Arctic Winter Games this year to have a Pride House

#ArcticWinterGames; #Whitehorse; Ukon,#Canada; #APrideHouse; #LGBTQI2S+

​Whitehouse (Yukon), Jan 25 (Canadian-Media): Organisation of Pride House, in a semi-private space at Yukon College from March 16 to 20 for young people, would be the new feature in this year's Arctic Winter Games (AWG) to be held from from March 15-21 in Whitehorse, the capital of northwest Canada’s Yukon territory, media reports said. ​

Pride House. Image credit: Twitter

"It's kind of aiming to be a safe space for LGBTQI2S+-identified athletes, and especially for these Arctic Winter Games we want to focus on making sure that that space really is safe," said Mia Val, who works for the AWG host society and sits on its inclusion committee.

The first Pride House was at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, Val said and they have become common now at major sporting events. 

This year's #Arctic Winter Games will have a Pride House - 'It's kind of aiming to be a safe space for LGBTQI2S+-identified athletes,' says host society member https://t.co/NWCTAi8IC0

— SharedValueCA (@SharedValueCA) January 24, 2020

"The main idea is that it's just a safe place for youth to come hang out in their off-time during the games," Sofia Fortin, volunteer coordinator for Pride House said.

"They know it's a place where they're not going to face discrimination, they're not going to face any bullying, they're just going to get lots of support and love for who they are."

Fortin says it could serve as a meeting place for young people come from small communities  get to meet others like them not just for youth who identify as LGBTQI2S+.

"Certainly, allies would be welcome but basically anything that's unfriendly or hostile is not welcome," Fortin said.