Roller Girls got PRIDE!

Rated PG Rollergirls at PG Pride Festival 2009

This weekend begins the 15th annual Prince George Pride Celebrations! The Rated PG Rollergirls have participated in the Pride Parade for the last three years, we are honored to participate and to show our solidarity with the LGBTQ community.

Thanks to a collaboration brought together by some mutual friends, this year we are joining forces with the gals from Student Works Painting PG to bring our 'float' together this year. Imagine what can happen when some mutual friends and acquaintances talk about their interests and common goals, then realize that they can work together and achieve something bigger and better. What you end up with is a Rollergirl Rainbow skating around a pot full of lovely Gold-en single ladies, oh yeah. What a sight that will be!

"In 1997, Prince George held the very first Pride Parade in Northern British Columbia. Since then the Prince George Pride Parade has blossomed into a one of a kind Parade that attracts not only supporters of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer, Questioning, 2 Spirited (LGBTTIQQ2S) community in Prince George, but our friends across the region and Alberta. Along with all other Pride Parades in British Columbia, ours continues to grow and represent the LGBT communities who continue to fight hard for their human rights. The bigger we get the more fun we have and the more we showcase the proud diversity we all share." -from Pride PG website

Whoo-Ah! Yes, exactly! Diandra and I are always working to create intentional and purposeful community connections instead of just wandering around and accidentally creating community. We believe that greater progress towards social change can be made by seeking out connections with people and organizations. See the Home Sweet Home Sustainatable post by Diandra if you missed it.

You are the one who gets to make your own community so make it how you want! Find people or organizations that do and think like you and make them your friends or community partners. Volunteer and get out there. Support those who you admire, get around people doing what you want to do and you can make a change. You can be more involved in your community (however you define it) by getting out there and participating in it! Just start by doing something/everything/anything. If you can't be at XX event/place in person, put up posters and talk talk talk! Tell everyone what you are up to, in no time you'll find like-minded allies and will see change happen. PG Pride started because some people were angry at a local business displaying anti-gay propaganda. 15 years later, you can see what that anger has grown into in this community, a Celebration of diversity. Now that's progress!

Join in or come by to support Pride PG 2011 on Saturday between 11:30 and 12:30 in Prince George's Downtown. The Farmer's Market (corner of George St. and 3rd ave) is a great place to watch the action AND there will be a festival on the City Hall Lawn (George St. and 7th ave) until 2:30pm with music, food, vendors, and games for kids. This is a great family event and oh so much fun! The Pride Dance will follow on Saturday Night. For more details and a schedule of all the Pride Events this year, go to the Pride PG website here.

me at Pride Festival 2010-by Jillian M.