HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2016-11-23, Page 27Wednesday, November 23, 2016 • Huron Expositor 27
Huron County Pride hopes to offer local LGBTQ a 'beacon of hope'
Darryl Coote
To sailors lost at sea, a
lighthouse is a beacon of
hope, a sign that safety is
near.
To local LGBTQ residents,
Greg Anderson hopes his
organization Huron County
Price can offer that same
beacon of hope, that same
promise of safety.
This is the why the newly
formed group has chosen
the lighthouse as its
emblem, Anderson told The
Signal Star on Sunday, Nov
20.
"The lighthouse is our
symbol for two reasons. First
reason why is because
Goderich is known for its
lighthouse, it's pretty
famous. And the other rea-
son is a lighthouse to those
out at sea is a beacon of
hope, safety and guidance to
come back in in troubled
times," he said.
The group held its inau-
gural open house on Sun-
day at the local Canadian
Mental Health Association
offices with the plan to hold
one every third Sunday of
the month to both those
who identify as either les-
bian, gay, bi-sexual,
transgendered or queer
(LGBTQ) and their
supporters.
He said the reason for
forming the group was
because there was nothing
here like it for this
community.
"It actually came out as
just an excuse to have cof-
fee together once a month,"
he said.
Laurie Gibson, who is
also a member of the com-
mittee, says she hopes the
group will make Goderich
less lonely for LGBTQ
people.
"This town is very lonely,"
she said. "There's nothing
here for us and it was to the
point where the only place I
could find anyone like me
was to move and I don't
really want to move because
I like it here."
And she said she hopes
the Sunday meetings will
attract a community of
inclusivity so others don't
feel they have to move to
find those like themselves.
Tracey Taylor, another
member of the committee,
said there are probably
many people in Huron
County who identify as
LGBTQ but until Huron
Country Pride formed there
was no place for the commu-
nity congregate.
"And it's not that the
county is overly closed," said
Gibson, "it's just that there's
nothing here. There's
nowhere for people to turn if
they need [community]."
Taylor said she has two
hopes for the group: One is
to offer a safe place for
LGBTQ people and their
supporters to come together.
And other is to create a visi-
ble presence of LGBTQ peo-
ple in the wider Huron
community.
"I think that's the only way
people really become
accepted by communities is
being visible," she said. "So
us as a LGBTQ group, it nor-
malizes [us] and the more
you see something the more
normal it seems."
She said she just wants the
larger community to realise
that they're just "normal
folk."
Aside from a few homo-
phobic comments, Ander-
son said the reception to the
announcement of the group
has been positive. They even
participated in the Goderich
Santa Claus parade the day
Darryl Coote
Huron County Pride committee members hold up a banner at the start of their inaugural open house on Sunday, Nov. 20. From left,
Anne Clark, Greg Anderson, Tracy Taylor, Gail Huber and Laurie Gibson.
before and Taylor said most
people were cheering them
on.
"It felt good being out
there," she said. "There was a
lot of people waving,
cheering:'
Next, they are looking to
see how else they can partic-
ipate in the community.
Right now they are thinking
about offering a board game
night, but in the future they
are eyeing a queer film festi-
val in town.
"I think it could really fly
here," Anderson said.
He sees it as a possible
tourist opportunity for
Goderich and could be a
boon for the local
community.
However, for now he said
the group is going to concen-
trate on being that beacon
for the community.
"A refuge where they can
be safe a wait out the storm,"
he said.
Huron County Pride
meets every third Sunday of
the month from 2 p.m. to 5
p.m. at the Goderich Canada
Mental Health Association
Bayfield dubbed the "third friendliest town in Canada" on expedia.ca
Justine Alkema
Bayfield has bode well on the inter -
net recently with their title of the
"third friendliest town in Canada" on
expedia.ca. This title was given based
on 2015 verified user reviews.
Bluewater Mayor Tyler Hessel
recently commented on the designa-
tion saying he believes Bayfield's
strength is, "Bayfield's heritage nature
and community involvement"
Hessel commented that people care
about and are invested in their
community.
"Bayfield has such a strong volun-
teer base that makes things happen,"
he said. He commented that it's
important to have momentum com-
ing from the community to create pro-
jects, hold events and "celebrate it all".
"I think the big thing is its heritage
main street [...] [We have] that herit-
age block right in the main street and
core, and we're fortunate to have had
it for so long. All the business and
store owners are so involved with
keeping that look and creating a wel-
coming environment."
The friendliest town was given to
Carp, Ontario in the greater Ottawa
area with second place going to North
Hatley in Quebec which is an hour
and a half east of Montreal.
Under the description for Bayfield,
it reads, "Bobbing boats, charming
boutiques, and ringing bicycle bells
make it easy to think you're in some
kind of fairytale when you're walking
through Bayfield."
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offices at 52 Newgate St. For Huron County Pride Face -
more information, visit the book page.
Fay and Bill Albert
HAPPY 60TH WEDDING
ANNIVERSARY
November 10, 2016
Love and best wishes from
your family,
Linda, Anne, Denise, and Joanne
and their families