Iqaluit high school celebrates Pride week for the first time

"You're beautiful."

"Things will get better."

"I'm with you."

"It's all OK."

These are the words posted all over a wall in the vibrantly decorated Inuksuk High School this week.

For the first time, students at the Iqaluit high school initiated a week-long Pride celebration.

"It's important that like other students know that they're not only supported by staff but also by their peers," said Jessica Matthews, a Grade 12 student with the school's positive space club.

The students decided to spread the events throughout the entire school week.

"Pride is such a vast topic and it can't really just be covered in one afternoon," said Matthews.

LGBT 'exist everywhere, that includes up here'

The week will consist of events like flag signing, dancing, a positive space assembly, and even watching a LGBT documentary that's Nunavut specific.

• New documentary explores complexities of being LGBT in Inuit communities
• Sexual health workshops for Iqaluit teens use storytelling, mask dancing

"LGBT-plus, they exist everywhere, that includes up here in the North," said Alexis Amores, a Grade 11 student at Inuksuk high school.

"In the North, we need to spread more awareness about LGBT-plus communities and since this is Iqaluit, perhaps we could influence other communities to start talking about this."

Amores said the aim of the Pride week is to make the school a more safe, positive space.

"Hey, whether you're gay, lesbian, transgender, whatever you identify as, you're safe here," she said.