Windsor Pride Community Youth Program
Youth are welcome here! Youth are priority for educational programming for our organization and a very important part of the LGBTIQ community in Windsor Essex County. The bring energy, imagination and fun. The Board of Windsor Pride works to include youth in decision making regarding programs and services related to youth. The board also encourages youth leadership development.

In 2010 our youth Program was focused on the development of Waking Up Blue a play written and performed by Windsor Essex youth using the social justice workshop method. This play involved 25+ youth working over 5 days to tell their own stories of growing up LGBTIQ in Windsor Ontario. The play was then edited and written into a script. Youth and Volunteers were under the capable direction of Windsor?s own Drama Educator Chris Rabideau. The next phase of the youth program involved auditions for parts and building a cast and crew of 30+ to perform the play. The play was a great hit with area youth and audiences and was well reviewed by local media. The performances were a highlight of International Anti- Homophobia Day programming on May 17th.

Waking Up Blue
Capitol Theatre and Arts Centre
121 University Ave. West
Monday, May 17th, 2010 12:30 PM, 5:00 PM, 8:00 PM
A one-act play about a teenage boy who takes a journey with the help of his Fairy Godmother, who teaches him a lesson in tolerance. Directed by Chris Rabideau.  In conjunction with the Anti-Homophobia Day Proceeds benefiting Windsor Pride Community LBGTIQ Youth Programming.
Prices: 12:30 PM ($5 students/$15 adults), 5:00 PM ($10 students/$15.00 adults), 8:00 PM ($20.00 performance/$35.00 performance and reception).
For more information please visit the Windsor Pride website or phone 519-973-4656.

Windsor Pride?s Homophobia and Me Post card quilt project invited area schools to produce post card sized art projects to fight against homophobia. Over 200 submissions were received from area schools including Forester, Walkerville and Century. Volunteer Art Curator Gabrielle Pescadore then composed 5 panels which were displayed at Artcite Gallery on University Avenue. 

In the summer of 2010 Windsor Pride hosted 5 university students participating in the Federal Canada Summer Jobs program. Responsibilities included working on the Strategic Plan process, Diversity training program development, Health promotion, Tourism Destination marketing, the Summer Festival and Fundraising. Their energy brought new excitement to the office and new ideas to the organization.

Windsor Pride Community continues to support the vital work of the Service Alliance for Equality (SAFE) www.safewindsor.ca   which is a group of Professionals which advocates for the development of programs and services to meet the needs of LGBTIQ teens and their families in Windsor Essex County.

Windsor Pride also supports the vital work of the Gay Straight Alliance for Staff which is composed of teaching and support staff professional employed by the Board of Education who promote and support programs in the schools for LGBTIQ students and their allies.

Windsor Pride Community is seeking funding to hire a part time youth worker to assist in the development and operation of year round programming for LGBTIQ youth in 2011.

Press Releases:
WINDSOR, ONTARIO
International Anti Homophobia Day May 17, 2010
Call for Artists, Poets and Musicians
Neil Mens, Executive Director of Windsor Pride Community is putting out an all ages call to artists, poets and musicians for International Anti- Homophobia Day May 17th, 2010.  Pride is concerned by the consequences of homophobia on residents and its impact the economic competitiveness of our city. We would like to unleash the cities creative minds in a variety of disciplines to create their own response to this day.  Pride invites responses from those who identify as straight, as much as those who identify Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Transsexual, Intersex, Queer, Questioning, and Two Spirited.
 Pride is looking for proposals for poetry, images, exhibitions, performance, outdoor installations which convey the theme of Anti Homophobia.  Venues will be in the vicinity of the Capital Theatre in downtown Windsor.
Definition of Homophobia
Homophobia is a negative attitude or feeling, an aversion towards gays and lesbians or towards homosexuality in general. It is also the rejection of people considered gay or lesbian and of all things associated with them, for example, gender non-conformity.
 The Windsor Pride Community Vision Statement
?We envision ?one world? united, in which every human being equally regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, faith or age, is treated with dignity and respected for their intrinsic worth.  We envision a society in which the diversity of humanity is accepted and celebrated -- one in which members live in peace and harmony, individually and collectively working to make the world a better place for all. ?

More information on Windsor Pride Community www.windsorpride.com
The participation in this open call implies the knowledge and acceptance of Windsor Pride Community Mission Statement. Please send proposals by April 30, 2010 to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 
Press Release
Windsor Pride presents an art exhibit in celebration of International Anti-Homophobia Day
Opening Reception:  7-9 pm, May 16th, 2010, 422 Pelissier, cash bar 
Pride in the City Committee of Windsor Pride presents a multimedia art exhibit in celebration of International Anti-Homophobia Day on May 17th, 2010.  The exhibit includes ?Homophobia & Me?, a postcard quilt project, teen photography from the Teen Health Centre as well as paintings and illustrations.  This show shares the thoughts and feelings of the Windsor community and beyond on the impact of homophobia in their lives. 

As part of the rich cultural and artistic landscape cultivated by Pride in the City Committee to honor International Anti-Homophobia Day, the exhibit expresses diverse perspectives on homophobia in words and images to foment a dialog between art and society. 

Homophobia is a negative attitude or feeling, an aversion towards gays and lesbians or towards homosexuality in general.  It is the rejection of people considered gay or lesbian and of all things associated with them, such as gender non-conformity. Homophobia affects EVERYBODY whether directed at us personally, friends, family members, co-workers or the community at large.  
The opening reception is 7-9 pm on May 16th, 2010 at Windsor Pride, 422 Pelissier (cash bar).  The ?Homophobia & Me? postcard quilt project will also be on exhibit at Artcite Inc., Windsor's non-profit Artist-Run Centre for the Contemporary Arts, in their storefront windows on May 17th, 2010 at 109 University Ave. W., participating in MayWorks, an international festival supporting workers? solidarity, social justice and community cultural projects.
Contact Information:  Gabrielle Pescador at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Article from the Windsor Star May 13, 2010
Stage: Trying to spread awareness
 Kyle Henkel is nervous about being onstage Monday. And it's not just stage fright.
It will be the first time some of his family will be confronted by the issues gay youth face and he'll be one of the people delivering the message.
Henkel plays a bully in Waking Up Blue, a one-act play put on by Windsor Pride. A group of about 30 youth discussed their experiences with homophobia in high schools and elsewhere in Windsor. They took the negative experiences and created a play, which is made up of real, local experiences.
"It's been incredibly emotional. I'm not a person who's easy to cry but I've had tears well up," said Henkel. The 18-year-old said hearing other people's experiences of coming out made him realize how positive his own experience was.
Creating the play has taken only seven weeks. The rush has been so that the play can fall on the International Day Against Homophobia, which is on Monday.
Discussions lasted a week and then casting began. Many of the youth who were involved in planning are also starring in it.
"It wasn't the goal to get the best actors and actresses," said Kiki Meloche, a volunteer youth worker for Windsor Pride and assistant to the director.
"It was never about that."
Dylan Tidwell said he thinks the play promotes equality. He plays the lead role, a popular, homophobic high school student.
"It shows me why I'm not like that," he said. Tidwell said he hopes high school students will attend the play and take something from it.
"I think they need an eye-opener," he said.
One story Windsorites may recognize in Waking Up Blue comes from Joey Wright. Last year the gay high school student wanted to start a Gay Straight Alliance at his school but his progress was stalled by the school board.
But the rest of the stories are anonymous.
"No one knows whose story belongs to who," Henkel said.
Waking Up Blue tells a story where gay people are visually represented by wearing blue. Tidwell's character, James, is guided by his fairy godmother to learn about accepting people whether they're out or not.
The fairy godmother, who adds some comic relief to the play, is played by 17-year-old Teniece Roberts. She said the play reminds her of a mix between Cinderella and Scrooge.
Some roles have been difficult to adjust to for the cast.
"At first it was really hard to get into character because he's a complete 180 of what I am," said Matthew Jones, who plays a conservative, homophobic father.
The play's director, Windsor Pride volunteer Chris Rabideau, said the play is "history making" because it's the first production put on by Windsor Pride.
"I think it's going to promote awareness in our schools and at least (be) starting a conversation," said Rabideau.
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 519-255-5709