A Pride Walk in Richmond will make the LGBTQ community feel more welcome and included in society.
This is the assessment of Delia Anez who will be taking part and has been spreading the word about the first-ever Pride Walk in Richmond, taking place this Saturday.
While Canada is fairly liberal – especially compared to her native Venezuela - as part of the LGBTQ community, at times Anez feels like she’s an outsider in Richmond and wonders whether it would be easier to live in Vancouver.
However, she likes the city she’s called home for more than two years, and she hopes she’ll feel more at home after the Pride Walk.
With violence against the LGBTQ community on the rise, however, Anez just hopes Saturday’s Pride Walk is peaceful. She understand people have different opinions and supports the right to protest, but recent violent confrontations between people opposing LGBTQ rights, and trans rights, feels “scary,” she said, adding “either I help with pushback, or I get scared and freeze."
“There’s a lot of work to do – especially now with the far-right growing in the States – it worries me, it really worries me,” Anez said.
But, as she’s been helping to organize the event, she’s pleased to see a lot of allies also volunteering to put on the walk.
Anez is originally from Venezuela, where LBGTQ people aren’t even mentioned in conversations. Lesbians are often referred to as the “single aunt.”
In fact, in high school, Anez had a “boyfriend,” a gay friend, to avert attention from the fact she was a lesbian. It was a way for them to protect themselves, she explained.
This is why the public Pride Walk in Richmond that will celebrate the LGBTQ community is so important for her.
“With my background (in South America), it’s a dream come true,” Anez said.
City putting on Pride events
In addition to the Pride Walk, the City of Richmond will be raising a Pride flag at city hall for the first time. It will be flying on the flagpole at city hall for a week starting Monday morning.
The city is also putting on various Pride events, including story times, workshops, fitness classes and an improv performance. (For a full list, click here.)
One thrift shop in Steveston is also showing its support for the LGBTQ community and the Pride Walk.
Anyone who comes dressed in pink or rainbow colours for Pride will get a 30 per cent discount at the SOS Children’s Village Thrift Store (conditions may apply).
“Come join us in spreading love, acceptance and joy while enjoying great savings at Steveston’s SOS Children’s Village Thrift Store!” read a statement from the store that supports children in foster care and at-risk youth.
The Pride Walk will be held on Saturday, July 29 starting at 11 a.m. at Imperial Landing in Steveston.
It will start at Richmond-Steveston MLA Kelly Greene’s office, 4011 Bayview St.
Anez said she’s not involved politically, but she is grateful for the fact Greene started this event.
“I do appreciate she reached out to the community and did something about it – that’s very powerful,” Anez said.
