Pride October 2020

Pride October 2020

Pride Villager

Middlesex, Oxford and Elgin Counties

Issue #5 Fall 2020

Cover art by Jacqueline Demendeev

A Virtual Pride Celebration For 40 years, London’s LGBT2Q+ communities h ave come together each year for the annual Pride London Festival. Like many festivals and events around the world, this year was a very different celebration due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. “Our Board of Directors decided very early on that the pandemic should not, and would not stop, the important human rights work going on around the world and here at home,” said Andrew Rosser, President of Pride London Festival. “Pride is an important opportunity for our communities to come together each year and we wanted tomake sure we could still provide these opportunities.” From July 16 - 26, Pride London Festival held more than 25 events virtually throughZoom, FacebookLiveandYouTube. The2020Pride Launch sponsored by TD, featured various musical performances and Pride messages from community members, Mayor Ed Holder and Canadian Olympic Gold Medalist Mark Tewksbury. One of the highlights of the annual festival each year is the Pride Art Show & Sale. This year, the event was reimagined to be a virtual Spotlight on LGBT2Q+ Artists, which profiled various artists in the community on PrideLondon.ca/SpotlightOnArtists. “It was a great honour to be part of the Pride Spotlight on LGBT2Q+ Artists and showcase some of my work.” said local photographer Glenda Clooney. Educational events are an important aspect of Pride London Festival and some of year’s topics focused on Trans in the Workplace, Two-Spirit Identities and LGBTQ Settlement 101. “Each year it’s essential that we provide opportunities for our community and the general public to educate themselves about issues facing LGBT2Q+ communities.” said Rosser. Some of the interactive and unique events added this year were Drag 101 with London’s youngest drag queen Miss Shaneen, Let’s Talk Pets with Dog Trainer Melissa Millett, and a Sing & Dance Along with Saidat.

In place of the annual parade, aVirtual PrideCommunityCelebration was held that featured various submitted videos from community organizations and individuals. While 2020 offered several challenges for Pride organizers this year, Rosser says it brought some new ideas that can be incorporated in future celebrations.

“One thing we learned this year, is that hosting virtual events is a really great way to connect with more people in our communities, specifically those who might have mobility or health issues, seniors and those who might not feel comfortable coming out. Moving forward, a hybrid model of virtual and in person Pride events will be important for allowing everyone to participate.” The 2020 Pride London Festival Annual General Meeting is on Thursday, November 19th, 7pm via Zoom. For more information about Pride London Festival, visit PrideLondon.ca.

The annual Elegant Drag Ensemble was held virtually and featured 18 talented local drag performers. The 2020 Pride Spotlight Party was also held virtually and featured DJ DisKreet, DJ Kevin Evans & Cozmic Cat , along with a special Pride concert from the Sarah Smith Trio. One event that was certainly missed by thousands of Londoners this year was the annual Pride Parade, which in 2019 celebrated 25 years. “We know how important the annual London Pride Parade is for so many people in our city and it was disappointing to not to be able to flood Queen Street with our rainbow flags this year.” said Rosser.

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40 Years of Pride in the Forest City by Andrew Rosser 2020 marks the 40th anniversary of Pride celebrations in the Forest City and over the past several years; Pride London Festival has become an annual event many Londoners look forward too.

In 1995, it was decided that a march should be added to the Pride celebrations and discussions began with City Hall to ask for an official event proclamation. The first march took place in 1995, but turned into a protest march passing by the Mayor’s house after she refused to issue the proclamation. A human rights complaint was filed against the Mayor and City Council. In the following years, Pride celebrations expanded into a Pride Week to accommodate additional events. A Pride Film Festival was added and in 1997, the annual Pride Art Show was held at the London Regional Art and Historical Museum under the title “Proclaimed” in recognition of the ongoing human rights complaint against the Mayor.

After the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York, several gay and lesbian groups emerged across Canada and the United States, especially on university campuses. In London, there are references to the University of Western Ontario Homophile Association (UWOHA) dating back to 1970.

In the Fall of 1997, the Mayor was found guilty of discrimination against the Gay and Lesbian Community. An official procla- mation was issued in 1998 and the Pride flag was flown at City Hall. Pride celebrations continued to grow over the years and since 2005, Pride London Festival has

Early Pride celebrations were often small picnics, and in London the first Pride picnic took place in 1981. The event was cosponsored by the Western Gay Association (WGA) and the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC). In June of 1982, London’s Pride celebration included a trip on the Thames River in the ship Tinkerbell and was followed by a picnic. As the Pride movement grew, celebrations in London were growing and in 1989, Pride events were moved to the Homophile Association of London Ontario (HALO) building. In 1990, a barbeque, tea dance and dedication of a Pride Flag took place. Early celebrations were held at the end of June to coincide with Stonewall, however to allow Londoners to celebrate Toronto Pride as well, celebrations were moved to July; which also aligned with HALO’s anniversary. The Lesbian & Gay Pride London Committee was formed by Stan MacKenzie in September of 1991 to plan celebrations for the following year. 1992 was the first highly publicized Pride in London and featured a full weekend of activities, including shows, a picnic, an art show, the Rainbow Express tour bus and a MCC church service. In honour of HALO’s 20th anniversary in 1994, large celebrations were planned and a special logo was created to commemorate the anniversary. HALO “came out” from behind its walls and held a very popular community festival in the parking lot.

been organized by a volunteer board that plans annual activities and events. The outdoor festival has been held at the Western Fair Grounds, on Dundas Street, in the John Labatt Centre parking lot, in the Clarence/King parking lot and eventually found a permanent home in Victoria Park in 2012.

In 2011, Mayor Joe Fontana made history and became the first Mayor in London to walk in the Pride Parade and attend the outdoor festivities. Since then, every Mayor has walked in the Pride Parade and in 2018,

Mayor Matt Brown officially apologized to London’s LGBT2Q+ communities for the discrimination of the Mayor and City Council in 1995. In 2015, Pride London Festival was awarded the Pillar Community Impact Award and in 2016 hosted the national Fierté Canada Pride Conference. This year, Pride London Festival celebrated its 40th anniversary virtually from July 16 – 26, with more than 25 unique and engaging events. Over the years, the festival’s growth is a testament to a community that is becoming more understanding and accepting. Pride London Festival believes that education is an important way to change the stigmas present in our society and to achieve a future that is healthy, inclusive and diverse. For more information about Pride London Festival, visit PrideLondon.ca.

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Rainbow Optimist Club Update The Rainbow Optimist Club has had a very busy year and it is going to continue. Drag Queen Storytime Drag Queen Storytime went virtual because of covid-19. A series of videos were shot by North Cut Studio, the same studio directed and shot the Pride understanding videos. Oxford County Pride, Strathroy Pride, London Pride Festival and Elgin Pride funded the production of the videos. All the Storytimes were launched just before or during the Pride celebrations in Elgin, Middlesex, Elgin and London. These have been very successful with over 10,000 views on Facebook, Youtube and Instagram. What’s Next TD Bank has given a donation to produce another series of videos. There are 18 videos being produced which will be entitled Drag Storytimes because of the addition of 2 drag kings. FYI…a drag king is a woman dressed as a man. These will be launched in the fall. One additional very special video was created for Governor Ruth Quenneville and the SWO Optimist Clubs. It aired on August 22 during the annual district convention. Oxford County Pride 2020 On June 1st Oxford County Pride live streamed virtual flag raisings in Tillsonburg, Woodstock and Ingersoll. This was a great success reaching over 10,000 people. The Rainbow Optimist Club hosted Story Time with the Queens during Oxford County Pride virtual Pride celebration on June 20 in partnership with Woodstock Public Library, Ingersoll Library and Tillsonburg Library. There were a series of 4 Story Times shared on Facebook and Youtube with more than 1856 views. The virtual Pride celebration was a huge success with entertainment, games, stories and more. The complete list of events can be found on the Oxford County website: www. The Rainbow Optimist Club spearheaded the Strathroy Pride Committee which hosted the inaugural Strathroy Pride 2020 on Saturday, July 11. Elgin County Pride Committee. History was made in Elgin County. After the St. Thomas Elgin Rainbow Alliance disbanded the Rainbow Optimists stepped up and formed the Elgin County Pride Committee. In a very short period of time this committee arranged for the activle5 Pride flag raisings across the County along with Proclamations and Jumbo to lite up in the rainbow colours. Pop-up Auction: oxfordpride.ca/pride-2020/ Strathroy Pride 2020 As you all know Covid-19 has impacted fundraising efforts. The RainbowOptimist Club has created themonthly Pop-up Auction: www. rainbowoptimistclub.com/pop-upauction. Each month new items are added to the Pop-up Auction page on our website which are up for a month. It is a silent auction and there are bid sheets where people can add their bids. This a generating a modest monthly income. It also works a great marketing tool. The Pop-up Auction is posted and shared on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. It is shared on the SWO Optimist Clubs and the Optimist International – Club and Members Group Facebook pages. This is a great way to promote the Rainbow Optimist Club website, what we do and generate money.

Creating Safer Spaces for the LGBT2Q+ Communities Workshop The Rainbow Optimist Club delivers an original workshop called Creating a Safer Space for the LGBT2Q+ Communities. A safe space is "a place or environment in which a person can feel confident that they will not be exposed to discrimination, criticism, harassment, or any other emotional or physical harm." The goal of creating "a safer space is to create a space where people can find themselves represented and reflected, and where they understand that all people are treated with respect and dignity." Once again because of Covid-19 this workshop could not be delivered in person. The Elgin Alzheimer Society stepped forward and became the first to take the workshop online via Zoom. It was a huge success. All comments on the evaluations were very positive and supportive. The Executive Director (ED) was so impressed she presented to her follow ED’s across Ontario on the value of this workshop. They agreed. The Rainbow Optimist Club will be delivering virtual workshops to the 32 Alzheimer Societies over the course of the next 1.5 to 2 years. The Rainbow Optimist Club is asking for a modest $100.00 donation from each organization. This helps the Rainbow Optimist Club train our facilitators and keep the information/resources current. Follow us on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/ RainbowOptimistClub Like us on Instagram: rainbowoptimistclub Follow us on Twitter: @rainbow0ptimist Email: [email protected] Website: www.RainbowOptimistClub.com

The goal of the Rainbow Optimist Club - Southwestern Ontario is to better the lives of LGBT2Q+ rural youth, their families and their communities in the Counties of Elgin, Middlesex and Oxford. Facebook: www.Facebook.com/RainbowOptimistClub Instagram: rainbowoptimistclub Twitter: @rainbow0ptimist Email: [email protected] Website: www.RainbowOptimistClub.com

Presents...

Creating Safer Spaces for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans,Two Spirit, Queer (LGBT2Q+) Communities Workshop

AGENDA • LGBT2Q+ Terminology & Language • Pronounds • Coming Out & Challenges facing LGBT2Q+ individuals • Heterosexual Privilege & Unconscious Bias • Allyship • Creating Safer Spaces

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Strathroy: Small Town Pride

The Importance of Understanding We spend a lot of time talking about acceptance. Meeting people without judgement, recognizing differences make our world an interesting place to live, and that diversity helps us grow. But we can’t forget about understanding. We are living in very stressful and uncertain times. All of us dealing with it in our own way. The pandemic has impacted each and every one of us. As we mask and take precautions to pick up groceries, run an errand or catch up with a friend , we are passing people fighting battles we cannot see. Formany inourcommunity, thepandemichascreatedinsurmountable stress. Financial hardship, relationshipchallenges,more time required to manage children, loneliness, grief, sadness and depression. Right now more than ever, understanding is key. Not only of those that might seem different than us, but of everyone we interact with. Patients and understanding. As we go out into the community, wemust take time to understand the invisible battles that are happening around us, perhaps even within ourselves. The rules of kindergarten must apply: slow down, take turns, be kind. Give those having a bad day space, take a deep breath before you lose your patience, and remember nothing at the grocery store is worth fighting about. Remember the healing power of helping others. A little bit of kindness not only helps the recipient, it also lifts the person offering the assistance. Hold a door, let someone go first, check on a neighbour, buy a coffee or offer up words of encouragement. In this moment, we don’t need judgement. We don’t need gossip, harsh words, or hurtful words- we need kindness. It’s going to be a long winter. We are all going to need to work on our understanding.

On a drizzly Saturday morning in July, I was standing in front of Strathroy town hall, holding my umbrella in one hand and notes in the other. In a few minutes, we’d be live to kick off Strathroy’s very first Pride celebration with the raising of the Pride flag. And while a part of me was feeling camera jitters, I remember looking around at the people and families gathered… and for the first time in a long time, I felt a true sense of Pride. Our original plans for an outdoor celebration needed to be cancelled and this pandemic forced us to reimagine our ideas. Our Drag Queen story time and live entertainment transferred nicely into online versions. We held a successful T-shirt design contest and sale. We coordinated an LGBTQ2+ speakers panel and a pride-inspired virtual art gallery. We were committed to put in the hard work but had no idea how well it would be received or if many people would tune in.

To our delight, the events were a huge success. The online viewing surpassed our expectations and the community interaction was overwhelmingly positive. We had unexpected media coverage and family interaction. We proved that a small town can gather and play an active part in Pride celebrations. It shows that our community truly is diverse and inclusive. But the best part for me was that it gave queer youth the opportunity to see that our genuine selves are worthy of pride and celebration! Be sure to check out the video section of our Strathroy Pride Facebook group.

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Recommended Reading by Doug Warnock When Martin from the Rainbow Optimist Club of Southwestern Ontario approached me about compiling a reading list for this issue of the Pride Villager, I was excited to share newly added items in our collection at the Middlesex County Library. It has been my pleasure to be part of the team working to bring Drag Queen Storytimes to life in our community. I also had the honour of facilitating the first Rainbow Speakers Panel held at our Strathroy branch back in November 2019. The importance of seeing yourself reflected in the books you read is something that has long been understood, but only recently grown to reflect the LGBT2Q+ community. LGBT2Q+ authors and readers’ have fought a long battle to become visible in the mainstream and to have their stories heard. I hope you find something in this list that you connect with, and that helps you feel seen. You can find these and many other great reads at library.middlesex.ca Compiled by Doug Warnock, Branch Supervisor, Middlesex County Library This wonderful picture book will be part of an upcoming Drag Queen Storytime. The Queens loved it and so do I! We meet our main character, who is neither this nor that. We follow a journey of discovery, finding a place to belong based on differences instead of similarity. Where Oliver Fits by Cale Atkinson Another twist on the theme of embracing difference, and finding out where you belong in this world. Oliver, an oddly shaped puzzle piece, searches for his place in this colourful book. We join him as the uncovers how many different ways there are to be you! Author Alex Gino returns with their latest book “Rick”. This book is a standalone from the popular George released in 2015. Like Melissa, the main character in the first book, Rick has some questions he is grappling with. Made more difficult by his bully-best-friend Jeff, Rick has to navigate the path of his own gender identity. A diverse cast of characters illuminates the scope of self-identities along a vast spectrum of genders and sexualities. Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World by Ashley Herring Blake Juvenile Picture Books Neither by Airlie Anderson Juvenile Fiction Rick by Alex Gino When a tornado hits the hometown of Ivy, her coveted notebook filled with drawings of her deeply personal thoughts and feelings goes missing, much to her horror. When pages from the notebook begin appearing in her locker, Ivy knows for certain her secret is out. As more and more pages begin to appear, Ivy is encouraged to come out by the anonymous finder of her notebook, but does she have the courage? Young Adult You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson

Liz has spent most of high school trying not to stand out, which is not an easy task in her mostly white, middleclass school. Being one of the few black students, Liz knows she does not fit in with the norm, so she has focused on her academics and extracurricular activities. As the end of school draws near, Liz finds out she has not secured the scholarship she desperately needed in order to attend her dream school next Fall. A plot is hatched to run for prom queen, a title that comes with a $10,000 scholarship prize. Determined to win, the last thing Liz needs is a distraction like the crush she is developing for a fellow competitor. This title is a light and airy prom-themed romance for teens.

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Infinity Son by Adam Silvera This book is the perfect example of the emerging trend towards queer characters taking on storylines that are more traditional. Brothers Brighton and Emil long to be part of the magical world of celestials. On their 18th birthday, a viral video of Emil discovering his hidden power sends the brothers into celebrity-like status. But with popularity, comes unanticipated danger too. The brothers are launched, headfirst in to a battle they know nothing about. This is the first in a new series by author Adam Silvera. The Gravity of Us by Phil Stamper Just as things start going his way, Cal’s family uproot him and move across the country to fulfill his fathers’ dream of being an astronaut with NASA. In a new town, he and his family must adapt quickly to the realities and expectations cast upon them in this new environment. Things begin looking up when Cal meets Leon, another astronaut’s son, and he starts to view this change as a new beginning rather than an Although categorized as a Young Adult novel, I have included this book in the Adult Fiction section. Felix Love is a seventeen- year-old trans boy who struggles with acceptance from family and friends. The book explores complex interpersonal relationships, dealing with transphobia, and a tumultuous home-life, to weave an eye-opening glimpse into some very real lived experiences. Traumatic and raw, the author notes this book is not for the faint of heart. A Beautiful Crime by Christopher Bollen uprooting. Fiction Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender A thriller set in Venice, we meet 25-year-old Nicholas Brink and his boyfriend, Clay Guillory. The two begin small, with some counterfeit antiques sales, but soon move on to bigger and better crimes. As the crimes become more complex, so do the consequences. The two become involved in a high- stakes cat and mouse game with a brutish private investigator who is bent on taking the pair down. There is plenty to enjoy for any reader in this gritty thriller!

We Have Always Been Here: A Queer Muslim Memoir by Samra Habib This memoir tells the story of a queer Muslim woman born in Pakistan, whose family sought asylum in Canada. Coming to terms with her own sexuality after years of abuse, racism, and Islamophobia, she shares her lived experience with readers in this candid book. Although it centres around the negative experiences

Non Fiction Gay Like Me by Richie Jackson

Written in a series of essays from Father to Son, this book celebrates the accomplishments of the Gay Rights Movement, and illumi- nates how much more work there is to be done. So much can be learned by hearing the

Habib faced growing up, the overarching message is one of creating space for yourself and others like you in this world to be safe to express your authentic self. DID YOUKNOW...that you can get access to great digital content (ebooks, e-newspapers, online courses, movies andmore with a virtual library card? Sign up at: https://library.middlesex.ca/virtual-library-card

stories of our past. In times of uncertainty, it can be reassuring to remember you are not fighting these battles in isolation. Generations have come before you, paving the way for the freedoms you enjoy. This book highlights the highs and lows of that journey.

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Historic Elgin County Pride 2020 By Ruth Quenneville, Governor for Southwestern Optimist Clubs

Wednesday, July 22 marked an historical Pride event in Elgin County. I accompanied Rainbow President Martin Withenshaw on a tour of the County to participate in the raising of five Pride flags. This marked the first County proclaimed Pride week of July 20-26 celebrated at five sites. We started at Aylmer’s City Hall where Mayor Mary French read her Proclamation as the first flag was raised. OPP Public Relations Const. Troy Carlson accompanied us on our tour. Next, St. Thomas Mayor Joe Preston read the Proclamation from City Hall as the second flag was raised. In honour of Pride week the spotlights on our statue of Jumbo shone in rainbow colours. The Family and Children Services site on Sunset Road was our next stop. Myles Proulx read the Proclamation as the flag was raised. This is the fifth year they have participated. We explained the M.I.understanding and Pride Understanding video learning program that we endorse. At the Elgin County Heritage Centre our largest crowd was on hand to witness the first time Pride flag raising. Face masks were passed out to anyone needing them for social distancing. MPP Jeff Yurek reached out with words of encouragement to his constituents for inclusion and understanding of LGBTQ+ community members and their families. MP Karen Vecchio added her proclamation with impassioned words of diversity and inclusion education needed in all communities. Elgin County Warden Dave Mennill touched our hearts with his proclamation for our LGBTQ+ members in our community. Rainbow President Martin Withenshaw spoke

Pride Flag Raising – Aylmer

Pride Flag Raising – St. Thomas

Supporting London’s LGBTQ2+ Community

Teresa Armstrong MPP London—Fanshawe 519-668-1104 [email protected]

Terence Kernaghan MPP London North Centre 519-432-7339 [email protected]

Peggy Sattler MPP London West 519-657-3120 [email protected]

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of his growing up in St. Thomas at a time when LGBTQ+ identification was misunderstood. Our final stop was at the West Elgin Community Health Centre in West Lorne where Mayor Duncan McPhail read his proclamation as the fifth flag was raised to an appreciative crowd. This was the fifth year the WECHC raised the flag. Rainbow Club member Becky Thompson recorded all ceremonies on our tour and posted them on Facebook for those unable to attend. Thanks Becky! Thanks also to OPP Constable Troy Carlson for supporting and accompanying us. It was a wonderful, emotional day and I was so appreciative to Martin for including me on this historic Pride Week celebration.

Pride Flag Raising – Elgin County Heritage Centre

Pride Flag Raising – Family and Children’s Services

Pride Flag Raising – West Lorne

Questions?

Concerns?

Contact YOUR Member of Parliament 519.663.9777 PeterFragiskatos.ca

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Times are changing Covid-19 has had a huge impact on the hospitality industry in peculiar the smaller independent restaurants. Many are struggling to survive. Some of these restaurants have takeout only while other have limited space and reduced times they are open. So, please support your local small restaurants. Martin Withenshaw is a Chef who

is retired from the food service industry after creating and serving delectable delights to Southwestern Ontario for more then 30 years. So, Martin decided to reach into his “bag of tricks” for a recipe. The one chosen was developed when he owned and operated Withenshaw’s in Wortley Village. Withenshaw’s was a very successful retail food shop with a cheese counter, small cafe and full-service catering. The recipe goes well with the fall season because it is harvest time. It is time to head to your local farmers and farmer markets for all the farm fresh fruits and vegetables. There is a trend. Farm-to- table is a phrase that can mean different things to different people. At its heart, farm-to-table means that the food on the table came directly from a specific farm, without going through a store, market, or distributor along the way. It is not a regulated phrase, so it can be employed by anyone who considers their offerings to fit the definition. Similar phrases include locally-sourced, farm fresh, and farm-to-fork. One used in our region is Get Fresh – Eat Local which is also a campaign supported by different communities. Buying local in four easy steps 1. Look for the Foodland Ontario logo when shopping at your grocery store, farmers’ market, and on-farm market 2. Visit local farms with your family and talk to them about the difference made when you buy local 3. Serve freshness every day, with delicious recipes featuring local ingredients 4. Ask for local at restaurants and everywhere you buy food One thing grown in our region are pumpkins and of course the fall is when they are harvested. So, the recipe chosen to share is pumpkin cheese cake. It’s a great alterative to pumpkin pie. Many of these were sold at Withenshaw’s during the fall season. Also, this has become a family favourite with Martin’s family at both Thanksgiving and Christmas. While making the cheesecake recently for a dinner party the food processor broke. The mixture still had some small lumps but was cooked anyway. The cheese cake was a huge hit. In fact, all the guests took home a piece of the cheesecake.

Pumpkin Cheesecake

Ingredients 1........................ cup graham cracker crumbs 3........................ tablespoons butter, at room temp. 1/2 .................... teaspoon ground cinnamon 2........................ pounds cream cheese, at room temp. 1/4 cup. ............. sour cream, at room temp. 5........................ eggs, at room temp. 796 ml............... pumpkin puree (approximately 3 cups) 1/2 teaspoon..... ground cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon..... ground nutmeg 1/8 teaspoon..... ground cloves Instructions • mix butter and cracker crumbs together and pat into a 10” spring form pan which has been greased and floured • bake for about 10 minutes at 350 degrees • all remaining ingredients should be at room temperature • cream together sour cream, cream cheese, pumpkin puree and sugar • add eggs and mix • put mixture into a food processor and blend • add the flour and blend again • pour into wax paper lined spring form pan • bake in the middle of a 250-degree oven for 1 1/2 hours with a bowl of water on the lower rack • turn off oven and leave in oven for an hour 1 1/2 cups. ........ sugar 1/3 cup. ............. flour 1 tablespoon..... vanilla extract • remove and refrigerate • Serves 8 to 10 people. Tip: Typically, Martin uses canned pumpkin puree but any pureed pumpkin will do just fine.

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Drag Queen Storytime Through a Child’s Eyes

A mother took her 7 and 5-year-old to Drag Queen Storytime at the Kincardine Library. The boys got to listen to a few stories, and (not) participate in a couple kid’s songs and dances. They stuck around the library for another hour just reading books and playing with LEGO, and after they left, the 7-year-old noticed a sign of a protester outside (there were only a few). Fortunately he could only read part of it: the sign said “Close the book on child sexualization.” Once they got in the car, he asked why their sign said “close the book?” The mother said it was about the story time. He asked why? Mother, not entirely sure how to address this topic, but wanting to take advantage of a teachable moment: “Umm... well did you like the girls who were reading the stories?” 7-year-old: “Yes. But I know they’re actually boys dressed up like girls.” Mother: “How do you know?”

7-year-old shrugging: “I just do. I could tell.” Mother: “What do you think about that?”

Miss Shaneen and Lita at Kindcardine Library

7-year-old, shrugging again: “It’s fine. It’s their bodies and their time and money to buy their own clothes, so they can do whatever they want.” Mother, kinda speechless because he totally nailed it: “Exactly. People should be free to be who they are, shouldn’t they? Because everyone is different. Well the people outside didn’t understand that. They thought it wasn’t appropriate for kids to see that.”

7-year-old (total confusion on his face because in his mind, he simply experienced two people reading stories to a room full of kids with their parents): “Sooooo... because of that, they wasted their whole day standing outside with a sign? That makes no sense. If they don’t like it, they just don’t have to participate in it. They should go do something else, because it doesn’t have anything to do with their lives anyway. Seems like a waste of a perfectly good day to me.” Mother: “Howwould you treat a boy who decided to come to school wearing a dress everyday, or makeup, or carrying a purse?” 7-year-old, another shrug: “Well if he was my friend already, we’d probably just play like we always would anyway...” 5-year old pipes up: “I had a boy in my class come to school wearing a dress once!” Mother: “Oh yeah? And what did you think about that?” 5-year old: “I said ‘I like your dress,’ wanna know why? Because Mickey Mouse was on it. I love Mickey Mouse.”

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explore

unwind

experience

taste

JEFF YUREK, MPP Elgin-Middlesex-London Here to help you with any of the following provincial matters Monday through Friday, 10:00 - 4:30: Ontario Disability Support Program OHIP Cards • Driver’s Licences Ontario Works • Birth Certi f icates P: 519-631-0666 • T: 1-800-265-7638 750 Talbot St, Unit 201 St. T h omas, ON N5P 1E2 Email: [email protected]

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Pride Villager Issue #5 Fall 2020 www.villagerpublications.com Publisher: Barb Botten Villager Publications P.O. Box 134, Lambeth Station Ontario N6P 1P9 [email protected] Photos, article suggestions, article submissions welcome. We look forward to hearing from you: Managing Editors: Barb Botten, Martin Withenshaw Graphic Artist: Cathy Wood

I am proud to be your representative in Ottawa and want to stay informed of the issues that matter most to you. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns. My office can also assist you with:

• Employment Insurance • Citizenship and Immigration • Canada Student Loans • Passport and Travel Information • Veterans Affairs

• Canada Child Benefits • Canada Pension Plan • Old Age Security • Guaranteed Income Supplement • Income Taxes

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Read the complete lineup of Villager community magazines,including past issues of Pride Villager at www.villagerpublications.com