Celebrating Pride

Every June, people around the world come together to participate in Pride Month. 

For the LGBTQIA2S+ community, Pride is a chance to reflect on the past, look forward to the future and join in celebration. 

It is important to remember that Pride Month has its roots in protests and resistance, in particular the Stonewall Riots that followed the June 28, 1969 raid on the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City. 

In Canada, the fight for LGBTQIA2S+ rights has its own rich history of struggle, from the first gay rights protests in 1971 to the riots in the wake of the Toronto bathhouse raids in 1981. Explore a timeline of milestones in the history of Pride in Canada.

SFU has an ongoing responsibility to create a welcoming place for all LGBTQIA2S+ members of the SFU community. If you’ve experienced discrimination and need support, please reach out. 

Out On Campus, which is funded by the Simon Fraser Student Society and the Graduate Student Society, is a great resource that supports SFU’s LGBTQIA2S+ students and allies by providing a non-judgmental, confidential space to express sexual and gender identity and information about LGBTQIA2S+ culture, history and issues. They can also connect you with local resources to help you manage their mental, physical and sexual health. They also regularly share updates, news and events on their Facebook and Twitter accounts. 

For those interested in becoming an effective ally, the EDI resource library has supports and toolkits. SFU faculty and staff have access to free webinars through the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion. SFU employees can also learn to advance LGBTQIA2S+ inclusion through Pride at Work Canada.