Starting October 11th, Pride flags will be displayed on banner poles across campus to celebrate Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer (or Questioning), Intersex and Asexual communities (2SLGBTQIA+).
This marks the third year the Pride flags are being raised to represent our support of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities at UBC Okanagan; we are proud to call our campus an inclusive and welcoming space for all. We hope that you take this as an opportunity to educate and inspire yourself and others on the important work that has been, and still needs to be done to support our 2SLGBTQIA+ communities at UBC Okanagan.
This is one of the ways that we aim to progress our inclusion-related goals related to Shaping UBC’s Next Century, the university’s strategic plan. UBC identifies inclusion as a “commitment to access, success and representation of historically underserved, marginalized or excluded populations.”
We commit to celebrating our diversity and promoting inclusion to all of our campus community. We do so by creating opportunities for meaningful learning through dialogue and education.
Here are a few ways in which you can participate:
- Visit the EIO Pride Flag webpage to learn more about the banner/flag campaign and what each flag represents.
- Explore the UBC Equity & Inclusion Positive Space: Foundation online course about sex, sexuality and gender diversity, as well as review the Strategic Equity and Anti-racism Framework and Roadmap for Change.
- Learn about the expectations of all UBC community members to promote a respectful and discrimination-free environment as outlined in UBC’s Statement on Respectful Environment (revised 2014) and Discrimination Policy SC7.
- Attending Pride Programming events such as the annual Pride Picnic (October 9th) and the Trans Ally Workshop on October 17th.
- Learn more about the support, initiatives and events offered by the SUO’s Pride Resource Centre.
UBC has a responsibility to foster campus living, learning and working environments where the human rights and dignity of all students, faculty and staff are respected and protected. If this has not been your experience or you have concerns related to discrimination, please contact the human rights advising team at the Equity & Inclusion Office.
Before engaging others in dialogue related to the Pride flag banners or other 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion efforts, consider reviewing the Respectful Dialogue Guide in support of more respectful conversations. For support on unit-level equity and inclusion efforts, you can request a consultation with the Equity & Inclusion Office.
Should members of the community have any questions about UBC’s commitment to equity and inclusion, please feel free to direct them to avps.ok@ubc.ca and dharshi.lacey@ubc.ca.
Dale Mullings
Associate Vice-President, Students
Dharshi Lacey
Director, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Anti-Racism