June 14, 2024
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Members of Kincardine Pride raised the rainbow flag in three parts of the Municipality of Kincardine to celebrate Pride Month and the wonderful diversity of all.
The flags were raised in front of the Kincardine Library, beside the track at the Davidson Centre in Kincardine, and at the Tiverton Fire Hall.
Gathered for the Kincardine Pride flag-raising beside the track at the Davidson Centre in Kincardine, are Marilyn Clarke (left), Phil Thompkins, Rev. Gord Dunbar, president Sandy Blackwood, Jonathon Farrell, Christina Roppel-Wahi, Mackenzie Clarke with "Charleston," and Kevin Larson
Rev. Gord Dunbar of Kincardine Pride, said there is a story in the Bible in the book of Genesis about a rainbow promise from God, a promise stating that all created life is worthy of love and deserves love.
“Those of us who call ourselves lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, two-spirited, asexual, pangender, intersex, gender fluid – and even heterosexual – all of us claim the promise of that rainbow,” he said, “God’s promise of creation’s sustaining love.”
Dunbar said that for many in our society, it is easier to tolerate the sad and the marginalized than to celebrate the proud.
“For too many in our society, it is far too easy to make assumptions, using stereotypes which create barriers to real dialogue,” he said. “Dialogue is how we get to know one another as worthy people. For those of us who become marginalized, it is easy to become isolated, lonely and despairing, too frequently leading to self-destructive choices and even suicide.
“By raising this flag, we affirm our pride in our common humanity in all its wonderful diversity. By raising this flag, we turn toward participating in welcome, in awareness, in justice, and in loving all people, pledging to be active parts of creating equity in our community. This daring and risky endeavour – one that challenges all of us – proclaims how we live for right relations in the world, but specifically right here.
“In raising this flag, we re-orient our desires, our habits and our loyalties beyond our own clan to a place of human connection with one another in all our wonderfully created variety. By raising this flag, we celebrate the wonderful diversity of which each of us in an integral part. I believe this is good news filled with hope and with possibility.”
Kincardine mayor Kenneth Craig (centre) joins president Sandy Blackwood (left) and Rev. Gord Dunbar of Kincardine Pride at the flag-raising beside the track at the Davidson Centre
Kincardine Pride is holding a parade, Saturday, June 22, beginning at 11 a.m., marching from Sutton Street to Broadway, to Queen Street and then down Lambton Street to Dunsmoor Park for an afternoon celebration. There is also a concert that night, featuring Sarah Smith, at 8 p.m., at the Kincardine Arts Centre.
The Pride flag is raised
Written ByLiz Dadson is the founder and editor of the Kincardine Record and has been in the news business since 1986.
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