Next week, the Lyric Theatre in Swift Current presents Pride 2016 on Saturday, June 4 - celebrating gender and sexual diversity in the Southwest.

 The event begins with performances by Maverick High School students, followed by several renowned Regina drag performers. The night will be capped off with dance music.

Shaun Hanna is the manager at the local Boston Pizza restaurant and Pride committee member. He says this annual event at the Lyric helps bring the southwest region together.

"Pride is really about visibility," said Shaun Hanna, local businessman and Pride committee member. "In Swift Current, we really do have a large gay (or queer community) but it's been so quiet for long. Anybody who is in the community knows that if they're confronted with acts of homophobia, those tend to go away if someone knows someone who is gay because it humanizes them."

He says the Lyric has played a key role in eliminating homophobia and transphobia in the community.

"I really want to stress the importance of the Lyric in providing a safe queer space. I like that that exists in some capacity at schools. We have other capacities in the arts community and I think that since the Lyric has taken that aboard - there has been a push in this community to be more open and more friendly."

Hanna points out that everyone is welcome to Pride 2016 next Saturday.  Doors open at 8:30pm, and the show starts at 9:00pm.