Pride’s flag-raising is the most reliably uplifting annual event at City Hall — a survey of the year’s triumphs in the march for queer rights and an urgent reminder of victories not yet won. Tuesday’s edition, kicking off Toronto’s first ever Pride Month (it was previously a 10-day “Week”), was especially stirring on account of its emphasis on a broader spectrum of rights that haven’t always been at the centre of the established gay movement.
It was remarkable, for example, to hear the co-chair of Pride Toronto declare that the queer community has its own problems with racism, transphobia, ableism, and ageism that must be acknowledged and addressed. Pride’s theme this year is “You Can Sit With Us,” in recognition of the institution’s obligation to welcome those who have too often been excluded.
Here are excerpts from the ceremony’s three speeches, plus a solid summation from emcee Kristyn Wong-Tam. They have been somewhat edited, in part to clean up the inevitable tripping-over of “LGBTTIQQ2SA” (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, intersex, queer, questioning, two-spirited, and allies).
Jonathan Goldsbie
Mayor John Tory
I am proud to say that for the first time as part of this ceremony, the Trans flag will also be raised during the Pride kick-off to show our undivided support for this community, for their rights, for their struggles for recognition and for respect. And as we move forward to address the rights of our trans community, there is still much work to be done in a very practical sense as it relates to all of our LGBTTIQQ2SA communities.
I want to mention that one of the groups that will be particularly profiled in this year’s parade is a group that I’ve had some differences with in the past, and that’s Black Lives Matter. But we’ll all be together in the Pride parade this year. Them and me and all of us on Council, and all of you. And that’s to celebrate, yes, how far we’ve come on many of these rights-related issues, but to remind ourselves as well how much remains to be done on LGBTTIQQ2SA issues or those involving racialized communities and others that we know about. We have work left to be done even in this, the most diverse city in the world with such a proud record.
I am proud to lead a city which is seen around the world as a leader in recognizing, respecting, legislating, upholding, but — as much as anything else — celebrating human rights.
Jonathan Goldsbie
Aaron GlynWilliams, Pride Toronto Co-chair
While the LGBTTIQQ2SA community continues to achieve greater political, social, and legal equality, we haven’t paid the same attention to combatting discrimination within our own community.
Being “L” or “G” or “B” or “T,” or whatever you identify with, is no easy journey. It takes a great deal of self-reflection and turmoil. Yet as many of us grow to accept our own identity, we don’t always find acceptance from our peers. Our community can be especially discriminating and isolating along the intersections of race, gender identity and expression, ability, and age.
And so this year, as Pride Toronto embarks on an historic and ambitious new chapter, we do so with a theme of inclusion, diversity, and community.
Over 350 members of our community participated in the “You Can Sit With Us” campaign. Our country’s leaders, artists, activists, and our neighbours. These people, everyone here today, the diverse individuals that call our city home, this is what makes Toronto special. We all need to do a better job of accepting and appreciating each other.
And so this festival, this platform, must continue to belong to everyone in our community, especially as it grows.
It’s a platform and a festival that offers something that speaks to all of us and the variety of lived experiences in our community. This is an amazing city. It’s a city that provides so many opportunities to all of us, but it’s still a city where not everyone finds acceptance. And so this June, everyone is at home in Toronto. This Pride Month, we invite you to sit with us, dance with us, think with us, march with us, and celebrate the beauty of this community and this city.
Jonathan Goldsbie
Mathieu Chantelois, Pride Toronto Executive Director
Together, this year we will march, we will rally, we will celebrate. We’re going to entertain, to explore, and talk about human rights.
Thirty-five years ago were the bathhouse raids. We will talk about it.
We will leave room for women and talk about activism.
We will give voice to our trans youth as well, for a full night of a panel.
And we will talk about blackness, queerness, and politics. Because you know what? Black lives matter!
This year for the first time ever in Pride Toronto’s history, but also in the history of the city, we will raise two flags at the same time. You’ve seen the rainbow flag, but on Queen Street we will raise the Trans flag as well.
This year, more than ever, we’re gonna include trans folks in all our human rights panels, in all our celebrations, on all our big stages. We will show you that we care.
It’s a good year as well to celebrate with our trans community, with the introduction of Bill C-16 [that would add gender identity and gender expression as prohibited grounds of discrimination at the federal level, and to the list of possible bases for hate crimes]. But let’s not fool ourselves: twice in the past the Senate said no to a bill that was pretty similar. So the fight is not over. We still have a lot of work to do, and we have to do it together.
I see a lot of my trans friends sitting right here. And I know what it is for you in everyday life. We’ve been working a lot, and really hard together. You are still getting harassed. You are still getting attacked. You’re still getting abused and beaten, and that’s not about to change if we’re not all working together. Some of them are losing their lives. We need to fight. We need to take you more seriously. And this year, Pride Toronto will do it. I promise.
As we raise the Trans flag today, I want to tell you that we can actually see you. We stand by you. We support you. We will fight for you. And we love you.
For Pride Month and moving forward, we want you to sit with us, to dance with us, to march with us. Together, we can make this society much more beautiful, much more diverse, and celebrate this diversity.
Jonathan Goldsbie
Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam, Ward 27 (Toronto Centre–Rosedale)
Now for those of us who’ve been doing this activism bit for some time, you recognize how challenging it has been to sort of fuse the party with the politics. And after listening to what we have in store, and the leadership of Pride Toronto, I can honestly say, I can see the politics and the party merging together once again and making it stronger and better.
We’re looking for nominations for your local LGBTQ heroes for this year’s Pride issue. Find out more here.
CORRECTION (6/1/2016, 7 pm): This post originally opened with the passage, “If three white men give speeches about the importance of inclusion and intersectionality, can they still have resonance? Apparently.”
In fact, Pride Toronto co-chair Aaron GlynWilliams identifies as mixed.
jonathang@nowtoronto.com | @goldsbie
