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| (Image Source: IMPACT Wrestling/Windsor-Essex Pride Fest) |
International fitness expert and author Craig Ramsay and IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts Division star Gisele Shaw will be taking part in the Windsor-Essex Pride Fest (WEPF) slated to be held August 2-13, 2023 as Ambassadors of Pride, outside individuals who dedicate their time and energy creating a world that is more equitable, diverse, and inclusive.
With a mission to strengthen the sense of community and contribute to the vibrancy, health, and wellbeing of 2SLGBTQIA+ (Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Intersex, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual) people locally, Windsor-Essex Pride Fest’s time and energy is spent producing inclusive and safe events, initiatives, and programs throughout the year and the festival it holds every August, one of the region’s largest, is its most visible to 2SLGBTQIA+ people and the general public alike. Naming an Ambassador of Pride publicly recognizes the work of others and the combined advocacy increases the profile of equality overall. “Uniting people in a celebrative atmosphere that welcomes all goes a long way in promoting equality and mutual understanding. Celebrating diversity is based on the notion that everyone has value no matter how different anyone might appear to anyone else. Craig and Gisele are inspiring in how they each champion this belief,” explains WEPF Community Development Officer and Treasurer David Lenz. While this year’s Ambassadors operate on the international level, both have a strong connection to Windsor-Essex in the Province of Ontario in Canada and indeed, both call it home.
Craig Ramsay was born in Harrow and his list of accomplishments is long: performing in major theatrical productions in major markets including Broadway, appearing in several film and TV productions, an in-demand adjudicator for dance competitions worldwide, and keynote speaker In 2022, Ramsay and his best friend Catherine Wreford took first place in CTV’s The Amazing Race Canada. He is also a proud 2SLGBTQIA+ community member and advocate having lent his support for other 2SLGBTQIA+ organizations, conducting speaking tours to public schools with powerful speeches of inclusivity, leads youth fitness classes, and even deliver the keynote speech at our own local GSA Annual Conference. He and his husband currently divide their time between Canada and the U.S. where they help raise their child as co-parents with his husband’s sister and her wife. “I am so proud to call Windsor-Essex my home and honoured to be a 2023 Ambassador of Pride. I am also proud to support the great work that Windsor-Essex Pride Fest does for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in Windsor-Essex and look forward to seeing everyone at the events that are planned," says Ramsey.
Born and raised in the Philippines before moving to Canada with her family, Gisele Shaw is one of the most popular stars of professional wrestling and appears weekly in matches that are televised around the world via IMPACT Wrestling. Last year she publicly disclosed on live TV that she is transgender. She was a guest speaker and grand marshal with Pride Toronto and speaker at the Trans Rally & March. She was also the special guest speaker at the annual Gay Softball World Series and will be appearing as a contestant in the upcoming CTV Amazing Race Canada 9 alongside IMPACT Wrestling Hall of Famer and multi-time Knockouts World and Knockouts World Tag Team Champion Gail Kim-Irvine. Gisele has been living in Windsor for the last 2 years and encourages all to live their life authentically and truly with love, passion and acceptance. “I’m honoured, excited and proud to be named. This is my hometown. I was so nervous before disclosing but I couldn’t be happier with the worldwide love and support I have received. Hopefully I can help others on their personal journey," says Shaw.
