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By Veronica Beltran

Pride amidst pandemic

Here’s how you can celebrate Pride this year while social distancing

Jun 12, 2020 | 2:14 PM

PRINCE GEORGE—The month of June is also known as Pride month, and celebrations are still taking place—safely—amidst the pandemic.

There are several events taking place, locally, throughout the month of June celebrating the LGBTQ+ community while ensuring social distancing measures are being followed.

“We had to get very creative this year.”—Laura Lawrence, Vice President, PG Queer Cafe

Community members can take part in a rock hunt that will begin on June 20th. People are encouraged to paint rocks and place them throughout the City, then go on a search for others and take pictures with the rocks to share on PG Queer Cafe’s social media.

On July 4th, a car parade—similar to the birthday parades that have gained popularity throughout the course of the COVID-19 pandemic— & picnic will take place. The public can anonymously enter their street on PG Queer Cafe’s parade route and have the parade make its way down their street, while viewers enjoy a picnic and the dressed up vehicles from their lawns. Laura Lawrence, Vice President of PG Queer Cafe says that the events are safe for the public to enjoy.

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“All of these are social distancing events, they’ve been cleared by Northern Health, the City, and Bylaw.”—Laura Lawrence, Vice President, PG Queer Cafe

A fundraiser and concert featuring local artists will also take place on July 4th and will be streamed online, for picnic-ers to view, and funds will be raised to help support at-risk youth in the community through the United Way of Northern B.C.

Lawrence says that those interested in celebrating Pride should keep an eye out on their Facebook page for future events as there will be more events planned throughout the month.

The Pride flag was raised this afternoon (June 12) outside of City Hall, to celebrate Pride Month. Susan Trabant, President of the Prince George Pride Society says that they are trying to get the community involved in celebrating Pride by people to place rainbows on their windows. Trabant says that talking about divisive issues is also a great way to celebrate Pride.

“Talking about issues that LGBTQ+ people have faced, talking about Black Lives Matter, talking about RCMP…just really talking about what is divisive, what is diversity, how can we support each other going through these trying times, and how can we bring ourselves together to rally form community and really celebrate every member that’s here in Prince George.”