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Just exactly who, what and where is Burnaby’s queer community?
Burnaby Pride organizers still don’t really know, but they’re keen to learn more, according to chair Athena Affan.
Now in its sixth year, the organization is ready to present another series of summer events – starting with a barbecue at Keswick Park Saturday – to celebrate local Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual/aromantic, plus (2SLGBTQIA+) residents, but the nature of the community has remained somewhat elusive.
When Burnaby Pride threw its first summer street party at Civic Square in 2018, Affan herself was pleasantly surprised.
“I was just like, ‘I didn’t even know that there were any queer people in Burnaby,’” she said in an interview with the NOW this week. “We don’t have any specifically queer spaces.”
Burnaby Pride was started through community organizations, Affan explained, but organizers would like to see it be more responsive to the needs of the individuals it serves.
“In order to do that, we really need to get a sense of who the community is and really do some community engagement so that we’re really offering something that’s meaningful for the queer folks who live and work in Burnaby,” Affan said.
‘You want to know you’re supported’
Meanwhile, the events Burnaby Pride is already putting on every July provide important opportunities for members of the queer community to come together in solidarity and celebration where they live, work and play, according to Affan.
“As a queer person living in Burnaby you want to know you’re supported; you want to know that you’ve got other community members out there; you want to know your community supports you,” she said.
The events also give other Burnaby residents “low-risk” ways to learn about queer people’s experiences, according to Affan.
This year’s offerings kick off with a Pride community barbecue Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. at Keswick Park near the Lougheed SkyTrain station.
There will be music, big lawn games and free hot dogs prepared by Burnaby firefighters.
Affan describes it as a “low-key” event for everyone in the community.
“People can just come and set up with a picnic blanket, grab a hot dog, listen to some tunes, hang out with your friends,” she said.
On July 17, there will be a Pride flag raising ceremony at Burnaby City Hall at 1 p.m. to kick off Burnaby Pride Week.
Then, on July 22, the big event, Burnaby Pride Festival, hits Burnaby Civic Square from noon to 6 p.m. at Burnaby Civic Square (see information below).
A youth Pride movie night on July 28 from 7:30 to 10 p.m. rounds out the month.
(Youth interested in attending can Alphabet Soup at 604-294-7606 or dm @alphabet_soup_bby' for more invformation.)
The first in-person festival after the pandemic last year drew a big crowd, with about 3,000 people coming through, according to Affan.
The barbecue was also popular.
“We had a lot of seniors come out to that event last year, which really surprised us, and we’re hoping to see the same this year,” Affan said.
‘Avoid and report’ anti-2SLGBTQIA+ protesters
Burnaby Pride organizers hope anti-trans and anti-SOGI (sexual orientation and gender identity) protests won’t dampen the celebrations, but Affan said Pride organizations across the country have recorded an uptick in antagonism toward the queer and trans communities over the last year.
Burnaby Pride has safety plans in place and is asking people not to engage if protesters show up.
“Some of the ways that the protesters are engaging these days, is that they might video you,” Affan said. “They’re trying to get a negative response to portray the community in a bad light.”
The best way to deal with the situation is to notify a volunteer or Burnaby Pride representative, according to Affan.
“Avoid and report,” she said. “We’ll have a safety plan in place so we can address it,” she said.
While it might be tempting to engage, Affan said there are lots of other ways to been an ally of the queer community without creating a “tough vibe” at events.
“On a day like a Pride event, folks just want to relax and focus on the celebration,” she said.
Burnaby Pride Festival
This year’s Burnaby Pride Festival runs from noon to 6 p.m. on July 22 at Civic Square outside the Bob Prittie Metrotown library.
The event will feature a diverse lineup of live music, comedy, drag performers, interactive booths, activities and more.
The drag segment will run from 5 to 6 p.m. and feature performers Batty Banks, King Fisher and Bongganisa.
Musical acts will include Fallen Stars, IAMREBELWILL and Parlour Panther.
“We’ve got a lot of new performers this year,” Affan said.
Among the new acts is a mother-daughter duo Affan is “really excited about,” but she wouldn’t say much more for fear of spoiling the surprise.
Performances on the main stage will run from 1 to 6 p.m.
Follow Cornelia Naylor on Twitter @CorNaylor
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