PRISM Wetaskiwin, a non-profit LGBTQIA2S+ society, is forging ahead with its plans for the Pride in the Park festival on June 7 in Diamond Jubilee Park, despite the vandalism of rainbow crosswalks they recently painted.
It was less than a day since the crosswalks at 54 St. and 55 St. on Mainstreet were painted on May 24 before they had been defaced with a slur. The members and volunteers also endured harassment while they putting the fresh coat of paint on the crosswalks.
PRISM executive director Donald Haywood said they're tired of the harassment and hate, but they aren't going to be silent.
"We're not going home. We're not going to sit down and shut up."
Haywood said he believes anti-LGBTQ sentiments have been on the rise, especially in the past two years, as "that population's feelings have been justified in their actions because of government decision-making and bills."
The festival will begin with a parade, starting at the traffic circle by city hall at 10 a.m.
The other activities are to begin at 12 noon, which will include bouncy castles, wagon rides, children's games and live entertainment by drag queen and king performers, two local singers and and a band, Breathing Underwater, plus a magic show and drag story time.
The festival is meant as a fun celebration of things in the queer community, as well as an opportunity to come together as a community and feel respected and valued, said Haywood.
"I think Pride is just important for queer people to have a day, or a number of days, where we can celebrate in a safe space," he said.
"We don't often have the opportunity, like most minority groups, to celebrate," said Haywood, adding oftentimes LGBTQ people spend a lot of time worrying, dealing with things on their own and living in the margins.
"Pride just gives us a chance to be who we are and not give a damn."
PRISM officially started in 2021.
While they remain a small group, Haywood said in his experience, there is a wider population of LGBTQ people living in Wetaskiwin that aren't yet comfortable with their sexuality.
"Some events are not as well attended as we'd like because there is still that fear of being outed, just by being there," he explained.
"We're a fairly small, grassroots organization and we're hoping to get bigger and expand but it's (hard) finding those people to come out, and to volunteer and that's typical of any group especially when it's a fringe organization."
He added it's hard for any non-profit to receive and solicit funds, but for LGBTQ groups, that is especially the case because even though there are businesses and people happy to support them, often they don't want their contributions recognized publicly because of the political climate of Wetaskiwin and rural Alberta.
PRISM is working hard to get information and their ideas out and educate people about the issues facing the LGBTQ community, he said.
"It's time for us to be able to do that and focus on that."
