BCLC celebrates inclusion with Progress flag raising at company HQ in Kamloops

KAMLOOPS — Across North America, it’s Pride Month. First celebrated in June 1970, one year after the Stonewall Uprising in New York City, Pride is about promoting self-affirmation, dignity, equality and increased visibility for LGBTQ2S+ people in our community.

On Thursday (June 10) at the BC Lottery Corporation Headquarters in Kamloops, BCLC staff gathered for a special pride flag raising, to celebrate the progress the movement has made.

The Crown Corporation raised the Progress Flag, which is a symbol for increased inclusion among the queer community.

“The black, the brown, the pink and blue, and the white represent marginalized black and brown people, as well as trans people, and those who are living with HIV/AIDS, or have died of HIV/AIDS,” BCLC Chief Social Purpose Officer Peter ter Weeme explains.

Two of Kamloops Pride Board Members who also work at BCLC were there to help raise the flag. Katelyn Boughton, President of Kamloops Pride, has been with the Corporation for over a decade and has seen an increased emphasis on acceptance and inclusion from her employer.

“To see, especially over the last three or four years, the visible change at [BCLC] to show that everyone’s accepted, or relevant, that who you are matters, is important,” Boughton says.

Along with raising the Progress flag, BCLC unveiled an updated version of their rainbow crosswalk. The new version includes all the colours represented on the flag. According to Peter ter Weeme, that push has been a result of BCLC’s desire to be representative of the people that work there. He hopes the efforts to be more inclusive help guide other organizations to do the same.

“We’ve been doing that, for example, even with this Progress flag,” ter Weeme says. “[We’ve] been getting others who have [a Rainbow] crosswalk, to reflect this more diverse expression of Pride.”

Pride Month has gained momentum across Canada and the United States in recent years, as more and more corporations adopt a rainbow version of their logo for the month.

However, Boughton is pleased BCLC does more than just pay lip service to inclusion. “The fact that the company has bought Pride swag for the organization, has painted the crosswalk now twice, has worked with other service providers to include Pride representation — it’s important to put your money where your mouth is.”