Three-Year Pride Theme 2009-2011

The Vancouver Pride Society adopted a three-year theme of Educate, Liberate, Celebrate focusing on one of the three elements each year. In 2010, we focus on Liberate and what it means to be free.

Pride celebrations across the country have become a gathering of people from all walks of life. At Pride, our diversity is celebrated openly, and people can express themselves freely without fear of retribution.

In Canada, we have fought many battles on our road to equality, and we have achieved many of our legal rights. Yet, transgender people are still not protected under our laws, and we still have a long way to go before we conquer homophobia. We acknowledge that in Canada we will never have true equality until every LGBTI person enjoys the freedoms that we enjoy in Canada.

In parts of the world and even in our own country, Pride is still a movement to liberate. Your attendance at the Pride Parade and Festival events demonstrates your acceptance of diversity and support of dignity and human rights for all.

Although public opinion has changed over time, it is a continuous and long-term endeavor to fight for change and keep what we have. We have recently seen how easily laws can be revoked and rights taken away like in California last year with Proposition 8. Pride is a vehicle to educate, liberate and celebrate, and every summer, that's what we do.

At Pride, we stand in solidarity with those who fight for liberation around the world. We march for those who can't walk with pride; we speak for those who are silenced and oppressed. Show up, be visible and be proud.

Make Pride your political action this summer.