THUNDER BAY -- Collin Graham never thought he'd say the day, let alone an entire week, that Thunder Bay had a pride event.
But as the flag went up over city hall Tuesday morning to kick off Thunder Pride Graham, who also goes by Paloma Marquez and was named Miss Gay Pride Thunder Bay this year, said it's amazing to see.
"It's been something I never thought I would see in this community," he said. "For us to be where we're at right now it's an overwhelming sense of many feelings."
"This is my home and I'm so glad that I get to be my true authentic self in my home and in a safe way. That's important to me."
Starting Saturday, Thunder Pride will host breakfasts, literacy and film nights, a breakfast and a healing night next week before the big parade and concert June 13. Co-chair Donna Nagy said hosting pride week is putting Thunder Bay on the map as a welcoming community.
"To have the world know that can do nothing but good for Thunder Bay," she said.
When co-chair Jessica Ross went to high school there were no gay straight alliances and bullying was rampant. But Thunder Pride is proof that things are getting better.
"It's a testament to how the city is growing, how the city is becoming so much more inclusive and accepting," she said.
This year's theme is all about education Ross said, especially in light of the province's new controversial sex education curriculum.
"We're just really putting a positive spin on education," she said.
