Participants braved rainy and cool weather to walk in the Valley Pride Festival parade Saturday in Kentville. Photo by Ian Fairclough /Chronicle HeraldArticle contentThe weather wasn’t as good as last year, but the number of people participating in the Valley Pride Festival parade in Kentville seemed up over the previous year.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentAfter a rainy walk through the downtown, participants made their to the the Kentville arena for a family fun fair, Queer Artisan Market and a resource fair and music.Article contentArticle contentThe week of events was to wind up later Saturday with family drag show at Kings Arms Pub and Queer Prom at Maritime Express Cider.Article contentArticle contentCommittee spokesperson Ashley Cyr said they were hoping to build on the success of the events over the past two years.Article content“The enthusiasm builds every year, and it has been really exciting to see,” Cyr said.Article contentAt the same time, though, there is concern about the way the Trump administration has emboldened hateful rhetoric against members of the community in the United States and the impact that may have in Canada.Article content“It’s massively concerning,” Cyr said. “It’s been something that has kind of fueled us since day one. The first year of Valley Pride we encountered a huge group of of protestors from (far-right extremist group) Diagolon. They have eased up, but the general hate and rhetoric out there in the world is getting worse.”Article contentIn 2022-23 there was an almost 70 per cent increase in reported hate crimes against the Queer community in Canada according to Statistics Canada.Article contentArticle content“We’re seeing that reflected in the lived experience of people here in the Valley,” Cyr said. “I hate to say it, but sometimes as you get more rural it can get a bit more dicey being out there and being different.”Article contentThat’s why its good to see a good turnout and a show of strength in the community, they said.Article content Participants braved rainy and cool weather to walk in the Valley Pride Festival parade Saturday in Kentville. Photo by Ian Fairclough /Chronicle HeraldArticle content“The theme of our festival this year is ‘community is resistance’ because it does take us getting out of our houses and getting off our phones a little… that’s what you have to do,” Cyr said. “I think it says a lot about our community that we’re despite all that’s going on, we’re still getting out there, we’re still gathering, and we’re still finding joy in the midst of all of it.”Article contentThey said that “we’re starting to get out sea legs under us and making contact with more organizations,” and that should lead to more growth in the week-long event in future years.Article contentArticle content Participants braved rainy and cool weather to walk in the Valley Pride Festival parade Saturday in Kentville. Photo by Ian Fairclough /Chronicle HeraldArticle content
Valley Pride Festival sees growth under shadow of Trump’s rhetoric from U.S.
