It’s officially the most colourful time of the year! Happy Pride Month Toronto!
The Queer & Now team is excited to bring you extensive Pride coverage all month long, starting with a look ahead to what you can expect for this month of celebrations and protests.
Kojo Modeste, executive director of Pride Toronto, says this month is a time to celebrate the advances that 2SLGBTQ+ communities have made, and the opportunities we have gained.
“So, we’re looking forward to, you know the great talent of drag queens, the drag kings, the musicians, the dancers, the amazing array of talent that the Toronto queer community will be highlighting on our many stages, in terms of the celebration aspect of things,” Modeste told Queer & Now.
This year’s theme is “Be ＿,” a theme that Modeste says is encouraging people to live their truth.
“It’s really going to be focusing on us living [as] our authentic selves, being able to be our authentic self, to be able to love who we choose to love.”
TORONTO PRIDE 2024: WHAT TO EXPECT
As always, Toronto goes big for Pride, boasting an impressive three million visitors in 2023. This time around is no exception, and we have the scoop on several exciting events planned for the month of June that members of 2SLGBTQ+ community (and their allies!) can look forward to.
2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations Powwow — June 1
Kicking off the month, the third annual 2-Spirit Powwow, hosted by 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations, is happening at Downsview Park on June 1. The event will celebrate two-spirit communities by gathering to enjoy food, music and dance, and will include an Indigenous marketplace.
Newcomers Pride Celebration — June 8
Honouring 2SLGBTQ+ refugees making Toronto their home, on June 8 Toronto’s Central Neighbourhood House will be home to a celebration of Pride dedicated to newcomers.
“In response to the escalating criminalization of LGBTQ+ identities in countries like Uganda, Kenya, and Ghana, a significant number of LGBTQ+ refugees and asylum seekers have found sanctuary in Toronto,” reads the Pride Toronto website.
The event has been organized as a means of creating a safe space for 2SLGBTQ+ newcomers in the city featuring educational workshops, film screenings, art exhibits, and performances celebrating the queer community. Additionally, it will feature both a photo shoot and networking sessions to foster community connections to create friendships and support systems.
Senior’s Pride — June 15
On June 15, there will be a celebration of senior Pride for 2SLGBTQ+ elders. The event will feature celebrations of historic contributions and resilience of older generations of 2SLGBTQ+ people who faced obstacles and atrocities like state persecution, the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and both the historic and ongoing discrimination of these communities.
“Our seniors, some of whom are living in long-term care, sometimes have to go back into the closet,” Modeste shared. “This is an opportunity where seniors get to celebrate their Pride.”
‘Til Sunset — June 15 & 16
Those looking to dance the night away have plenty of opportunities to do so this month. Celebrate 2SLGBTQ+ Black excellence on June 15 and 16, during Pride’s signature festival: ‘Til Sunset.
The two-day event is a celebration of this group’svaluable contributions, with a dance party that features a mix of local and international talent. This year’s headliner is Trinidadian artist Tempa.
Pride Pool Party — June 20
Calling everyone who loves a good drag show! Don your favourite swim suit on June 20 and prepare for incredible talent at the annual Pride Pool Party. This signature Pride Toronto event will take over the Grand Bizarre Beach Club, and feature performances from local talent, as well as winner of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” season three, Raja.
Annual Pride Toronto Human Rights Conference — June 22
June 22 is the second Annual Pride Toronto Human Rights Conference, an event organized by Pride, as well as labour unions and 2SLGBTQ+ community organizations to “address the challenges, celebrate the progress and chart the course for a more equitable and inclusive society.”
The conference features workshops, guest speakers and networking opportunities for allies and activists alike.
Trans Rally — June 28
On June 28 the annual Trans Rally will return to the city, creating space for transgender, two-spirit and non-binary people to celebrate their identity while fighting for trans rights.
Starting at the Community Stage located at 87 Gould Street, the annual event will feature speakers and performances, as well as a march and an afterparty. Pride Toronto refers to the city’s Trans March as the largest in the world.
Dyke March — June 29
The annual Dyke March returns to the city on June 29, celebrating and advocating for “all things Dyke and Lesbian!”
Attendees will be gathering at 1 p.m. for speeches and sign-making before the march begins at 2 p.m. Celebrations continue afterwards with an afterparty and community fair located at the intersection of Church and Gould streets, featuring performances from various artists, and a marketspace for sapphic vendors and community groups.
Pride Parade — June 30
On June 30, the city will be filled to the brim with events for all members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community and their allies, including the annual Pride Parade.
Other events include the legendary Blockorama party, Indigenous and Two-Spirit Pride, Family Pride, and so much more. Ensure you check out the Pride Toronto website for the full rundown.
TORONTO PRIDE AS A PROTEST
Modeste shared that every year, the Trans Rally is a reminder of a historic fight for queer equality.
“The trans rally reminds me of the protests of Stonewall. It reminds me of the first set of protests that happened in Toronto, to call for justice for the 2SLGBTQ community.”
But as someone who was born in Grenada, a country where homosexuality is criminalized, Pride holds a special place in Modeste’s heart.
“The Pride festival as we know it, both in the form of the protests and the celebration, is really important. And I think for 2024, the significance has been brought to light even stronger,” Modeste said.
“Today there is continuous hate directed towards the 2SLGBTQ+ community. So we constantly have to be on guard, to ensure that some of the rights that we have gained are not taken away.”
Modeste also voiced concerns about a rise in hate crimes targeting members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community across the country and here in Toronto all year long.
“We’ve seen the legislative changes that have been happening, we’ve heard the remarks from politicians attacking the trans community, attacking drag queens, painting the queer community in a way that is completely inappropriate and unfair.”
Modeste’s concerns are reiterated in the Toronto police’s 2023 Annual Hate Crime Report, which says the number of hate crimes reported to police increased 47 per cent between 2022 and 2023, with the city’s 2SLGBTQ+ communities being one of the most frequently targeted.
This year, Pride also comes on the tail of Canada’s first National Rainbow Week of Action, which saw organizers arrange more than 80 events nationwide advocating for equal rights for 2SLGBTQ+ communities, and more government supports to achieve this.
Speaking on the importance of this year’s Pride Month, Modeste says it’s time to send a message.
“I really want to encourage not just the queer community but also our allies to come out and show their support to the 2SLGBTQ+ community to send a really strong message to the right-wing folks that have been attacking, that Canadians stand with the 2SLGBTQ+ community,” Modeste said.
“So, this is the year from coast to coast… whether you’re queer or not, you should find pride and attend at least one pride event this year to show your support.”
