Quick Escape 
June is Pride Month.
Hosting and attending events where Two-Spirit and LGBTQIA+ folks come together to celebrate and are celebrated by allies can foster inclusion, diversity and equality. Now, more than ever, we need to stand together to celebrate visibly and to be in community.
We are lucky to have such a wide variety of Pride events in Hamilton. Check out our top five ways to celebrate Pride in #HamOnt:
1. Hang with your friends at awesome community events!
Pride Book Club for Teens with Hamilton Public Library
Friday, June 7, 4:00pm – 5:00pm
Turner Park Branch
Pride Garden Party with Fruit Salad and Workers Arts & Heritage Centre
Saturday, June 8, 12:00pm – 4:00pm
Workers Arts & Heritage Centre
Strawberry Sunday Pride Market with Fruit Salad & Sonic Unyon
Sunday, June 23, 2:00pm – 8:00pm
Bridgeworks, 70 Sheaffe St.
Check out speqtrum’s Pride month calendar of free events in #HamOnt for all Two-Spirit and LGBTQIA+ Community members!
2. Support a local bookstore and catch up on some Two-Spirit and LGTBQIA+ stories:
Book Title: Love After the End: An Anthology of Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer Speculative Fiction
Author: Joshua Whitehead
Through this anthology, Love After the End show how queer Indigenous communities can bloom and thrive through utopian narratives that detail the vivacity and strength of 2Spirit and Queerness throughout its plight at the hand of settler colonialism, envisioning potential Indigenous-futurist realities.
Content Warning: Violence, Colonisation, Death
Book Title: Friday I’m in Love
Author: Camryn Garrett
It’s too late for a Sweet Sixteen, but what if Mahalia had a coming-out party? A love letter to romantic comedies, sweet sixteen blowouts, Black joy, and queer pride.
Content Warning: Biphobia, Homophobia, Racism, and Sexual content
Author: Anuja Varghese
A short story collection that centres South Asian women, showing how they reclaim their power in a world that constantly undermines them. Exploring sexuality, family and cultural norms, this collection deals with desire and transformation.
Content Warning: Self harm, Racism, Miscarriage, Homophobia
Book Title: When Aidan Became a Brother
Author: Kyle Lukoff
Illustrated by: Kaylani Juanita
“When Aidan was born, everyone thought he was a girl,” the book starts. But as Aidan grew older, he began to realize he was “a different type of boy.” Although “it was hard to tell his parents what he knew about himself, it was even harder not to.”
Book Title: Federico and All His Families
Author: Mili Hernández
Illustrated by: Gómez
The delightful board book tells the story of a helpful neighborhood cat who visits different families as they prepare to start their day, including families with two moms and two dads, a single-parent family, and one with grandparents raising a child.
3. Watch some new and old classics in queer film:
Bottoms
Fire Island
Paris is Burning
The Half of It
Heartstopper (TV Show)
4. Blast some tunes by fantastic Two-Spirit and LGBTQIA+ artists:
5. Make an impact:
Take the Rainbow Equality Pledge to speak up for rainbow equality, against rising hate, and a more free and equal future for all our families.
Donate to speqtrum, and follow them on Instagram to stay up to date on local businesses and community groups raising funds this June!
