Pride: A Call to Action

May 31, 2025

June is Pride Month - a powerful opportunity to honour the resilience, diversity, and contributions of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. It is also a time to reflect on the ongoing need to protect and advance human rights for all people, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

In Nova Scotia, the Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on these protected characteristics. This legal protection affirms that everyone deserves to live free from harassment, exclusion, or unequal treatment because of who they are or who they love. But laws alone are not enough. True equality also requires a shared commitment to inclusion, education, and solidarity.

Pride is not only a celebration - it is a call to action. Supporting the 2SLGBTQIA+ community means creating spaces that are safe, respectful, and affirming. This can be as simple as using inclusive language, displaying a Pride flag in your home or workplace, or learning more about the experiences and history of queer and trans communities. It also means listening to 2SLGBTQIA+ voices, advocating for inclusive policies, and challenging discrimination when we see it.

For organizations and individuals alike, Pride Month is a chance to reaffirm our shared responsibility to uphold human rights and dignity for all. Whether by attending Pride events, supporting 2SLGBTQIA+-owned businesses, updating workplace policies to be more inclusive, or having meaningful conversations with others, every action counts.

In celebrating Pride, we are reminded that human rights are not abstract ideals—they are lived experiences. When we stand in solidarity with 2SLGBTQIA+ people, we strengthen the fabric of our communities and move closer to a province where everyone can live freely, authentically, and with pride.

Cynthia Dorrington is the Chair of the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission. She is the first African Nova Scotian female to be appointed to this role since the Commission’s inception.

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