Curious about the world’s longest rainbow road? Look no further; it’s right here in the Six, painting the city in vibrant rainbow colours just in time for Pride season in June.
Mayor Olivia Chow unveiled the permanent installation, a 2,000-foot path, alongside numerous iconic figures in the 2SLGBTQI+ community, including “Canada’s Drag Race” season 3 runner-up, Jada Shada Hudson, on May 25.
Dubbed “The Long Walk to Equality,” this rainbow road is the brainchild of award-winning queer artist Travis Myers, co-founder of advocacy group Friends of Hanlan’s. The project is the result of a collaborative effort between Skittles Canada, famed for their rainbow candies, and Pride Toronto. It finds its home at Hanlan’s Point Beach on the Toronto Islands.
Hanlan’s Point holds significant historical value as the site of Canada’s inaugural Pride celebration in 1971, making it one of the ten oldest surviving queer spaces in the world, and Canada’s oldest.
In May 2023, city council passed a motion, officially recognizing the eight decades of queer history, community, and the importance of place making at Hanlan’s Point Beach.
More recently, in March 2024, council authorized the General Manager of Parks, Forestry, and Recreation to accept an in-kind donation of up to $200,000 from Pride Toronto. This generous contribution is earmarked for the enhancement of Beach Road near Hanlan’s Point Beach.
For this year’s Doors Open Toronto, the rainbow road was a special feature on a queer history tour at Hanlan’s Point.
For years, Friends of Hanlan’s and Pride Toronto have been steadfast advocates for preserving this space, which holds immense historical and cultural significance within the community.
Pride Toronto also released the theme for this year’s Pride Toronto 2024 and it is ‘Be______.’
“We invite everyone to join us in celebrating the right to be united in our fight for existence and acceptance. Pride Month is more than a celebration; it’s a declaration of our collective identity and resilience,” Pride Toronto’s Executive Director, Kojo Modeste, said.
