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Proud at Pride: celebrating the 2SLGBTQIA+ community
Decked out in vibrant colours on a beautiful summer day, approximately 90 VCH staff and medical staff, senior executive leaders, Board members, friends and family participated in the Vancouver Pride Parade on Sunday, August 4, 2024.
At VCH, We care for everyone and are proud to support and stand with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. With signs reading “Trans-affirming health care saves lives" and “Vancouver Coastal Health is proud to offer gender-affirming care," participants marched, danced, and proudly celebrated everyone's right to safe, equitable care.
These messages of inclusivity received boisterous cheers and applause from thousands of spectators along the parade route. We believe demonstrating our support is especially important during a time of increased anti-2SLGBTQIA+ rhetoric and attacks on gender-affirming care, highlighting our commitment to creating a safe and inclusive environment for all patients, clients, residents and families.
This year, three residents from long-term care joined in the festivities from an accessible vehicle, and eight long-term care and assisted living facilities were able to participate in the procession virtually. This allowed us to honour the seniors and elders who paved the way for 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion and bring the spirit of Pride to those who otherwise might have been unable to attend.
Staff and medical staff also participated in several other events during Pride season, including in qathet and Richmond. The VCH Public Health teams hosted a series of pop-up mpox immunization clinics at various Pride events.
