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HealthWellnessYouth11TuesdayFebruary182014RainbowclubformsforLGBTQyouthinInuvikByNATHALIEHEIBERG-HARRISONInuviksnewclubforles-biangaybisexualandtrans-genderyouthhaditsfirstmeetingonMonday.TheRainbowClubwhichisscheduledtoruneveryMondayfrom400-600p.m.attheInuvikYouthCentrewascreatedtooffermuch-neededsupporttothecommunitysLGBTQcommunity.Ireallywantthemtoseethatthereissupportinthecom-munityandthattherespeoplethattheycantalkopenlyandactopenlyinfrontofwithoutfearofjudgmentsaidAliMcConnellexecutivedirec-toroftheInuvikYouthCentre.Ijustwantittobeasafespace.Theydeserveasafespacetohangoutandhavefun.TheclubwhichisopentoLGBTQyouthaswellascom-munitymemberswhosupportthemheldakick-offdanceonFridaynightsponsoredbytheGirlsActionFoundation.Morethan30youthfromInuvikandsurroundingcom-munitieswereinattendance.OneInuvikyouthwhoaskednottobeidentiedsaidtheywereeagertoattendtheclubsweeklymeetings.Imlookingforwardtoitbecauseitsagreatwayforpeopletomeetlike-mindedothersoutsideofschool.AnothersaiditwouldbeagreatwaytosafelyexpressgayprideintheNortherncommunity.Itsabouttimesomeonemadeaclublikethistheysaid.DannyJellemaateacheratEast3SecondarySchoolishelpingMcConnellgetthecluboffthegroundandbringswithheryearsofex-perienceworkingwithRain-bowClubsinotherpartsofCanada.TherewasalwaysanLGBTclubineveryschoolIeverworkedin-Iwasalwaysapartofit-andIcameuphereandtherewasnothing.Ithoughtitwasoddshesaid.IthinkifyoureintheNorthyoumightfeellikeyouretheonlyself-identi-edLGBTkid.ItsnotlikeyouregoingtoschoolindowntownTorontowherethereisawholehighschooljustforLGBTkids.Ithinkhereyoumightfeelalotmoresocialisolation.McConnellandJellemasetaboutcreatingtheclubafterbeingapproachedbynumer-ousyouthwhosharedpersonalstruggleswiththeirsexuality.Hopefullybygivingthemanareawheretheyareto-getherandcanbesocialsee-ingotherpeoplearegoingthroughthesameexperiencestheycanconnectthoselinksandmightfeelmorecomfort-ablesteppingoutandhavingavoiceMcConnellsaid.OneofthekidslookedatmewhenImentionedweweregoingtodoitandhercommentwasYoumeantheresadultsthatarentgoingtobemadatmeJellemasaidanothergoaloftheclubistogiveyouththeopportunitytogetinvolvedwithnationalorganizationsaimedatLGBTQyouth.WewanttogivethemleadershipopportunitiesandopportunitiestotraveloutsideofInuviktondotherLGBTclubsandkidstobroadentheirscopeshesaid.ItsachanceforkidstogettogetherandseewhatsoutsideofInuvikwheretheopportunitiesare.Howevertheyseeactivismandhowevertheyseeghtingfortheirownrightsanddevel-opingtheirownvoiceIdliketoseethatdevelopoutofitMcConnelladded.DerrienFirthleftandDannyJellematakepartinarelaygameattheInuvikRainbowClubskickoffdancelastFridaynight.TheeventwassponsoredbyGirlsActionFoundationthroughitsNationalDayofAction.PhotoNathalieHeiberg-HarrisonCouncillordecriesCanadianPrideagonYkcityhallByMEAGANWOHLBERGAagfusingboththeCa-nadianandPrideagswasremovedfromYellowknifescityhalllastweekandre-placedwiththeinternation-allyrecognizedrainbowagafteracouncillorcomplainedthatitbastardizedthena-tionalsymbol.CitycouncillorNielsKongesparkedanonlinedebatelastweekaftercom-plainingonhisofcialFace-bookpagethattheagfea-turingamapleleafbetweenbandsofrainbowstripeswascompletelydisrespect-fultoALLCanadiansanddidnotfollowproperagetiquette.Councilwasnevercon-sulted.Isupportaprideag.NotabastardizedCa-nadianag.Myissueistheagnotthetrompingofpeopleshumanrightshepostedonline.Kongescommentsof-fendedmembersofYellow-knifesLGBTQcommunityincludingNWTPridedi-rectorImanKassamwhosaidtheCanadianizedag-whichisowneachyearatcityhallduringthePridefestival-isownatsimilareventsacrossthecountryeveryyear.Itisnotdisrespectfulatall.InmyopinionitshowsunitysolidarityandprideforallCanadiansKassamsaid.TheLGBTQrain-bowdoesntdegradelowerinworthorvaluecorruptbrutalizeviolateordemoral-izetheCanadianag.DespitethedifferenceofopinionKassamdeliveredaregularrainbowagtocityhallonWednesdaywhichMayorMarkHeyckswappedfortheonethatwascreatingcontroversy.Inordertonotdetractfromtherealissuesathand-respectfordiversityhumanrightsandequalityaroundtheworld-wewillbereplacingtheagthatscurrentlyyingatCityHallwiththemoretypicalPrideagtomorrowmorningheannouncedWednesdayafter-noon.ThankstoNWTPrideforprovidingtheseags.TheCityofYellowknifeisproudtosupporttherightsoftheLGBTQcommunityhereandabroad.HeycktoldTheJournaltheagwouldcontinuetoyforthedurationoftheWinterOlympicsinsolidaritywithLGBTQathletescompetinginSochiRussiawherelegis-lationoutlawspublicdisplaysofhomosexuality.YellowknifeMayorMarkHeyckswappedtheaboveagwithastandardrainbowagafteracitycouncillorsaidtheCanadianizedversionwasdisre-spectfultothenationsag.Heycksaidhedidntwantthecontroversytodetractfromtherealissueathandwhichisabouthumanrights.PhotoImanKassamPoliticsMunicipal