Event: Rainbow flag raising ceremony
Place: Plaza between Brock Hall and the Student Union Building,
UBCDate/Time: Monday, Feb. 7 at noon
Parking: North Parkade, on the north
side of the Student Union Building and across from the Student
Recreation Centre, enter through Gate 3 on Chancellor Boulevard
UBC will raise the rainbow flag in support of lesbian, gay,
bisexual, transgender, transexual queer, two-spirit and intersex
(LGBQTTI) students, faculty and staff.
The rainbow flag, adopted by the LGBQTTI community as a symbol
of diversity and pride, will be raised at a ceremony hosted
by Brian Sullivan, Vice President, Students, and representatives
of Pride UBC, an LGBT student group.
The flag is part of OutWeek, Pride UBC’s 25th annual
celebration to raise awareness of LGBT issues.
Only one other Canadian university has flown the rainbow
flag and the City of Vancouver began flying the flag over
city hall only last year.
The flag will fly through Feb. 12 on a new flagpole on the
plaza between the Student Union Building and Brock Hall, home
to UBC’s Student Welcome Centre. A university flag will
fly the rest of the year.
“Flying the rainbow flag is a significant demonstration
of the University’s acknowledgement and support for
these communities,” says OmiSoore Dryden, diversity
advisor in sexual orientation and gender identities.
“The office is the first in a Canadian university to
commit to integrated practices in bringing about positive
social change and creating a welcoming environment at the
university,” says Janet Mee, director of the UBC Access
and Diversity Office.
“We’re please that the university administration
has chosen to visibly support LGBQTTI students for the 25th
anniversary of OutWeek,” says Pride UBC’s OutWeek
co-ordinator Sadie Pile. “We look forward to a continued
collaboration with the University in years to come.”
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