25 years of pride: Nadia and Aya’s journey of hope and belonging

Pride Month, celebrated each June, is a vibrant reminder of the ongoing fight for 2SLGBTQIA+ rights, the achievements of the community, and the importance of acceptance and inclusion. Across the globe, colourful parades, festivals, workshops, and gatherings bring people together to honour progress and reaffirm the work still needed to achieve true equality and justice for all.

For Nadia and Aya Morash, this Pride Month is especially meaningful. As a proud two-mom family and immigrants, they have built a loving home together, raising two wonderful children and embodying the resilience, love, and strength that define their journey.

“We are celebrating 25 years as a family,” they share. “This Pride Month is a time to reflect on how far we’ve come and the community that has supported us along the way.”

Nadia and Aya arrived in Nova Scotia with a dream: to live openly, safely, and authentically as a family, seeking a welcoming environment because in their country of origin, being themselves meant living in secrecy.

“We left behind everything, a home, beloved family and friends, thriving careers, because we believed our kids deserved to grow up in a place where love is not a secret, and identity is not a risk,” recalls Nadia.

Learning about their rights in Canada for the first time made them feel seen and protected, inspiring their deep commitment to pride and advocacy for 2SLGBTQIA+ rights and equality.

“ISANS gave us a landing place, a community that saw us, heard us, and stood with us. First as clients, now as staff, ISANS has been a powerful part of our journey,” Nadia reflects. “It’s where we found support, dignity, and belonging.”

Today, Nadia and Aya dedicate themselves to supporting others in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, helping newcomers find hope and belonging as they once did. Their own path proves the power of community, resilience, and the difference that acceptance can make.

Pride Month is more than just a celebration—it is a declaration that 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals are here, they belong, and together, we are building a more inclusive and compassionate world.

“Canada gave us that chance,” Nadia says. “Here, we can live authentically, love freely, and prosper without fear or discrimination.”

By embracing and valuing gender and sexual diversity, we all contribute to a society where everyone feels a sense of belonging, is seen, valued, and can grow. Nadia and Aya’s journey remind us that when we foster empathy, respect, and inclusion, we build a richer, more vibrant community for all.