York University celebrates Pride Week 2013

MVellekoopYORKowresThe Art Gallery of York University (AGYU), Centre for Human Rights (CHR), York Federation of Students (YFS), TBLGAY, and SexGen York committee will be hosting a series of events encouraging participants to embrace their inner superhero as they get involved with Toronto’s Pride Week from June 24 to 30.

The Super Queer Super Heroes created by artist Maurice Vellekoop for York University’s Pride Week festivities

The official Glendon campus flag raising ceremony takes place at the York Hall, B wing, on the first floor on Monday, June 24 at 12:30pm. Guest speakers include Kenneth McRoberts, principal, Glendon; Noël Badiou, director, CHR; and Krista McNamara, coordinator GLgbt*, Glendon’s LGBTQ student organization.

Meanwhile, from 12 to 5pm on York’s Keele campus, students are invited to collaborate and decorate the York parade float banners, personalize their own superhero capes, and make signs in the Vari Hall Rotunda.

On Tuesday, June 25, participants can enjoy homemade rainbow cupcakes and watch the annual flag raising ceremony on Keele campus at Vari Hall Rotunda from 10:30 to 11:30am. Invited guests Janet Morrison, vice-provost students; Tyler Morehouse, internal coordinator, TBLGAY; Noël Badiou, director, CHR; Marc Stein, professor, School of Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies; and Gayle McFadden, VP campaigns and advocacy, YFS, will remark on their ongoing commitment to equity and safety at York.

York will also be represented at Pride Toronto in the Community Fair on Church Street on Saturday, June 29, and Sunday, June 30, from 11am to 5pm. To help get in the super spirit, AGYU commissioned artist Maurice Vellekoop to create York’s very own Super Queer Super Heroes! POW! These super friends are the out-of-this-world mascots of York @ Pride.