Each June, Pride Month recognizes the experiences and history of Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, questioning, intersex and asexual (2SLGBTQQIA+) communities and celebrates their positive impacts around the world.
Wilfrid Laurier University aims to create safe and equitable campuses for all 2SLGBTQQIA+ members of its community.
Flying the Progress Pride flag represents Laurier's commitment to honouring the identities, experiences and contributions of 2SLGBTQQIA+ peoples and their continuing struggle for social, political and economic equality, as well as the university’s commitment to the inclusion of First Nations, Métis, Inuit, Black and racialized voices in 2SLGBTQQIA+ and other equity initiatives.
The Progress Pride flag, designed by American non-binary artist Daniel Quasar in 2018, is an evolution of the original Rainbow flag created by artist Gilbert Baker in 1987. The Progress Pride flag includes black and brown chevrons to represent marginalized and racialized communities, individuals living with HIV and those lost to AIDS, while the pink, light blue and white chevrons represent the colours of the Transgender Pride flag.
Laurier and Luther students, staff and faculty are invited to visit the Drag and DIY Pride Fair to get crafty and enjoy a show with local drag performer Kara Melle.
Activity stations include t-shirt tie-dyeing, bracelet making, button making, temporary tattoos, rock painting, and more!
The Wilfrid Laurier University Staff Association (WLUSA) and the Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty Association (WLUFA) are hosting a Pride and Popsicles event as part of the fair. Enjoy free popsicles, Pride-themed swag and activity stations.
There will be activity and community resource tables by:
Laurier Hockey held its annual Golden Hawks Pride Nights in February 2026, with the women’s and men’s hockey teams taking to the ice in limited-edition Golden Hawks Pride jerseys that were later auctioned off in support of Spectrum of Waterloo Region. The game-day buzz at the rink was amplified by a celebration of community, belonging and pride.
Among the fans were more than 100 attendees from Spectrum’s sport programs. Spectrum staff members dropped the first puck at centre ice, and volunteers hosted booths to share information about Spectrum’s services and resources. The games raised funds for Spectrum programs and services, helping the organization carry out its mission of affirming and supporting the well-being of 2SLGBTQIA+ people in Waterloo Region.
Through academics and activism, Professor Morgan Holmes has been at the forefront of the intersex rights movement since the 1990s. She was honoured with a King Charles III Coronation Medal for her significant contribution to Canada.
Holmes advocates for a fundamental shift in how intersexuality is understood, rejecting the medical framework that leads to diagnoses of disorders of sexual development. As part of a first-of-its kind needs assessment for intersexualized adults in Canada, she interviewed eight individuals about their lives and experiences with the medical system.
“There are certain biological facts unique to intersex, but those facts must then have a particular medical or pathologized meaning imposed upon them,” Holmes wrote in the report. “It treats the body of the child or infant as the problem, while our human rights response seeks to position medical authority as the problem.”
While preparing to teach the health curriculum in a grade six classroom several years ago, Assistant Professor of Education Pamela Malins remembers being confronted by a concerned parent who didn’t want her daughter learning that “gay was okay.” Inspired by that uncomfortable exchange, Malins is studying how to support educators to have conversations about gender and sexual identities in elementary and early childhood spaces.
As part of her research, Malins hosted a drag story time event at Laurier during Pride Month. She observed how the children played and expressed themselves through various mediums and interviewed parents about their perspectives on children’s gender play.
“We discussed the societal factors that tend to influence children, particularly when they reach school age and start to experience feedback on how they are presenting and what’s allowed and not allowed as they navigate gender expression,” says Malins. “There is an opportunity to unpack how we can support children’s play and exploration through inclusive education.”
When Laurier alumna Yvonne Runstedler (BA ’03, MA ’16, PhD ’24) heard her grade 12 student James Dixon give a presentation on his experience coming out as a trans man in 2015, she was inspired to act. As a teacher in the Catholic education system, she felt a disconnect between traditional Catholic teachings on sexuality and gender and her own experiences.
Together, they formed Called to Love Consulting and have been presenting to teachers, principals and school board leaders across Ontario. Dixon – now enrolled in Martin Luther University College at Laurier – pairs his personal stories with research on the stages and phases of coming out, helping educators become more compassionate toward the unique experiences of their queer-identified students.
“When principals do equity work without the theological context, they are left wondering what to say to angry parents who think being queer is against the Catholic faith,” says Runstedler. “Grounding their perspectives in theology helps educators engage in better dialogue with folks who have different views. We show specific teachings that actually encourage us to be inclusive.”
The Centre for Student Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (CSEDI) works to cultivate a campus culture that respects and promotes equity, diversity, inclusion and social justice in all aspects of Laurier – from classrooms to residence communities. Through CSEDI, Laurier students have access to resources related to gender and sexuality, and its student services offer safer spaces for students and their allies who identify with 2SLGBTQQIA+, women-centred, Indigequeer and gender-inclusive communities.
A gift to CSEDI helps the centre continue growing to better meet the needs of Laurier's increasingly diverse student population and deliver educational programming across both campuses.
The Career Centre and CSEDI work closely to provide services for 2SLGBTQQIA+ students and alumni at Laurier. As a member of a distinct community, you may have specific concerns while making career decisions or finding a job such as when and if to disclose to an employer, how to research inclusive organizations and what to include when writing a resumé. Browse career resources or book an appointment for individual support.
In this video resource, conversations between 2SLGBTQQIA+ students, staff and faculty at Laurier aim to bridge the generational gap within the queer community through discussion about their experiences and learnings.
