Clare, NS – May 15, 2020: The Acadian community of Clare, Nova Scotia, is hosting its first ever Pride Week from June 8 to 12, 2020. At a time when many festivals are postponing their activities due to COVID-19 complications, organizers of Fierté CLARE Pride are fully embracing social distancing measures with the slogan Physically apart, together in heart.
A partnership between the Municipality of Clare, la Société acadienne de Clare, Université Sainte-Anne, the Enchanté Network and Rising Youth, the goal of the event is to show love and support from and towards the LGBTQ2 community with a week of entertaining, informative and inclusive programming for everyone. In order to respect the social distancing directives laid out by the federal and provincial governments due to COVID-19, the event will take place entirely online via its Facebook page (www.facebook.com/FierteClarePride).
Natalie Robichaud, Executive Director of la Société acadienne de Clare and Fierté CLARE Pride organizing committee member, notes the common experiences of the Acadian and LGBTQ2 communities. “In Nova Scotia, francophones are a minority that are sometimes marginalized. Members of the LGBTQ2 community are too often marginalized. Diversity and inclusion are tools that make us stronger. I am very proud that there is now a Pride Week in my community of Clare. We are also very excited to host this event online, which just adds to the inclusivity of the event. Everyone—from everywhere—is welcome to check it out.”
In 2019, the Municipality of Clare was among 50 municipalities across Canada to raise the pride flag to mark the 50th anniversary of the partial decriminalization of homosexuality in Canada. The event was met with positivity and openness by residents of the community. It is for this reason that Fierté CLARE Pride chose to build on that momentum with a weeklong celebration.
“People often ask me if I plan on moving to a bigger city,” says Fierté CLARE Pride organizing committee member Tristan MacAlpine, who identifies as gay and who studies Social Work at Université Sainte-Anne in Church Point. “I tell them that I’m not going anywhere for now! Things are changing here in Clare, and it is so rewarding to help bring that change.”
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Media Contact / Interviews:
Amy Paradis
Communications Officer
Municipality of Clare
902-778-2079
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Natalie Robichaud
Executive Director
La Société acadienne de Clare
902-769-0955
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