American military vet who designed transgender flag coming to the Sault

Sault Pride and Sault College are partnering with International Day of Pink to bring their 2024 Visibility Tour to the Sault. 

This event is set to take place on March 13 at noon at Sault College, featuring social worker psychotherapist Vincent Bolt and trans flag creator Monica Helms.

“We’re the only Northern Ontario stop this year, and the first stop on the tour. We feel very fortunate,” explains Sault Pride chair Amanda Zuke. “It’s a real honour for our community  to be selected to host the Visibility Tour team, especially the creator of such an important and recognizable symbol.” Other Visibility Tour events across Canada will include presentations by and discussions with Helms as well as members of the Brunswick Four and rapper, reality television personality and drag queen Aja. The tour also incorporates local and regional speakers, including Bolt, a trans activist based in Sudbury who has spoken at past Sault Pride events.

”When Sault Pride reached out to discuss the opportunity for Sault College to host this event, I enthusiastically offered our full support,” shares Sault College’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Educator, Kristen Auer. “Representation and support mean everything to our queer students. Hosting this event on campus and inviting the community of Sault Ste. Marie to attend is just one way that we can illustrate our commitment to this work.”

For more information, see the press release below.

Sault Pride and Sault College have partnered with International Day of Pink to bring their 2024 Visibility Tour to Sault Ste Marie on Wednesday, March 13. The event will take place at noon at Sault College in room M1030 (multimedia centre) and feature social worker psychotherapist Vincent Bolt and trans flag creator Monica Helms.

“We’re the only Northern Ontario stop this year, and the first stop on the tour. We feel very fortunate,” explains Sault Pride chair Amanda Zuke. “It’s a real honour for our community  to be selected to host the Visibility Tour team, especially the creator of such an important and recognizable symbol.” Other Visibility Tour events across Canada will include presentations by and discussions with Helms as well as members of the Brunswick Four and rapper, reality television personality and drag queen Aja. The tour also incorporates local and regional speakers, including Bolt, a trans activist based in Sudbury who has spoken at past Sault Pride events.

”When Sault Pride reached out to discuss the opportunity for Sault College to host this event, I enthusiastically offered our full support,” shares Sault College’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Educator, Kristen Auer. “Representation and support mean everything to our queer students. Hosting this event on campus and inviting the community of Sault Ste. Marie to attend is just one way that we can illustrate our commitment to this work.”

Vincent Bolt has extensive experience working with transgender people who are seeking support with coming out and transitioning. He has been working with transgender children, teens, adults and their families for more than 10 years. Bolt is currently completing his master’s thesis in social work through the University of Victoria. His research focus is on the experiences of 2SLGBTQ+ youth who have experienced homelessness in Greater Sudbury.

Monica F. Helms created the Transgender Pride Flag in 1999. She is an American Navy veteran, transgender activist, and author. Helms is also the founder and former president of the Transgender American Veterans Association. Her fiction and non-fiction writing has been published widely in periodicals, and several books by her are available through major retailers.

For further information, please email ssmpride@gmail.com. Information on the event and a registration link can be found at saultpride.ca/visibility-tour-2024. The event’s location is noted (M1030 Multimedia Centre) on Sault College’s campus map at http://www.saultcollege.ca/campusmap. Parking will be available in lot A North, across Northern Avenue from the college.