Following the mayor’s proclamation of Sept. 13 as Gay Pride Day, members of the newly-formed Peterborough Pride Commission have been working tirelessly to pull off an event, they call, “a necessity” for the city. Jackie Turk, commission member, hopes the day raises awareness and educates the community about the gay culture.

“If Martin Luther King had sat back and not opened his mouth we wouldn’t be where we are today,” says Jackie, also president of the Fleming Association of Queer Students.

“It’s a necessity.”

The event is an opportunity to educate residents about diversity, she notes. “We’re listing this as a family event,” says Jackie. She says a no-nudity policy will be enforced throughout the day, which includes a rally and parade.

The day kicks off with a brunch at The Only Café from 10 a.m. to noon, followed by a rally at 12:30 outside of City Hall and a parade at 1 p.m. From 7 to 9 p.m., there are cocktails and a drag show at the Gordon Best Theatre followed by a dance. Admission is $5. On Sunday, there’s a picnic at Inverlea Park from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Harsh criticism of the affair has saturated local papers’ letters to the editor sections. Some politicians have also expressed their objections through the media.

However, Jackie says that represents a small portion of the community.

“The response we’ve got personally has been positive,” she notes. “If I had a nickel (for everyone who said) ‘It’s about time,’ it would have funded the whole parade,” says Jackie.
She notes the Commission has received favourable feedback from individuals, community service agencies, members of the student and faculty body at Fleming College and business people. That support has helped them raise the $2,000 to hold the parade.

She notes they expect there will be protestors and backlash as a result of the event, but says, “We’re prepared to handle it and not get in any confrontations.”

Ash Phipps, also a member of the Commission, says the intent of the day is to be non-confrontational. “It’s meant to be a positive day. No matter whether you’re gay or straight, you’re not going to please everyone.”

Ash says the timing couldn’t be better for the parade, given the double cohort (Grade 12s and OACs heading into university and college at the same time) and the government ruling on same-sex marriage. The federal government is considering re-defining marriage from being exclusively a union of man and woman to one of two persons. It is awaiting a Supreme Court of Canada decision first, which may not happen until next year, according to recent reports.

Jackie and Ash took part in writing the suggested proclamation and letter to Peterborough Mayor Sylvia Sutherland at the beginning of July. “We wanted to get it in the school year and in summer time,” says Ash. “Hopefully it’s the second week of September from here on in.”

Jackie notes in the past, people have “mulled over” the idea of Gay Pride Day in Peterborough and this year, it was time. She notes others sometimes question why gay people need a day or a parade for themselves.

“It’s a day we can be ourselves.”

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