Hope – Hope Council has approved Hope Pride’s request to raise the Pride flag at the District Hall for the month of June.
The official release states in part (full document is here):
In a move that signals greater support for diversity and inclusion, the District of Hope Council, in a regular meeting on Monday night, supported the local LGBTQIA+ community by granting Hope Pride the green light to raise the Pride flag, from District Hall, during June 2024. This will be the first time for any organization.
Delegation members from Hope Pride, led by Megan te Boekhorst (she/they), presented the case for the flag-raising at the Council Chambers on 325 Wallace Street. She shared an impressive recap of the past year’s events, including six successful gatherings, boasting 370+ attendees and the tireless efforts of 20+ volunteers. Notably, the highlight was the historic flag raising ceremony at the Hope RCMP.
Megan also drew attention to the challenging times the Queer community faces nationwide. Highlighting a 64% increase in hate crimes since 2020 and alarming statistics on targeted identities, she quoted Elie Wiesel: “Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” Hope Pride, in response, urged the Council to allow the raising of the Pride flag as a beacon of hope against the rise in Queer oppression during Pride month.
In a firm stance against past incidents, Mayor Victor Smith reassured that the District will wholeheartedly support Hope Pride in the coming years.
