THUNDER BAY – The city has partnered with Rainbow Collective and the Thunder Pride Association to make its buildings more welcoming.
The newly created 2SLGBTQIA+ Welcome Stickers will be displayed outside all city-owned facilities.
Featuring the colours and symbols of the Progress Pride flag, the sticker will indicate that Thunder Bay is a safe, inclusive, and supportive space for individuals of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions.
Mayor Ken Boshcoff said the initiative is a “reaffirmation of the community’s commitment to inclusivity, which has to be part and parcel with safety and making sure that people know they are safe.”
Boshcoff said incidents where members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community have been targeted are why “it's important for everybody in this city to know that we are a safe city – that the vast majority of people do not think violent acts against others” are appropriate.
“In general the number of incidents is small but they affect parts of the community disproportionately,” Boshcoff said.
Jason Veltri, outgoing president of Rainbow Collective, called this initiative an important step for the city to take.
The sticker campaign was one of the requests Veltri put forward to city council last June.
“This . . . sticker basically says you are welcome here. It will be at every arena, at every city office and city facility over the coming days. It basically welcomes you to take part in those facilities, free from harassment and discrimination,” Veltri said.
“This says the city condemns hate . . . and that they stand for a welcoming, inclusive and safe community for all including the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.”
Veltri said the welcome sticker is a continuation of the work they have been doing over many years.
“From the rainbow crosswalks to the sticker campaign to flying the (Pride) flag for the month of June – these are all very important steps, especially now given where we see society going and Saturday's threat against drag story time.
“These are all the education pieces that we aren't going backwards. We have to look to the future and the future is bright, it's diverse, it's inclusive – and the city is ahead of the game on that,” Veltri said.
