BY NATALIA McGILL

Just hear those gay bells jingle-ing, ring-ting, tingle-ing, too! Happy Festivities everyone.
I wanted to write a short blurb about this holiday season, and touch on the pressures and struggles that many of our sexually and gender-diverse comrades have to deal with during this time of year and how to be sensitive to those issues as an ally and as a part of the community.
Holidays are a magical time, full of love and generosity, and all sorts of warm fuzzy feelings; but this isn’t a reality for everyone. Please remember that a lot of people in our community have lost the support of family and friends simply for coming out and trying to be who they are.
At a time when everyone raves about family love, giving back, and the warmth and kindness of the holidays, we have members of our LGBTQIA+ community who no longer have a family to go to, or who no longer have connections with loved ones with whom they once built incredible holiday memories.
It is important to be sensitive to these experiences and try to mitigate the amount of pain and hurt we can cause by being aware of people’s reactions and body language when talking about or taking action with the holiday spirit in our hearts and minds.
As a bonus, if you can, try to offer support to someone you know suffers through a difficult time during the holidays. Offer a day of non-festive related (or related, if they are okay with it) activities to do with them. Offer an open ear, mind, and/or heart to them if they need it. And most importantly, do not try to push anything on them.
Stay safe and be well friends.

UPCOMING EVENTS WITH CAMROSE PRIDE
Pizza and Movie Night – Dec. 10, 6:00 p.m.
Contact Camrose Pride for the address.
Queer Like Me Youth Art Project + Art Exhibit (Funded by CPA) Ages 12-24
Will begin in January
Details to come next issue. Register with Nikki Featherstone by emailing her at: nkmfeatherstone@gmail.com. Contact Camrose Pride for more information.
UPCOMING EVENTS IN EDMONTON AND AREA
A Christmas Drag Spectacular – Dec.15, 7:30 p.m. @ Chic-Hog-O’s
Drag Dinner Theatre – Dec. 27, 6:00 p.m.@ Yellowhead Brewery
Fruit Loop Winter Bash – Jan. 13, 8:00 p.m. @ The Denizen