Pride Street Festival 2023
Red River Road Red River Rd, Thunder Bay, ON, CanadaRainbow Collective of Thunder Bay (RCTB) & Thunder Pride Association (TPA) are excited to announce that Pride Month 2023 is coming. Together, both organizations have teamed up to build a month-long event program that has something for everyone. Pride Month will begin on June 1st, and last all month long with a wide variety of exciting and meaningful events for all to enjoy.
Coming together, RCTB & TPA strengthen their relationship to signal to the community that working together is always better than doing things separately. The belief that both organizations hold is that working together will further strengthen and build a more vibrant and inclusive community through teamwork, with a strong focus on the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities and building strong Allyship throughout the community and with its citizens.
This year’s theme is “U BELONG” and as the world has witnessed sustained attacks on Drag performers, Drag Storytime, Trans and Non-binary people. This year’s theme celebrates being you, in authentic and true form. It sends the message that those who are still struggling to see themselves in their community are indeed seen, heard and valued no matter their identity. Being part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities is wonderful and beautiful.
Pride 2023 will feature events spread across the entire month for the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities and its Allies to come together and celebrate, reflect, and advance issues of importance and acceptance. This year will feature the very popular Pride Street Festival, returning to Red River Road for one more year on June 17th. Kicking off Pride month Thunder Pride and Rainbow Collective will be partnering with the Thunder Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre to host a Sunrise Ceremony on June 1st and a Two-Spirit Mini PowWow on June 29th. The official City of Thunder Bay Pride Flag Raising will take place at City Hall on June 2nd. There will be events for everyone this year.
Other Pride Month events will feature Drag Bingo, Story Time with Drag Queens at the Thunder Bay Public Library, a Pride Pool Party at Volunteer Pool, and an important community conversation on Allyship and how to be a stronger Ally to the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. Furthermore, the 2nd Annual Glitter Ball featuring Canada’s Drag Race Superstar Rita Baga takes place on June 9th at the Chanterelle.
A hashtag has been created to help highlight Pride in Thunder Bay. Please use #YQTPRIDE2023.
