Ladner teen Tru Wilson and her family will be beaming with pride this weekend when they serve as grand marshals for Sunday's Vancouver Pride Parade.
Carrie Serwetnyk, and Fraser Doke (posthumously) are the other grand marshals who have all made a significant impact on the LGBTQ2+ community.
"Tru and the entire Wilson family were nominated as grand marshals because of their advocacy work, as a family, to further transgender rights," said Andrea Arnot of the Vancouver Pride Society.
"Tru is an amazing young woman who has had the courage to become herself and then advocate and voice for other young people in the trans community. We recognize that family support is crucial for young people and wanted to honour her family who supported her through her transition every step of the way. We believe the Wilsons are a shining example of a family who has realized that loving one another is the most important."
When Tru was refused the right to attend school as a girl at Ladner's Sacred Heart School, Tru and her family filed a human rights complaint against the school and the Catholic Independent Schools of the Vancouver Archdiocese for not supporting her gender identity.
In response, the Catholic School Board became one of the first in North America to develop a policy to support gender expression in 2014.
Tru and her family went on to participate in a Vancouver parks board transgender awareness campaign. In 2015, she was recognized by Vancouver Magazine as one of the city's 50 most powerful and influential people.
When the Royals visited Canada in 2016, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau personally acknowledged Tru for her advocacy during an Experience 150 and Me Youth reception and earlier this year, Tru was named Sexual Health Champion by Vancouver's Options for Sexual Health.
"I couldn't be happier to be a parade marshal. I love getting involved in the Pride Parade in any way that I can," Tru told the Optimist this week.
"Having my family involved in my advocacy is really great because it's good for other families to see that by supporting your child you are allowing them to really blossom and become just the best that they can be."
Mom Michelle said the family was honoured when the Vancouver Pride Society told them about the nomination.
"We have been going and involved in the Pride Parade for the past four years, but to be involved in this way is very exciting for all of us," said Michelle.
The Wilsons'advocacy work continues as they are currently involved in two documentaries that celebrate trans kids and their families and continue to speak at various events about trans rights, the importance of being true to yourself and the need to support your child in their transition.
The 39th annual Vancouver Pride Parade starts at noon Sunday in the West End.
