June 2021 marks the second year of Pride month falling during the pandemic and the second year without in-person pride festivities.

Kincardine Pride has announced it is hosting a three-part webinar series called ‘Out’ in the Country – which will explore what it means to be LGBTQ2+ in rural Ontario.

The webinar series will be presented by AJ Adams, a former resident of Kincardine who is currently in his last semester of university, where he’s obtaining a bachelor’s degree in community leadership and equity, diversity and human rights. Adams has spent much of his studies focused on LGBTQ2+ issues and needs in rural communities – an area with little to no attention.

“As someone who grew up in Kincardine, I didn’t come out until I was 20 and living in the big city (Ottawa),” said Adams. “I reflect back to think about how helpful it would have been to have an organization like Kincardine Pride while I was in high school and figuring out my sexuality.”

The series will have three separate but connected webinars. The first one, scheduled for June 10 at 7 p.m., will focus on LGBTQ2+ fundamentals and will explore the words, terminology and history of the LGBTQ2+ community.

The second webinar, June 17 at 7 p.m., will explore the common health and social barriers LGBTQ2+ people face, how living in a rural community presents unique disadvantages for LGBTQ2+ residents and explore possible solutions for making these communities more welcoming for LGBTQ2+ people.

The final webinar, set for June 24 at 7 p.m., will explore the importance of Pride (parades/celebrations/events) and LGBTQ2+ representation in rural Ontario. This final webinar will examine the findings of Adams’ 2020 research study about rural Ontario pride organizations.

“Kincardine Pride is thrilled to be able to offer this webinar series not only to Kincardine but for rural communities across Ontario,” said Fort Papalia, president of Kincardine Pride Inc, “No matter where

someone is on their journey in supporting the LGBTQ2+ community, we hope this webinar series will provide greater awareness, knowledge and strategies for social progress in rural communities.”

The webinar series is free and open to anyone who is interested in improving the lives LGBTQ2+ people in rural communities.

More information and preregistration are available at fb.com/kincardinepride.com/event.