Being at a Pride event is something new for Charlottetown newcomer Karina Akramov.
Akramov was one of roughly 250 people who attended the 2018 P.E.I Pride Week kick-off barbeque held in Charlottetown’s Rochford Square Sunday.
Having just moved to Charlottetown from Israel in May, Akramov said she had not been as exposed to LGBTQ2S+ where she was from.
“I came from the other reality where people are not so happy and don’t know actually what is (LGBTQ2S+). Some of them think that it’s illness,” said Akramov, who also brought her seven-month-old son Teo Bogomazov.
The overwhelming support and understanding she has seen on the Island regarding the LGBTQ2S+ community is something she wants to spread over social media to show people in her home country what Pride is all about.
“I really want other people, my friends on Facebook or everywhere, (to) know what (Pride) actually is and it’s regular people that want to be happy, want to live, love and have babies and just be a part of everything,” she said.
The barbecue was the kickoff to P.E.I. Pride Week, which will see events held across the Island in support of the LGBTQ2S+ community. The barbecue was sponsored by MP Sean Casey.
Pride P.E.I. communications director Mitchell MacLean said he was happy for the positive turnout at the barbecue and that he’s also happy to see Island newcomers at Pride events.
“I feel I can speak on behalf of the organization and say we are proud to have newcomers to come out to events and feel like they can be welcome in Canada and feel safe to be who they are,” said MacLean.
Michelle Campbell, of Marshfield, was also in attendance of the event.
Campbell has been a supporter of the LGBTQ2S+ community all of her life. It is a close subject to her because she has a gay son, a bisexual son, and a pansexual daughter.
“Love is love no matter what,” she said. “It’s sad when people discriminate. Me, myself, I’m proud of my kids. I’m proud of who they are and my love for them will never change regardless whether they’re straight, bi, or anything.”
This Pride Week, Campbell is most excited for the Pride parade being held on July 28 at 1 p.m.
She is bringing her children and a group of about 20 of their friends to march in the parade.
“I’m focusing toward the younger generation, maybe the people who are afraid to come out because they’re going to be judged,” she said.
There is a Pride event every day this week in P.E.I. The next event is this evening with Drag Queen Trivia – Pride Edition at Moth Lane Brewing in Ellerslie.
“Come out to everything that you can because everything is going to be really amazing,” said MacLean.
For more information on events, visit Pridepei.com/events.html.
