Laryssa Kozar, a 20-year-old from St. Thomas, Ontario, wants to show her pride as a member of the LGBTQ community. She recently spent four hours at a salon dying her hair with vibrant rainbow colours to celebrate Pride month in June.
She hopes that her colourful hair will serve as a signal to LGBTQ children who may need support at the ranch where she’s working in Alberta this summer.
Kozar, who arrived in the province on Friday, is a wrangler at the Tim Horton Children’s Ranch in Kananaskis. She wants to create a safe place for kids at the camp to feel accepted.
“I definitely have gotten quite a few stares when going out into the city…But everybody at camp has loved my hair so far,” Kozar told CBC News.
Kozar has been riding horses since she was eight years old and is studying equine management at the University of Guelph in Ontario.
When Kozar was 17 and living in Georgetown, Ontario, she came out to her mom, Donna Sanders. Kozar expressed her identity by getting a Pride flag from Amazon.
Her mom was caught off guard but accepted the news and was proud of her daughter’s newfound confidence.
“When Laryssa came out to me, I was a little surprised, but I knew something was on her mind and was relieved that she finally confided in me,” said Sanders.
Kristopher Wells, an associate professor at MacEwan University, emphasized the significance of having allies who can create inclusive spaces, particularly in rural communities where LGBTQ individuals may feel less visible and more afraid to be themselves.
“Visibility matters to an often invisible community…This is especially important for 2SLGBTQ+ youth who need to know who the safe and trusted adults are in their community,” said Wells.
While working at the ranch, Kozar is ready to support anyone who may need it. She wants to talk to children about their families’ acceptance and their comfort level in coming out, always respecting their terms and helping them through their journey.
