Posted on: July 4, 2022
Thank you to everyone across Island Health for sharing their PRIDE month photos, for completing the 2LGBTQ+ Learning Pathway and for participating in ongoing self-reflection on the two questions we posed in The Weekly in mid-June:
• How do we make our workplace more welcoming and inclusive for 2SLGBTQ+ employees, and free from discrimination, stigma and bias?
• How do we make our services more welcoming and inclusive for 2SLGBTQ+ patients/ clients/ residents, and free from discrimination, stigma and bias?
Many of the submissions we received during Pride month are captured below. For more images and reflections, be sure to visit Island Health’s Pride 2022 Flickr album.
Many thanks again – we look forward to continuing the conversation as we Walk Our Pride together in the months and years to come.
“Just wanted to share a photo of my daughter, Miriam, with her pride-themed apple fritter from Yonni’s Donuts and Discovery Coffee, in 2021. We’re a 2-mom family and we Walk our Pride every day.”
– Amanda Leddy, Research Facilitator
****
“I wanted to share my commitments I can take to make our workplace welcoming and inclusive.
"I avoid assuming Gender and use inclusive pronouns such as They/Their to create a more welcoming inclusive environment and I wear a pin with my preferred pronouns so that others see that and feel comfortable to share theirs if they wish to do so. We also have a 2SLGBTQ+ flag on our office doors to show that this is a safe place for anyone to come and access services.
"I think this is such an important action for Island Health to not only talk about but to create those positive changes within each workplace. Thank you for doing this! I can say with confidence I am committed to challenging any and all discrimination and encourage each and everyone to do the same.”
– Cheyenne Reierson, Comox Valley Public Health Nursing Administrative support/health unit aid.
The Indigenous Health and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Leadership team (above) participated in a conversation on “Walk our Pride”. The team made the following commitment:
“Commitment to continued learning and understanding with humility the experiences of 2SLGBTQ+ community members to ensure our workplace and services are experienced as welcoming and inclusive.”
***
“The Leadership & Organizational Development team (above) had a full in-person meeting on June 8 where we had a robust discussion on how we can stand in solidarity with LGBTA2S+ community. We took the time to dress in rainbow colours – Red (Carolyn Waye), Orange (Kent Flint), Yellow (Melissa Fahlman), Green (James McAndrew), Blue (Lane Sherman), Indigo (Melissa Ketler), Violet (Laura Wicki-Stordeur).”
***
“My 18 year old daughter recently came out as gay. It was somewhat surprising but not really. She struggled immensely with this part of herself. She was in pain. Huge amounts of pain and self loathing and tried desperately for six years to hide this part of herself. If I could turn back time and do things differently to avoid my daughter having to endure this pain I would.
"I thought I was a safe place just by being a present and loving and accepting Mom but this was not enough. It’s the societal views, the conversations within our household, the messages from other family members that can never be unheard once spoken. It’s the dialogue, the books I read to her, the movies we watched. If I had a do over I would ensure my home was a much safer space for my kids to be themselves.
"I would give anything for my child not to feel that pain. She is good now. She is healing and becoming more accepting of her sexual orientation everyday. I admire her for everything she is because she is an amazing human being who does amazing things and is loved by so many people. Her smile and her energy are infectious and I am so proud of her.
"As a Mom as well as a health care worker I want to be that safe place where people can come for support. I am becoming more involved in youth work and taking steps to educate myself and others of 2SLGBTQ+ communities by having conversations and taking steps toward action both at home and at work and wherever else it is needed.”
– Susan Collins, Public Health Nursing
***
“The 5th floor PCC at RJH had a Walk our Pride day with cake, rainbow pins for our lanyards and tattoos. (Only a small part of the team is pictured.)”
– Julia Diehl, Interim Manager 5th Floor PCC & RJH Patient Ambassadors.
***
NRGH High Intensity and Low Intensity Rehab Units Celebrate Pride.
***
“After two years away, we celebrated another incredible Pride with our friends and community. So absolutely wonderful to feel so much love today!”
– MSHU Support Worker Kathleen Case (with her daughter, Lyric Case, centre, and Lyric’s friend, Emily Breen, right, at the Nanaimo PRIDE Festival.)
***
Jess Tran, Program Assistant at the Harbour Safe Consumption Site, celebrates Pride with some help from the chalk drawing someone created on the wall outside the site.
***
Lyz Gilgunn, Communications Advisor, Population and Public Health submitted this photo of the entrance to the South Island Communications office.
***
The Island Health tent at the Victoria Pride Festival (hosted by the Harm Reduction team).
**
I wanted to share the CHS Nanaimo team pride day photos. A Pride walk led by some CHS leadership team around the block of the Health Unit has shown our appreciation and acceptance not only by Island Health staff as well as some public support honking us showing their support.
I highly appreciate all the work from this team.
– Erik Esleyer, Manager, Nanaimo Community Health Services