This week marks Calgary Pride, and Global Calgary is celebrating with a conversation-starting new series, Pride Without Prejudice. The five-part series is hosted by Global News Morning Calgary anchor Jordan Witzel, who sat down with members of the LGBTQ community to share their story and promote understanding among Calgarians.
To support a community in Calgary which has faced mounting resistance and hateful rhetoric, Jordan has created a safe platform for those directly impacted. He also feels a personal connection to the series; in his own words, stating, "I was a bully as a teenager. I didn’t understand, but I’ve committed to getting to know the LGBTQ community and I invite our viewers to do the same."
Each day from Monday, August 27 through Friday, August 31, Jordan will share these emotional stories on Global News Morning Calgary, giving audiences the chance to hear firsthand about powerful topics impacting the LGBTQ community including discrimination, coming out, what pride means, youth experience, and social change.
More than 20 members of Calgary’s LGBTQ community share their experience in the series, including Global Calgary’s Scott Fee and Reid Fiest, Olympic swimmer Mark Tewksbury, Calgary Inferno players Kelty Apperson and Hayleigh Cudmore, and economist Todd Hirsch.
Jordan will also join Global Calgary’s News Hour at 6 with anchor Linda Olsen each evening to discuss each segment and the reaction it garners. Following the conclusion of the series on Friday, August 31, a final panel discussion will be held in the News Hour at 6 anchored by Scott Fee with several of the series participants.
The series will be also be carried on Global News Radio 770 CHQR’s Calgary Today with Angela Kokott. Jordan will join Angela to discuss key highlights from the series and what he hopes Calgarians take away from the project.
The entire video series, including a blog written by Jordan, will be available to online audiences at Globalnews.ca/Calgary.
Watch Global News Morning Calgary weekdays from 5 to 9 a.m. MT.
