Executive Council
Seniors, Wellness and Social Development
July 12, 2016
Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion
Provincial Government Recognizes Pride Week 2016
The Provincial Government is once again joining community groups in celebrating Pride Week 2016 (July 11-17) in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Honourable Sherry Gambin-Walsh, Minister of Seniors, Wellness and Social Development, and Bernard Davis, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and Community Services, joined members of St. John�s Pride and other community representatives at a flag-raising ceremony at the Confederation Building this afternoon as part of the launch of Pride Week throughout the province.
�Pride Week reminds us that all individuals, including LGBTQ persons, have a right to be accepted fully in our society. This year�s Pride Week theme is �Stronger Together� and our government is committed to working with all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians toward an inclusive province where all people are free from any form of violence or discrimination. Raising the Pride Flag at Confederation Building demonstrates our commitment to diversity and equality and a show of support for members of the LGBTQ community everywhere.�
- The Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
While highlighting that more must be done to prevent discrimination against, and to encourage full acceptance of, members of the LGBTQ community within our society, Pride Week is also an opportunity to highlight important gains that have been made for LGBTQ individuals in our province including:
- The prohibition on discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation since sexual orientation was added to the Newfoundland and Labrador Human Rights Code in 1997;
- The issuing of same-sex marriage licences since December 2004;
- Amendments to the Human Rights Act in November 2013 to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity and gender expression; and
- Changes, during this past session of the House of Assembly, to the Vital Statistics Act to allow individuals to have the gender marker on their birth and marriage documents reflect the gender they identified with, without the need for surgery.
"I am proud to participate in today�s flag-raising ceremony and to promote inclusion and acceptance of all persons in our society. Through the Safe and Caring Schools Policy and the Violence Prevention Initiative, the Provincial Government continues to work to eliminate and reduce all forms of discrimination and violence in our province. We want to work with community groups, including the LGBTQ community, to make further advances toward inclusion and equality for all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.�
- The Honourable Sherry Gambin-Walsh, Minister of Seniors, Wellness and Social Development
St. John�s Pride officially kicked-off Pride Week 2016 yesterday with an opening gala in St. John�s. Various other events are planned throughout the week which concludes with the annual Pride Parade which begins at St. John�s City Hall at 3:00 p.m., Sunday, July 17, immediately followed by the Pride in the Park event at Bannerman Park where the parade ends.
"St. John's Pride is happy to continue working with the Provincial Government to improve access and inclusion of all LGBTQ people, be it through amendments to legislation or special projects. We look forward to the changes that can continue to be developed and implemented in the coming year of working together."
- Tj Jones, Co-chair Internal, St. John�s Pride
For a listing of Pride Week events in St. John�s, visit www.stjohnspride.ca or follow St. John�s Pride on twitter @StJohnsPrideNL . Pride Week activities in other areas of the province are run by similar groups, community organizations, student unions, not-for-profit groups, volunteer groups and local businesses.
QUICK FACTS
- The Honourable Sherry Gambin-Walsh, Minister of Seniors, Wellness and Social Development, and Bernard Davis, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and Community Services, joined members of St. John�s Pride and other community representatives today to raise the Pride Flag at Confederation Building and celebrate Pride Week 2016 (July 11-17) in Newfoundland and Labrador.
- Pride Week provides an opportunity to celebrate diversity and the important gains that have been made for members of the LGBTQ community while recognizing that much more needs to be done to end discrimination and to promote full acceptance of LGBTQ persons in our society.
- For a listing of Pride Week events in St. John�s, visit www.stjohnspride.ca or follow St. John�s Pride on twitter @StJohnsPrideNL .
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Media contacts:
Nancy O�Connor Director of Communications Office of the Premier 709-689-1825 nancyoconnor@gov.nl.ca |
Roger Scaplen Director of Communications Department of Seniors, Wellness and Social Development 709-729-0928, 697-5267 rogerscaplen@gov.nl.ca |
Chris Mallay Co-chair External St. John�s Pride externalstjpride@gmail.com 709-277-0465 |
2016 07 12 3:00 p.m.