June commemorates the origins of Pride month, a worldwide celebration of 2SLGBTQ+ people (Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning) and the history of the community.

Pride is a time to honor and celebrate the 2SLGBTQ+ community’s hard-fought journey to attain the basic human rights and freedoms that so many others take for granted.

Pride began as a protest, and that work continues today as many 2SLGBTQ+ people in B.C. and around the world are still fighting for basic rights.

No one should ever be the target of violence or oppression because of who they are, or who they love, but we know many people face this every day.

The reality is that 2SLGBTQ+ people continue to face stigma and discrimination, which puts people at risk for much higher rates of violence, poverty, mental health issues and other complex challenges.

For people of colour and Indigenous people, these issues can be even more difficult.

Pride is a reminder of how far we’ve come and how far we must go.