Mayor Walter Schummer's message on Pride Month
Thursday June 1, 2023
"I want to thank everyone for being here today at our flag raising ceremony as we celebrate the start of Pride Month. I welcome representatives from Pflag Durham who have joined us.
Pride month is of course often associated with the commemoration of inclusion for members of the LGBTQ and associated communities within our cities, towns, and villages. But it is more than that.
The other day I was in the Pickering Town Centre and the mall had its many Pride banners up. One banner read “Pride is for everyone”. That could not be truer. Pride month celebrates inclusion as well as the freedom and rights to be who we want to be and to love who we want to love. It’s really as simple as that.
Who could be against inclusion of our fellow citizens? The same citizens who contribute to the betterment of our communities. Who could be against every person having equal rights and freedoms in this great country. Whatever your sexual orientation, whatever your race, whatever your religion we are all humans and we all share our successes and we all share our failures even if we don’t want to.
Too many communities of individuals have suffered from racism, bigotry, and hatred. Too many wars have and continue to be fought based on this ugliness. Pride Month gives us a chance to stop and think about some of the most egregious acts committed against our brothers and sisters simply because of who they chose to love and care for.
No amount of politics should stop people from being or loving who they want. No amount of hatred is acceptable in our community.
Let us all celebrate Pride Month. Let us all be proud of a welcoming and inclusive community. A community where everyone cares and is cared for.
On behalf of The Township of Brock and on behalf of Council it gives me great pleasure in welcoming everyone here today as we raise the Pride flag and officially kick off Pride Month in Brock Township."
- Mayor Walter Schummer