Binesiwag Center for Wellness to celebrate SLGBTTQQIAAP+ community members through song, dance, and gender-based expression

FORT FRANCES– June 2021 marks the 52nd anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, a pivotal time in 2SLGBTTQQIAAP+ history that marked the birth of both the Gay Liberation Movement in North America and the annual festivals we now know around the world as Pride.

In honour of this momentous occasion, Binesiwag Center for Wellness will be hosting a Rainbow Drag Brunch on June 26, 2021. The event will be a showcase of local 2SLGBTTQQIAAP+ performers and allies of all ages from Fort Frances, Couchiching and surrounding communities. We are looking to host this event at Rainy Lake Square, in the heart of Fort Frances. This is a time to celebrate our 2SLGBTTQQIAAP+ friends, family, and community members through song, dance, and gender-based expression.

We are looking for allies to support this event through monetary contributions and promotion. We are looking to cover costs such as sound equipment, lighting, and promotional materials to guarantee this event’s success. We are reaching out to you, our community to unite. We are optimistic that with your support, an event as important as this will successfully uplift our resilient populations, our youth, and our 2SLGBTTQQIAAP+ communities.

“We at Binesiwag Center for Wellness have identified a need for 2SLGBTTQQIAAP+ individuals in our communities where they can feel safe and supported to navigate their unique experiences surrounding sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression,” says Lori Flinders-McMillan, CEO of Binesiwag Center for Wellness. “We believe that this is not just about celebrating in June, but rather celebrating the freedoms people now have without persecution.  Binesiwag Center for Wellness is committed to creating safe spaces for 2SLGBTTQQIAAP+ individuals year-round while eliminating fear and bringing together communities… We also believe in providing sources of education for families who want to be supportive but don’t understand the needs of their 2SLGBTTQQIAAP+ loved ones.  We are dedicated to creating safe spaces where questions surrounding sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression may be asked free of judgment or shame.”

Should you have any questions, comments, or concerns or would like additional information surrounding Binesiwag Center for Wellness and how you can support this important initiative, please e-mail us at binesiwagwellness@gmail.com

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BCW is a grassroots organization established in 2019 by two Indigenous women who experienced systemic violence. Our programming and services are rooted in grassroots practices and lead by expert capacity including lived experience.