OTTAWA-GATINEAU – The Ottawa REDBLACKS announced today they will celebrate Capital Pride Week, August 21-27, 2017 with two events. The Saturday, August 26 game pitting the REDBLACKS against the BC Lions will be the club’s annual Pride Game ahead of the annual Capital Pride Parade, on August 27. The parade will then feature players from the Ottawa REDBLACKS, the REDBLACKS Cheer Team, along with the Grey Cup.
“In a year where RNation welcomes OUR Nation it is imperative that we celebrate our Canadian values of diversity and inclusiveness,” said Bernie Ashe, CEO of OSEG, parent company of the REDBLACKS. “OSEG is looking forward to the events during Capital Pride Festival and we look forward to continuing our work with Capital Pride throughout the 105th Grey Cup Festival and Game presented by Shaw.”
“Having the REDBLACKS participate in Ottawa Capital Pride events is a welcome message to Ottawa’s LGBTQ2 community that everyone has a place in the world of sports regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity,” added Tammy Dopson, Chair of the Ottawa Capital Pride Board of Directors.
CAPITAL PRIDE THEME 2017: JUST BE
Each year, the Ottawa LGBTQ2 community and its allies come together to celebrate Pride week in the Nation’s Capital. A fundamental goal of the festival is that it is a safe space for everyone – to spend time with friends and family, to meet new people, to talk about ideas and issues affecting our community, to dance, and yes, even to flirt! For many people it is also the time to come out and fully embrace their true identity or identities for the first time.
With its theme this year, Capital Pride recognizes the journeys we have as individuals and the journey we share as a community. Attending Pride is part of both. When you come to Capital Pride this year, we hope you will have time to celebrate, but also reflect… we hope you will Just Be.
