Happy Pride Week at UVic

Happy UVic Pride Week to the LGBTQ2SIA+ members of the UVic community.

I encourage everyone to explore the Proud to be Me week of Pride events being offered by the UVSS, Gender Empowerment Centre, Anti-Violence Project and UVic Pride (March 14-18). Check out their workshops, art exhibits and performances, which are open to all members of the university community.

Pride has always been about both celebrating visibility and joining together in a struggle for justice. In 2022, more than 50 years after the Stonewall Riots, LGBTQ2SIA+ people are still more likely to face discrimination, violence, homelessness and marginalization, and this is not changing quickly enough.

At UVic and in many other parts of the world, we know there is still much work to be done, and I am committed to building a safe and welcoming community for all gender identities and sexualities.

Through UVic’s Equity Action Planning process we are working to embed equity, diversity, inclusion and anti-racism as central values across our community.

Please consider signing up for a Conversation Café (March 14-31) to provide your input on how UVic can become a more equitable, inclusive and diverse space where everyone feels a sense of belonging. There are online sessions for LGBTQ2SIA+ students, faculty and staff and other equity-seeking groups, open sessions — or host your own!

Wishing everyone a safe and happy Pride Week!