By Emily Stewart
Flags to honour Pride Month and the 2SLGBTQIA+ community will soon be raised across the county.
Oxford County Pride announced in a Facebook post on April 16 that the raisings will occur on May 31, a day before Pride Month. The first two will happen in Woodstock, first at the Oxford County Building at 8 a.m. and then at Museum Square at 8:30 a.m. The next will be at the township offices of Blandford-Blenheim, East Zorra-Tavistock, and Zorra at 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 11:30 a.m., respectively.
The Pride Flag will then be raised at Ingersoll’s Dewan Park at noon, South-West Oxford at 2 p.m. at a location yet to be announced, and Tillsonburg’s Broadway Parquette at 3 p.m. The final flag raising will happen at the Norwich Community Centre at 4 p.m.
“The values of leaders demonstrating their diversity equity and inclusion is essential,” said Tami Murray, Oxford County Pride president. “Being able to fly Pride Flags in every Township throughout Oxford County demonstrates our community investment in minorities and sends a clear message that there is no place for transphobia or homophobia.”
In early 2024, the Township of Norwich approved a selection of non-civic flags to be flown. The decision came after Pride Flags were vandalized and torn down in 2022 and all non-civic flags were barred from being raised in Norwich.
“The past two years have put our community in a national spotlight that has not been positive,” Murray said, “It is essential for our community to heal, repair and unite and in doing so demonstrate that Oxford County is inclusive for all. We will not tolerate hate of any kind in our community.”
The county-wide flag raising will kick off the largest Oxford County Pride celebrations ever.
There will be more than 50 vendors participating in the 2024 Pride Family Day celebration in Museum Square on June 15. Performer and motivational speaker Saidat will be hosting the event, which will also feature a Two-Spirit celebration, a family dance party, and performances by Bob’s Yer Funkle, Victor Quinlan, and Patrick Jason Murphy. Pride Family Day will also have a Drag Queen and King Show as well as Mehandi by Maggie henna tattoos and Miss Sarah Face Painting. After Pride Family Day on June 15, there will be a 19-plus “Love is Louder” Pride Party in the evening with musician Sarah Smith performing at Nico’s Bar and Grill.
In addition to Pride Family Day and the Pride Party, Oxford County Pride will host the following events:
• Annual Pride church service at Norwich United Church, June 2
• Drag Queen Bingo at Upper Thames Brewing, June 5
• Pride Tour and Tasting at Gunn’s Hill Artisan Cheese, June 13
• Drag Queen Story Time at Museum Square, June 22
• Pride Open Mic Night at the Bluebird Café, June 27
• Pride Karaoke Night at the Joker’s Crown, June 29
“Showing up to our events challenging negative narratives and being an ally are significant ways to support Oxford County Pride events and our goals and objectives overall,” Murray said.
More information can be found, including the 2024 Pride Guide, by visiting www.oxfordpride.ca/upcoming-events.