Richmond, BC – Richmond Public Library (RPL) is celebrating Pride Week with programs designed for all ages throughout the month of July. Our intention is to delight, educate and create opportunities to look beyond gender stereotypes and encourage healthy and engaging conversations within our community.
“For the last two years, the library has proudly partnered with the Hamilton Community Centre to offer the popular Drag Queen Storytime”, says Jordan Oye, Richmond Public Library (RPL) Board Chair. “RPL is committed to intellectual freedom, freedom of expression and advancing equity for all who live, work and play in Richmond. Adopted by the Library Board in February 2019, our Diversity and Inclusion Statement highlights that libraries have a responsibility to support a culture that recognizes diversity and fosters social inclusion”.
In addition to the return of Drag Queen Storytime, the library is partnering with BLUSH to offer an educational workshop that teaches parents and caregivers practical strategies for supporting their LGBTQIA2S+ family members, as well as a writing workshop for teens led by a local YA author. There will also be storytimes featuring diverse families, film screenings and book club meet-ups for teens and adults.
“BLUSH is a youth-driven organization that provides sexual health education to high school students across the Greater Vancouver Area,” says Theo Micolino, Sexual Health Educator & Curriculum Developer at BLUSH. “At BLUSH, we believe that all education must be taught through a lens of inclusion and diversity so that it can include all members of our community.”
To find out more about the library’s Pride Week programs and to register, visit the library’s events calendar or call 604-231-6413.