UBC Pride Collective's OUTweek 2016 kicks off LGBT event series

UBC LGBT students, faculty, and allies will want to take note that the university's OUTweek commences today (February 5) as we speak with a Pride rainbow flag raising and opening ceremony.

There's also a discussion being held shortly thereafter from noon to 2 p.m. in the Nest.

Tonight, there'll be a social outing at Storm Crow Tavern (1305 Commercial Drive, not to be confused with the soon-to-be-opened Storm Crow Alehouse on Broadway which we recently provided a sneak peek at) from 7 to 9 p.m.

In honour of Family Day (February 8), there'll be a family potluck at the UBC Global Lounge that'll combine food and discussions about what family means in diverse ways, from biological to chosen families, through an LGBT lens.

Things get more political on February 10 with the provocatively titled FUCK THE CIS-TEM, a march to demand a safer and more accessible campus for LGBT students, particularly those affected by transphobia, transmisogyny, and cissexism. The event seeks to address such issues as gendered housing and washrooms, healthcare, and inaccurate education on a campus that strives to be inclusive. Preparations for the march (sign-making, speech-writing, and more) will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Pride Lounge (in the Nest building).

Update (February 9): The march has been cancelled in the wake of the discovery of the Pride flag being burnt. The Pride Collective at UBC informed the Georgia Straight that all other events will carry on as planned.

For full details about OUTweek, visit the UBC Pride Collective website.