KHRISTOPHER REARDON
NEWS REPORTER
The ballooning membership of the Humber Pride Club has its president excited about the possibility of the club participating in World Pride Toronto in 2014.
“We may be able to get something in but I don’t know if we’d be considered big enough,” said president Stephanie Butler of the club, which had six members in 2008-09. “But we have a hometown advantage now,” she added.
“It’s really cool that Toronto’s leading it because Toronto has actually just surpassed San Francisco as the most gay-friendly city in North America,” she said.
Membership had been on the decline for Humber Pride – formerly the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transsexual club – but dozens of new members came to the North campus amphitheater on Oct. 19 for veggie burgers on the eve of the World Pride announcement.
“I think that it is going to be exciting,” said John Ziolkowski, vice-president of the club and a game programming student, about World Pride.
“Toronto can’t be the only town that can be proud, can it? It should be an event celebrated worldwide.”
About 40 people came out to celebrate the LGBTQ community during the barbecue. Butler, the new leader of Humber Pride, wants to create an atmosphere where people are free to express their sexuality, and said her main goal is to make the club endure.
“I want a big enough group and a dedicated enough and active enough group that someone will say, yeah I wanna lead this next year,” said Butler.
Club initiatives include campaigns that fight for gay rights. Ben Rodgers, vice-president of Campus Life North and Humber Pride member, also said he’s trying to revamp the Positive Space initiative, which is a poster campaign to increase awareness and sensitivity of LGBTQ issues.
“A club like this is very important to connect people,” said Rodgers, who is gay, adding Humber Pride allows the community to discuss important issues.
Brandy Goodman, 27, a volunteer for Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays Canada, was homeless when she was met with intolerance and didn’t have a supportive group to turn to.
Goodman, who is a lesbian, said she was at a homeless shelter when she was confronted by a man who targeted her for her sexuality and threatened her with a gun.
“I was thinking he’s going to kill me,” said Goodman. Police were called to the shelter and the man was arrested.
Now with PFLAG, Goodman is supporting others who have been discriminated against. PFLAG support the lesbian and gay community by organizing events that bring the community together.
Goodman said a group like the Humber Pride Club that helps sexual minorities is important for people who need to find acceptance.
“It’s hard being different,” she said. “Definitely a group of any sort will help that’s positive.”
Photo by Khristopher Reardon
David Cowie serves a burger to Ian Trider at the Humber Pride Club barbecue last Monday.
I just wanted to clarify the organization that I belong to is called PFLAG Canada. No hard feelings Khris. That’s what journalism is all about. But great piece.