Ottawa 2022 Pride march
After two years of scrapped Capital Pride Parades, the 2022 parade made a record-breaking comeback on a sunny, hot, August, Ottawa afternoon. It took over 90 minutes for the 185 colourful floats and 7,500 participants to pass by.
Humanist Canada took the lead, organizing a joint, collaborative parade entry with CFI Canada, Ontario Humanist Society, and Humanist Ottawa. Our banner, which included the four associations’ logos, proclaimed an important message: Human Rights = 2SLGBTQS+ Rights. Martin Frith, HC president, was correct- this is a message that everyone can support! The crowds certainly loved it, judging by their applause, as they did the energetic music blasted from the speakers on our shiny, red, Pride-flag-draped pickup truck, “float.”
Srishti Hukku explains, “Given our emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion as an organization, Humanist Canada intentionally chose to centre the Quasar Pride Flag as part of the parade. Leveraging intersectionality as an analytical tool, we recognize the challenges that multiple identities create for folks. The Progress Pride Flag was designed in 2018. Quasar added the black and brown stripes to represent marginalised 2SLGBTQIA+ communities of colour, along with the colours pink, light blue and white, which are used on the transgender pride flag. The additional elements form an arrow shape that points to the right, to represent “forward movement” and are along the left edge of the flag to state that “progress still needs to be made.”
Srishti Hukku and Ric Glowienka and were brilliant with their “microphone work,” rousing thousands of onlookers along the route with “Let’s make some noise, Ottawa! Let’s make some noise, for human rights!” (etc.)
Ric at the wheel and Srishti on the microphone.
Our dance music was irresistible, causing Humanist Ottawa president, Robert Hamilton, to let loose (he set a high bar; too bad if you missed it).
Ottawa mayor, Jim Watson- who came out as gay in 2019- was there of course, as was outgoing Somerset ward councillor and openly gay mayoral candidate Catherine McKenney (they, them). They had described the Capital Pride Parade as their “gay Christmas.”
There was essentially negligible counter-protest, but there was some, hardly worth mentioning, except to say that it served as a reminder that we must be vigilant, and continue to work to stop faith-based bigotry.
Our humanist entourage reconvened, post-parade, at the Waverley Elgin GastroPub for a happy hour, dinner and the usual, extremely enjoyable chin-wagging. Not everyone in our circles, understandably, are comfortable yet, attending in-person events, but for those who attended, it was a wonderful, meaningful day. Thanks to everyone who helped make this a success.
Happy Pride!
Dr Richard G L Thain
Embrun, ON
CSICON 2022: Now Is the Time for Skeptics to Shine
This is the Infodemic, an age of misinformation, conspiracy theories, and pseudoscience; when people believe that magic potions cure diseases, aliens are among us, and Earth is flat.
It’s time to bring the brightest minds in science and reason together to fight back against this outbreak of dangerous nonsense, and have a hell of a great time doing it. It’s finally time for CSICon 2022, October 20 to 23 at the Flamingo Resort in Las Vegas. Registration is now open for what might be the biggest and best skeptics’ conference ever!
Refugee Sponsors Needed in Nova Scotia
Date: April 5, 2022
Candidate Overview
Names: Wahid Ahmed* and Laiq Mahad*
Nationality: Pakistan. Fled to (current location): Republic of Georgia.
Plea for Help: Wahid Ahmed, a well-known atheist blogger and human rights activist from Pakistan,
and his cousin, Laiq Mahad, have been refused asylum in the Republic of Georgia despite many formal appeals. Wahid fled to Georgia with his cousin after he was kidnapped in 2017. They have been in the Republic of Georgia for nearly five years, trying to get international protection. Their asylum case has been rejected multiple times because, according to Georgian officials, “It is not in the best interests of the Georgian government as it may strain their relationship with Pakistan.” They have exhausted their appeals in Georgia and are going to try to launch an appeal with the European Council of Human Rights.
We URGENTLY need CFIC Halifax’s assistance to help Wahid and Laiq put together a constituent group in Halifax so their applications for private refugee resettlement to Canada can be submitted. This will stop them from being deported from Georgia back to Pakistan, if they can show that they have a Canadian application number. Secular Rescue (CFIC Transnational) has secured all the necessary funds. Sponsorship and applications have been taken care of, but we need 10 people who will be able to help Wahid and Laiq get resettled in Halifax. This is all we are needing at this time.
EXECUTIVE OFFICES
Center for Inquiry–Washington, D.C.
1012 14th St. NW, Suite 205
Washington, D.C. 20005
This constituent group will assist with the resettlement of the refugees during their first year in Canada. This will include help finding suitable housing, opening bank accounts, engaging ISANS for registration, acquiring health cards, advising them on how to use mass transit, finding local libraries, and moving about the city — basically everything they need to set up new lives in Canada. It is a requirement of the Canadian Government that privately sponsored refugees have a constituent group to help them get settled in.
We are requesting that CFIC Halifax members try to find any Canadian citizens in Halifax who could help us. If forced to return to Pakistan, where Wahid has already been subjected to numerous threats and torture, they both face further torture, prison, and other retribution from vigilante extremist groups.
Wahid has been active on social media for many years as a voice of reason, secularism, religious freedom, and an advocate for women and minority rights. He has denounced the Islamist terrorist organisations based in Pakistan, and this resulted in antagonizing the state. He criticized the violence against non-Muslim minorities and the sectarian killings of Pakistan’s Muslims. He has publicly expressed an atheist point of view on
social media platforms, which further endangered his life as this is thought of as “dangerous” and “blasphemous” in Muslim-dominant Pakistan.
His writings have emphasized the importance of free speech, secularism, rationalism, science, condemnation of terrorism and religious dogmas, as well as minority and women’s rights. In 2017, Wahid was abducted and tortured for 21 days by a state intelligence agency. After a huge international effort, he was released on January 28, 2017, and left Pakistan immediately. Once he was released, the state publicized this fact, which created further dangers from brutal vigilante gangs who frequently target persons such as Wahid. He left Pakistan with his cousin, Laiq Mahad, who is also an atheist, and is in danger for his association with Wahid.
Wahid has been a brave critic of religion and blasphemy laws, despite the numerous threats against his life. He merely seeks the freedom of speech and conscience that every human deserves. We hope you can assist them with putting together a constituent group so that Halifax will be the new home for these two brave atheist asylumseekers.
*Names have been changed to protect identities.
BAHACON 2022 (Aug 26-28) — Atheism, Humanism, Skepticism, & Freethinking
Early Bird Tickets still available: Book before June 15th & SAVE!
BAHA (Bluewater, Atheist, Humanist, Agnostics) would like to invite you to their inaugural Conference, featuring speakers Gretta Vosper, Bob Ripley, Hemant Mehta, Dave Warnock, Annie Laurie Gaylor, Dr Joshua Bowen, Seth Andrews, Dan Barker.
More information is available here.
BAHA is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the image of freethinkers and atheists and to give back to our communities. All profits from our conference are returned back to the communities. We come from an area known as Bluewater Country, with members from both sides of the river separating Sarnia, Ontario, and Pt Huron, Michigan.
February 2022 Critical Links
NEWS & EVENTS
Humanism 101: It’s OK to Be Human
Update from Omer: February 2022
SCIENCE
SECULARISM & HUMAN RIGHTS
CRITICAL THINKING
