Dufferin County to host event on 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusivity this Pride Month
County invites residents to Don’t Rain on My Parade: Combatting 2SLGBTQIA+ Hate, Celebrating Community, and Taking Action Towards a More Inclusive World
Join Dufferin County this June for a free, educational and meaningful conversation on improving 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusivity in Dufferin County and beyond.
In collaboration with the Equity Events Working Group, Dufferin County will be hosting “Don’t Rain on My Parade: Combatting 2SLGBTQIA+ Hate, Celebrating Community, and Taking Action Towards a More Inclusive World” in recognition of Pride Month. This free community event will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 pm on Wednesday, June 25 at the Monora Park Pavilion.
Speaking from broad professional, personal and educational experiences, keynote speaker Prasanna Ranganathan will explore notions of identity and connection with a view to creating community, shattering stereotypes and combatting the rampant hate and discrimination that 2SLGBTQIA+ communities face worldwide. With a blend of personal stories, human rights considerations and inclusion best practices, Prasanna will underscore how we can, individually and collectively, create workplaces, organizations and civic spaces where 2SLGBTQIA+ community members not only feel safe, but included, valued, respected and celebrated.
Registration is required for the event here. Register here.
About Prasanna Ranganathan
Prasanna Ranganathan is a documentary producer, human rights lawyer, diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility and belonging (DEIAB) consultant/advisor, speaker, author, correspondent, writer and arts columnist.
Proudly claiming his identity as a racialized, queer person with a disability (blindness), Prasanna is a board member of the Disability Screen Office and a past board member of Inside Out (the largest LGBTQ2+ film festival in Canada). Prasanna is a seasoned speaker, providing the annual Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) inclusion and accessibility workshop, speaking at the TIFF Industry Conference, delivering anti-bias and accessibility training to the Sundance Institute, and serving as a Guest Lecturer at the University of Southern California Annenberg Inclusion Initiative on inclusive storytelling.
About the Equity Events Working Group
The Equity Events Working Group is comprised of dedicated volunteers, councilors, and staff from the County of Dufferin and local municipalities. The group’s focus is the planning and managing community engagement initiatives, with particular emphasis on “Community Conversations.” Its primary goal is to organize and deliver inclusive events that celebrate diversity, promote learning, and foster a strong sense of belonging – while ensuring a positive and meaningful experience for all participants.
About Pride Season in Canada
Pride Season is a term that refers to the wide range of Pride events that take place over the summer from June to September when 2SLGBTQIA+ communities and allies come together to spotlight the resilience, celebrate the talent, and recognize the contributions of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.
Historically, Pride gatherings emerged from the first large-scale protests for 2SLGBTQIA+ rights. In Canada, the first demonstrations took place in Ottawa and Vancouver in 1971. By 1973, Pride events were held in several Canadian cities, including Montréal, Ottawa, Saskatoon, Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg.
Quotes
“Dufferin County Council has proclaimed June Pride Month in Dufferin County to spotlight and celebrate the contributions of Dufferin’s 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. County Council invites our residents and stakeholders to join us in recognizing and celebrating Pride Season this summer, and encourages everyone to join us at this meaningful event to learn how we can create inclusive spaces for 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.”
-Janet Horner, Warden, Dufferin County
“Dufferin County is excited to host the Don’t Rain on My Parade Pride event in collaboration with the Equity Events Working Group this month! Our team is committed to starting conversation and driving change, so that our residents can learn more about Dufferin’s diverse communities. We look forward to learning more about how we can create a more inclusive world for 2SLGBTQIA+ communities this Pride season, together.”
-Sonya Pritchard, Chief Administrative Officer, Dufferin County
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Megan Ball, Manager of Communications
mball@dufferincounty.ca
