This year’s pride flag raising introduces new progressive flag
The annual pride flag raising took place on 7 June. This year a new progressive pride flag was raised which featured new colours as well as a new design.
Red is the meaning of life
Orange is the meaning of healing
Yellow is the meaning of sunlight
Green is nature
Blue is harmony
Violet is spirit
Black and brown represent people of colour
White, blue, and pink represent the transgender community.
“We raise this flag today with pride to show to the 2SLGBTQI+ community that Base Borden and the military families support them,” said Lieutenant Colonel Koussay, Champion of the Borden Pride Network. “As a member of the borden pride network it is an honour to help raise the flag today.”
After the flag had been raised, Padre McGee invited everyone present to join in prayer according to their own faith traditions or to take the time to reflect.
“While we celebrate and dream we also grieve in remembering those who have died and suffered violence because they were seen as different when they tried to be their true selves,” said Padre McGee. “Give us the courage to build a world that is centred on justice and equality for all. So that everyone who faces or who has faced violence or discrimination for simply being who they are, they instead find strength, healing, hope, and safety in communities that care and advocate for change in our world. May all who identify as 2SLGBTQI+ be treated with dignity and live and work in a world free of violence and hatred.”
Military police were also present to show their support with rainbow police patches on the front and back of their uniform in place of the standard yellow one. These special patches are purchased by police officers themselves and it is the first year that these patches will have been worn by military police at CFB Borden. Pride patches will be worn by officers for the entire month of June.
Corporal Nelles, one of the police officers present, spoke about how the patches are a good way to “close the bridge” between the police and the 2SLGBTQI+ community.
The 2SLGBTQI+ acronym is used by many organizations to refer to the diverse range of both sexual identities and gender identities. Additionally, it serves the importance of recognizing and ensuring all identities are included in the conversation.
In the acronym 2SLGBTQI+, the 2S stands for Two-Spirit people and is placed at the front as a reminder that Two-Spirit indigenous people were the first sexual and gender minority group in North America. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex make up the remainder of the acronym. Those who identify as members of sexual and gender diverse communities and use additional terminology are represented by the plus. The use of the plus sign is also meant to signify that the 2SLGBTQI+ acronym is not static and is open to other identities as they emerge.
Borden has its own pride network so make sure to follow the Facebook page @BordenPrideNetwork for more information about upcoming events or to get involved with the community.
By: Amber Boies
