Drivers on Gladstone Ave. will see something a bit brighter at one of the crosswalks. A rainbow stretches across the street, commemorating the start of Pride Week in Yorkton.
Laura Budd, one of the organizers of Yorkton’s Pride Week, said that the week is going to be a full celebration of the LGBTQ+ community in the city. A wide range of events will take place starting on Tuesday.
The week begins with a Pride flag raising at Yorkton Regional High School at noon on May 21. There will be two performances of The Pink Unicorn by Free My Muse Theatre, one on May 21 and one on May 22, both at the Sacred Heart High School Theatre at 7:00 p.m. On May 23 there will be a Pound with Pride class at the St. Michael’s gym at 6:30 p.m. On May 24 there will be a Queer Movie Night and Pizza Party at the Boys and Girls Club at 6:00 p.m.
The week ends with several events on Saturday, May 25. The Pride Parade starts at the Godfrey Dean Art Gallery at 11:00 a.m. This is followed by a Pride BBQ and LJ Tyson and the Haus of Nonsense at Shaw Park. It ends at 8:00 p.m. with the Yorkton Pride Drag Show feat. 28th Imperial House of LOL at the Masonic Lodge.
The fact that there is an official Pride Week in Yorkton, with the week declared by council and city crews assisting in controlling traffic to allow a rainbow crosswalk, is evidence how fortunate Yorkton is overall, said Budd.
“There are countries in the world where it’s illegal to have same-sex attraction and be in a same-sex relationship, and to be gender diverse. Here in Yorkton, Sk. we have the support of the city and the community to be who we are, to love who we love and be a part of this community, and be celebrated rather than shunned.”
Budd would love to see the entire community come out and celebrate, no matter how people identify.
“It is world class entertainment you can get right here in Yorkton, so come celebrate with us.”
