NWT Pride is looking to bridge a knowledge gap for folks of all genders and sexualities! Shopping for the right outfit it tough! We face social and economic barriers, like binary clothing and gendered retail stores, which is why as a community we are swapping lightly used clothing and hosting skill workshops. There will be a drag makeup workshop, a basic makeup workshop for those who have not been socialized to know how to apply makeup, and a binding safety workshop. You don’t have to bring or take clothing, you can just come and learn and hang out! But folks are welcome to bring washed clothing to the swap as well as to try on and take clothing. All humans are invited to participate.

Check out this new music video by some amazing northern talent!

“You’re Not Alone” was created by the Department of Health and Social Services in collaboration with musicians from the NWT, with the goal to increase knowledge and reduce the stigma too often associated with mental health issues. The song is an original piece and sets a tone of togetherness and support as northerners are featured holding positive messaging related to mental health and community support. “You’re not Alone” evokes a sense of hope, optimism and compassion. The visual serves as a unique reminder that – like in the true spirit of the north – we are all in this together. As the song lyrics present to us; “You are not alone, open your door, this is your home”.

Q:Hi there, I'm a new follower of your blog and had a couple questions! I'm thinking of moving to Yellowknife from Toronto within the next two years when I finish School, and was just wondering what the quality of life is like for gay people there? I grew up in a small town (smaller then Yellowknife) however it was fairly progressive. Is there a decent sized queer community there? Is there homophobia? Is it easy to meet other gay people? Sorry for all the questions-Love the blog!

Anonymous

Hi there!

First off, welcome to NWT Pride!

Yellowknife is a really wonderful place, full of a vibrant arts community, good food and beautiful music. Although we have our issues like homeless, poverty and addiction, we also have tons of groups working hard to combat these issues like the Yellowknife YWCA, Salvation Army and the John Howards Society.

In terms of Yellowknife as a space for LGBTQ+ people, NWT Pride can’t speak for everybody. That being said, Yellowknife is full of LGBTQ+ people. We might not have a gay bar, or a pride centre like other communities, but we still make sure that we welcome anybody new into the community.

There is homophobia and transphobia in every community in the world, however in Yellowknife, we don’t much (if any) opposition to running the NWT Pride festival. The NWT Human Rights Commission is amazing at dealing with complaints of homophobia or transphobia, and there are groups like It Gets Better Yellowknife that strive to make Yellowknife a safe® place.

To meet other gay people, we suggest posting on our Facebook page about the fact that you’re moving here so that other folks might offer you a tour of the city or even a cold beer down at the Black Knight Pub. You could even come up for our festival in 2015 and meet tons of folks there!

Thanks for your question!

-Jacq Brasseur
Outreach Coordinator
NWT Pride
[email protected]

Trans artist shares personal journey with one-man show

Arts & Culture — August 4, 2026 at 7:50 PM
From Yellowknife

By Dali Carmichael

Fresh off a sold-out show in Vancouver, Australian transgender performance artist Sunny Drake will bring his unique one-man show to this year’s NWT Pride festival to share stories of romance, heartbreak and personal growth as a trans person.

The Toronto habitant is set to entertain and inform crowds at the Top Knight in Yellowknife the evening of Aug. 8 with a performance of his multimedia show, Transgender Seeking… He will also conduct a workshop on Aug. 10, examining modern trans issues through a discussion he calls the Trans* Political Moment.

“I feel really strongly about bringing an array of stories to places that might not always get access to the same kind of things that some cities get access to,” said Drake, who sees his performances and workshops as tools communities can use to spread awareness of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer (LGBTQ+) issues. “There’s not a lot of professional trans and queer performances touring, period, so it’s a very different way to engage people in important topics.”

Read more…

SSi Micro on board as our “Solidarity Sponsor” for NWT Pride 2014

We couldn’t be happier to announce SSi Micro’s involvement with NWT Pride. Thanks to SSi Micro, we’ll be able to ensure that the NWT gets to hear amazing bands, listen to incredible voices, and dance the night away.

We’re so glad that SSi Micro decided to come on board with us!

Hey NWTers!

Our airline sponsor provided us with flights from Vancouver or Ottawa to Yellowknife, but the folks we were planning on bringing here can’t come last minute.

If you’re from the NWT, living in Vancouver or Ottawa (or surrounding area) and you wanna make it up for the Pride festival, comment on this post and we’ll enter you in a draw to win one of these flights! The only catch? We’re drawing next Friday at noon!

Make sure you contact us on Facebook, Twitter or send us an email at nwtpride @ gmail.com to get in the draw!

If we draw your name, and it turns out that you’re not from the NWT, we’ll be drawing a different name!

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