Pride is not just a celebration. It is an act of resistance, visibility, and healing. As queer people, we stand on the shoulders of our pioneers—those who marched, protested, and sacrificed so that we could live more freely today. We honour their legacy by showing up, speaking out, and refusing to be erased.
Pride is about truth. It’s about showing up in the world with courage, joy, and purpose. It’s about telling the next generation that they are enough, they are beautiful, and they are not alone. It’s about making space for those who are still in hiding—especially our 2SLGBTQ+ family globally who live under threat of violence, imprisonment, and death simply for being who they are.
Sher Vancouver is proud to march this year at the Vancouver Pride Parade (August 3), Langley Pride (August 9), New West Pride (August 16), and Delta Pride (August 17). We march for visibility. We march to celebrate our culture and identity. And we march in solidarity with all people who are suffering—including the people of Gaza and Palestine.
We believe Pride must be intersectional. Our liberation is bound with the liberation of all people. That’s why Sher Vancouver is taking bold and necessary action. Our board of directors has unanimously approved the transfer of our banking from a big bank to a local credit union. Senior management has also initiated a full review of all our funders, donors, and sponsors to ensure they are not on the BDS boycott list, and to begin the process of divestment wherever possible.
We encourage other major queer organizations—including the Vancouver Pride Society—to take similar steps. Now is the time for our community institutions to align their financial and social justice practices with our collective values of justice, solidarity, and human rights.
Pride is not just a parade. It’s a promise. A promise that we will continue to show up for each other. A promise that we will never stop fighting for a world that affirms life, dignity, and peace for everyone.
Amar Sangha is the founder of Sher Vancouver. Follow Pancouver on X @PancouverMedia and Bluesky @pancouver.bsky.social. Pancouver is also on Instagram @PancouverMedia.
