One of the grand marshals named to the 2014 Pride Parade plans to use the honour to raise awareness about the need for more involvement from government and tourism officials from across the province.
Dean Nelson, founder of Pride House open to visiting members of LGBT communities from around the world during the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games, said the time he spent recently in Toronto for World Pride demonstrated the need for more official input and support here at home.
“I worry Vancouver is becoming complacent, but we can’t lose focus. We need government officials and tourism boards to participate in important conferences because that’s what sets the tone,” said Nelson of events such as the annual international Gay and Lesbian Travel Conference and InterPride.
As a result of Nelson’s efforts, Olympic Pride House has expanded to include the 2012 London Olympics, 2014 Sochi Olympics, the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, FIFA World Cup 2014 in Rio and the 2015 PanAm Games in Toronto. In addition to Pride House, Nelson is producer of the annual Whistler Ski and Pride Festival and co-founder of the Mr. Gay World mentorship program.
Also acting as grand marshal is trans filmmaker and community activist Gwen Hawthorn, best known for her documentary film She’s a Boy I Knew.
Hawthorn also works at Vancouver Coastal Health as the educator for Prism Services, facilitating lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, two spirit and questioning-inclusion workshops for non-profit housing, social service and health care organizations. Hawthorn previously volunteered with the Catherine White Holman Wellness Centre and served on the park board’s Trans and Gender Variant Inclusion Working Group.
Hawthorn currently volunteers on the City of Vancouver’s LGBTQ advisory committee, the board of directors for Out On Screen and the advisory committee for Safe Choices, a program that falls under the umbrella of the Ending Violence Association of B.C. Gay rights pioneer and Canadian drag court founder Ted Northe will be recognized posthumously as this summer’s grand marshal at the Vancouver Pride parade (Aug. 3), along with trans filmmaker Gwen Haworth and Pride House co-founder Dean Nelson.
“Grand marshals inspire us with their courage, conviction and dedication,” the Vancouver Pride Society said in a press release. “Each year, up to three outstanding individuals from the LGBTQ community are recognized and celebrated during Pride week and lead our entries during the Pride parade.”
Northe, who died March 30 at age 76, founded the Imperial Court System of Canada in 1964 and became the titular head of the charitable organization in 1967. He remained Empress of Canada until his passing.
The organization eventually allowed for provincial chapters and in 1976 the Dogwood Monarchy Society formed in Vancouver.
Northe initiated the first Community Christmas Dinner and first gay community disaster relief fund in Vancouver. He helped develop the first Gay Businessmen’s Guild and worked with the lesbian community to host the first openly gay breast cancer fundraiser. He also sponsored and helped create countless events and groups in the city, including the first gay bowling and softball leagues, first Vancouver Pride Parade and the Greater Vancouver Native Culture Society for two-spirited men and women.
A self-described “activist in a dress,” it’s estimated that he raised more than $10 million for Canadian charities through his work.
– with files from Sandra Thomas
