Why Pride Advocacy is Important
Approximately 24 per cent of KPU students surveyed in 2019 identified as being part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and two per cent identified as having trans experience or identify as non-binary, genderqueer, genderfluid, gender non-conforming or Two Spirit (KPU student satisfaction survey, 2019). Statistics Canada estimates that there are approximately one million people who identify as part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. This represents about 4% of the population in Canada.
While some progress has been made, discrimination and harassment based on sexual orientation or gender identity can be less visible than that experienced by some other groups protected by Human Rights legislation. The Pride Advocacy Group initiatives are a demonstration of KPU's commitment to diversity and inclusion: to creating a safer, welcoming, supportive environment for students, employees, and community members of diverse sexual and gender identities.
Pride advocacy is part of the broader support for Pride @ KPU.
Pride On-Campus
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Crosswalks, Pathways and Pillars
Over summer 2021, the Progress Pride flag (or its constituent colours) was painted on crosswalks at the Langley and Surrey campuses, a staircase at the Richmond campus, pillars at Civic Plaza and a pathway at KPU Tech in Cloverdale. Displaying the Progress Pride flag in this way is a public commitment by KPU to diversity and inclusion, to creating a safer, welcoming and supportive environment where people of all genders and sexualities feel they belong and are respected.
The Progress Pride flag was designed by Daniel Quasar in 2018. It features the traditional six stripes (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple) of the standard rainbow pride flag colours created by Gilbert Baker in 1978, plus arrows in the light blue, light pink and white of the trans pride flag designed by Monica Helms in 1999, and the black and brown used to represent marginalized LGBTQ2+ communities of colour (City of Philadelphia, 2017), as well as well as those living with, and lost to, AIDS. The arrow shape is intended to signify forward movement towards inclusion.
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Pride Flags
The Pride flag is regularly raised at four KPU campuses (Surrey, Tech, Langley and Richmond).
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Student Award
The Pride Advocacy Group at KPU has established a student award that will be presented to an individual who self identifies and has shown commitment to 2SLGBTQIA+ activism at KPU or in their own communities. Donations are still being accepted for this award.
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Inclusive Signage
The Sport & Recreation department consulted with the Pride Advocacy Group and various other stakeholders, including fitness centre cliental, to develop inclusive signage for the Surrey Fitness centre change rooms. The new signage will include the phrase “Gender Diverse People Welcome” in support of inclusivity and embracing diversity.
Pride Off-Campus
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Pride Parade
KPU regularly attends the Vancouver Pride Parade, including the virtual parades held during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Workshops
The Pride Advocacy Committee, with funding from the President’s Diversity and Equality Committee, has invited Out in Schools to host multiple workshops that increase awareness of 2SLGBTQIA+ issues. Out in Schools is B.C.’s award-winning education program that engages students and employees through the use film and video with facilitated group discussion.