With Pride Month around the corner, Thunder Pride is gearing up for virtual celebrations for the second year in a row.
The group has released its calendar for this year’s festivities. COVID-19 has put a halt on in-person events, but organizers have pushed as much as they can to a virtual format.
Pride month begins with a flag raising at City Hall on Tuesday, June 1st.
Lakehead Public Schools will hold its flag raising on Thursday, and the English Catholic board will do the same on June 14th.
The month’s main events will officially start with opening ceremonies on June 11th, and include a gender-affirming gear event, a discussion panel on consent, game and trivia nights, and a virtual drag show.
Drive-by Drag is also making a return this year on June 26th.
The main festivities end on the 21st with the closing ceremonies.
Chair Ashley Moreau says they’re trying to apply the lessons they learned in 2020.
“I think we really did an amazing job, and we plan to kind of mirror that style of delivery again, which seemed to reach farther places so people who wouldn’t typically be able to join are actually able to join now,” they note.
They say Thunder Pride members are excited to return to in-person events.
“Later on in the year, if things open up and we’re able to do that, then absolutely. We can actually include these other events and have smaller gatherings,” Moreau says.
