streaming the documentary The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson, a Black trans woman who threw the first brick at the Stonewall Riots, starting the fight for gay rights
  • Glow Trivia Night: Glow and LGBTQ+ related trivia
  • Glow Diary Writing: Diary planning and designing

To participate, visit Glow’s Facebook page for more information.