Wellington East Girls' College Pride Week

Wellington East Girls’ College (WEGC) is holding their second annual Pride Week in August. The general aim of Pride Week is to bring attention to and support for queer people’s self-identification (whether that is sexual orientation or gender orientation) within the school. This event was planned and organised by Aria Brighton-Mills, Lillian McArthur, and Madison Ward - the leaders of Recognition, WEGC’s LGBTQ+ group.

This week is important for both staff members and students as it expresses support and aroha towards the LGBTQ+ people in the school through lighthearted and fun events. It is an excellent opportunity to educate and inform students and staff about the queer people within the WEGC community. Pride Week is used as an outreach to students who are unaware of the school’s LGBTQ+ group Recognition, which runs weekly to serve as a safe space to provide support and education to fellow students.

There will be several events throughout the week, including an inspirational panel of speakers titled ‘The Queer Community in Different Walks of Life’, an Inspirational Breakfast organised by WEGC’s Parent’s Association with Tabby Besley as the guest speaker. WEGC will also participate in the National ‘Day Of Silence’. This is a national event, commemorating LGBTQ+ people. It’s a day in which people give something up, most commonly speaking but could be technology usage, but there is no single way to participate. This is to raise awareness of the silencing effect homophobia, biphobia, transphobia and acephobia can have on people from the community.

Pride week is a supportive and empowering week for the queer students and staff alike. This week raises awareness of queer issues and queer voices, and to promote an open and friendly atmosphere at WEGC.

© Scoop Media