The rainbow flag will fly once again over Thompson Rivers University when a second Gay Pride Parade marches through campus on April 5.

The city’s first Pride Parade was held last April and its TRU student union organizers were pleased when 300 marchers, including many high profile community members, showed up to proclaim support with signs about love and tolerance.

“It’s all about acceptance at the end of the day and knowing that you don’t have to be upset with yourself for who you are,” said Katie Hutfluss of TRU’s student union.

This year TRUSU expects to surpass the success with a few additions to the event.

“We’re pulling businesses in to be part of our resource fair we’re setting up for our LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered) students on campus,” said Hutfluss.

The idea is to bring all the resources available to that demographic as well as the safe-space businesses onto the campus common grounds for all to see.

“They’ll talk about what they do on campus as a business to support the LGBT community,” said Hutfluss. “It’s getting as many resources out there to make people aware there’s a lot of help. It’s just showing the support in the community.”

It’s especially important to have the event on a campus since it’s an age when individuals often discover their own sexual identity, said Hutfluss.

“It’s a transition time and it’s a very scary time. It’s very uneasy, you’re going through confusing periods,” she said. “Having an event like this, you don’t actually have to be out to attend. You can say you’re a supporter and it’s being aware and getting that notion of being gay is OK.”

The marching and music begins at 11 a.m. and the event wraps up at 1:30 p.m.

“Then later in the day if businesses want to continue the day of festivities we’ll let people know,” said Hutfluss.

Organizations wishing to participate can contact TRUSU at 250-828-5289.