TRURO, N.S. – For Hannah O’Connor, celebrating Pride means less weird looks when she walks through the streets of Truro with her girlfriend.
She came to the 2018 Pride parade with a friend, a big smile on her face as she watched the parade floats, crowds of people waving rainbow flags and live music at Civic Square on Saturday afternoon.
“It’s just great to be able to have this validation and support from the greater community, coming together in this way to support people like me,” said O’Connor, who identifies as a transgender lesbian. “It makes me feel a lot more safe and secure and I guess loved.”
For O’Connor and others like her, Truro is a very different place compared to even five years ago, when there was no Pride parade. This year’s Pride Week was only the third annual such event.
O’Connor said that local attitudes towards LGBTQ people have “changed significantly.”
Before the parade, farmer Drew Hunter and his husband Keegan were at their stall selling maple syrup products to shoppers at the Truro Farmers Market.
In another sign of changing attitudes, the Farmers Market has declared itself a safe space for people of all sexual orientations and the couple even held their wedding there two weeks ago.
The ceremony itself was over in five minutes: held in an office by a justice of the peace.
“We came right back to work,” said Hunter.
The couple were not interested in a big party, instead choosing to focus on building their lives together on their farm in Leamington, south of Springhill in Cumberland County.
Together, they harvest maple syrup from 8,000 trees that they sell to chefs, retailers and at farmers market under the name KD Hunter Maple Products, a budding boutique brand.
Even as their business continues to grow, Hunter asked people to remember that Pride should be in their hearts every day.
“As a gay man, I’m really happy that people from all walks of life, no matter their sexuality, genders or backgrounds come to celebrate and share their Pride flags, but I want everyone to remember that it doesn’t just occur on one day or one week. It’s important to remember that it should be every day.”
It was a message backed up by Damon Fox and his colleague Julian Krizsan from the Living Earth Council in Truro.
They were among several LEC members who rode brightly-decorated tall bikes at the parade, drawing smiles and laughs from the crowds.
Fox and Kriszan’s group believes in community growth and wellbeing as one of its principles, which means supporting Pride is only natural for them.
“I think Pride should just be a part of everything, there shouldn’t be any reason to be ashamed of anything,” said Fox. “Be yourself and be happy.”
