Today, Durham College (DC) joins people and communities around the world, to mark the start of Pride Month, which recognizes and promotes the two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex and asexual (2SLGBTQQIA+) community’s diversity, acceptance and visibility.

Durham College hosted a remarkable event at our Oshawa campus yesterday, in partnership with Ontario Tech University, to raise the Intersex Inclusive Pride flag, a visual symbol of our commitment to a safe, welcoming and inclusive campus. There were activities, performances and more and it was truly a great day for people to come together in support of our 2SLGBTQQIA+ communities, including those right here on campus. 

We know though, that Pride is about more than raising a flag – it is about working together to create spaces where everyone knows they can fully participate and belong.

Pride Month serves as an opportunity to advocate for equal rights, raise awareness of 2SLGBTQQIA+ issues and foster a sense of pride, solidarity and inclusion among individuals of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. It also acknowledges the pain and loss experienced by diverse members of the community and highlights the continued importance of resisting various forms of biphobia, transphobia and homophobia, among other overlapping discriminations and harassment.

As a Durham College community, we encourage everyone to be an ally today – and every day – and ensure that we are working together to provide safe and inclusive spaces where people feel that they belong.