Pride Week has kicked off with celebrations and stories.
Mason Charbonneau shared his story for the first time at Timmins Pride’s 5th annual Pride Week kick off. Charbonneau says it was empowering to share his story of being transgender publicly to create a safe space for others to come forward. He says that in junior kindergarten he remembers playing pretend and gender-roles were a big part of that. He says there were little houses and the girls would iron and follow those roles while he wanted to be the father.
Charbonneau says at the age of 13, he did some research and found that he was identifying as transgender. He says after talking to his mom about it, they made an appointment at a gender clinic in Toronto but cancelled it at the last minute. He says he bottled up his feelings of being transgender for about seven years after. Charbonneau says it got to a point where he couldn’t suppress his feelings anymore. He then spoke with counsellors and doctors about beginning the transition. Charbonneau says in just days, it will be his two-year anniversary of transitioning on hormone treatment.
He says it took him a while to come out and says advice for others in similar situations is to wait until you are ready.
Charbonneau says sharing his story was nerve-wracking, but Pride Week symbolises just being proud of yourself.
Timmins Pride started the week off by raising the pride flag at city hall.
The organisation says it has events planned to celebrate throughout the week including:
- Wednesday: Pride Bowling at Midtown Bowl starting at 8:00pm
- Friday: Inclusive Prom for high school students at Kamiskotia Resort starting at 7:00pm
- Saturday: a rally at Hollinger Part at 11:00am, parade at 3:00pm and Timmins Pride’s 5th Annual Drag Show at Kamiskotia Resort starting at 7:00pm
- Sunday: commemorative Vigil starting at 7:00pm at 355 Wilson Avenue.
You can get tickets for a number of activities by contacting Timmins Pride.
