Chantell Gregg loses a Pride Parade, but gets a Rally for Social Justice

Well, thanks to religious biases, a Facebook group managed to quash a Pride Parade, originally planned and organized by sixteen-year-old Chantell Gregg in Abbotsford, British Columbia, a city that lies just 72 km (43 miles) from Vancouver, home of the 2010 Winter Olympics.

But thanks to a little help from John Kuipers of the University of the Fraser Valley pride group, a social justice rally will be held in place of a parade in conjunction with other social justice groups to create a more inclusive event.

Good idea, I think, to unite groups with the theme of social justice. I'm all for a Pride Parade, but it bothers me when the event appeals to just one separate group of people in society, i.e. "the gays." Granted, "the gays" have to be more inclusive in their event planning, as Chantell and John are being, and "the straights" have to be more open to attending an event that reaches out to include them.

So thanks Facebook group that trashed the Abbotsford Pride Parade. Because of you, a better idea emerged, one that could more appropriately combat the kind of hatred you display. And congratulations, Chantell, for not giving up in the face of homophobic adversity. You're a star!

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