Reflections after Inauguration Day

This has been a super hard day for a lot of people. One thing I know about super hard days is that those are the days where I feel a great sense of our community. Today is no exception.

I know it’s scary and I know we’re going to hold each other up through this time. Queer and trans people have existed through millennia - recognition from people who don’t understand that has never been a requirement and never will be.

I hope you’ve taken care of yourself today. I hope you feel a sense of love and community despite everything. I hope you know that we are always going to do everything to help you shine.

Allies, this is one of the times when you need to turn the title into a verb. Check in on your queer friends. Check in on all friends from marginalized communities.

We will get through this together.

Sending you all so much love.

I’ll leave you with a love letter from a friend of Pembina Valley Pride. She said everything so perfectly. Thank you for allowing me to share.

- Kat, Pembina Valley Pride Board Chair

To whom it may concern….

Even if someone says that they will, henceforth, only recognize two colours, yellow and blue, that does not mean that the rest of us can’t see red, or green, or purple.

The world is a beautiful, colourful place, and I’m sorry if you don’t, or maybe can’t see that.

But I assure you, some of us can. And I hope those of us who do, can keep reminding everyone how beautiful the world is when you really stop and appreciate it. And pull together with everyone…

And see the world for what it really is, and to love the people in it as best we can.

I love you. All of you. And all of your pretty colours.