A London man who has been a driving force in the city's Pride movement is set to receive a prestigious award Sunday.
Eugene Dustin is set to be presented with the Canadian Caring Award -- the only award for volunteerism given by the Governor General -- during a ceremony at Sunday's Pride London Festival.
Nominated by London-Fanshawe MP Irene Matthyssen, Dustin was instrumental in city hall's decision to raise the rainbow flag in 2007, while he was president of Pride London.
"That was incredible, because there had been such resistance in London, in the past, to the flying of the flag and to welcoming the gay and lesbian community," said Matthyssen.
"This is about being a leader, being ready to lead with courage and not being afraid of the reaction," she said.
Pride London has evolved into an energetic, inclusive event attended by thousands across the city. As many as 80 entries are expected for Sunday's Pride Parade, set to start at 12:30 p.m. (see pridelondon.ca for details).
But London has a not-so-rosy history when it comes to treatment of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgendered (LGBT) communities, highlighted by the Ontario Human Rights Commission in 1997 finding council and then-mayor Dianne Haskett had discriminated against gays when they refused to issue a proclamation for a gay pride event.
Dustin joined Pride London six years later, but said many in the community still felt unwelcome.
"Eugene was determined and it wasn't always easy," said Matthyssen. "I can remember Gay Pride events when people weren't always accepting or welcoming."
This year's event -- complete with a Kid Zone and pet friendly area set up at Victoria Park -- "speaks volumes to the kind of progress we've made," said Matthyssen.
Reached by telephone Saturday night, Dustin said he too has seen "vast improvement," in attitudes toward the LGBT community.
"I'm satisfied," he said, recalling preparations for his wedding last year to his husband Christopher.
"We were going to Sears and the jewelers and store after store, looking for wedding rings and doing our registry and . . . I was thinking deep down, 'how is this going to go?' but there was nothing. No flinching, nothing."
Asked about the award, Dustin said "I'm very honoured."
Dustin also does fundraising for the festival and usually one other charity each year. He has raised money for the Cancer Society, the AIDS Committee of London and this year plans to support War Amps, he said.
"He's a remarkable person," said Matthyssen. "When we found about the Caring Canadian awards, we thought about who was doing the kind of work in the community that needed to be acknowledged."
Mayor Joe Fontana and Pride secretary Deb Al-Hamza seconded the nominations, she said.
Dustin will receive his award during a ceremony set for 2 to 3 p.m. at the Victoria Park Bandshell, shortly after the Pride Parade.
jennifer.obrien@sunmedia.ca
twitter.com/obrienatlfpress
| 0% 0 votes | Yes  |
| 0% 0 votes | No |
Go Daddy Superbowl Commercial 2013 michael oher superbowl score ray lewis alicia keys Harbaugh brothers superbowl commercials
কোন মন্তব্য নেই:
একটি মন্তব্য পোস্ট করুন