Happy Pride, everyone. Not only is it Toronto Pride at the moment, but it’s also World Pride in Toronto. And there is a lot going on in town. Street parties, exhibitions (and exhibitionism), theatre and other performances, and this weekend the big parade.
Even so (and I’m not usually one to get so sincere about things like this) there’s a whole lot more to Pride than a good excuse for a party (though they have them in spades).
Coming from Australia where marriage equality is still a big, political issue, it was really something to arrive in Toronto last year and experience the Pride Parade.
We couldn’t believe the contrast to our experiences back in Australia. In Perth, the Pride Parade isn’t a big community event. Sure, it’s on the gay calendar and there’s some support for it, but, through a combination of population size and a general disinterest (and some might say hate) of gay rights, it’s not a big event.
Sydney’s Mardi Gras is huge but it’s something of a spectacle. Great for visibility and it really does have the party atmosphere but it’s, well, showy.
The Pride Parade in Toronto, however, goes for two-and-a-half hours along a very long route, is attended by many, many thousands of people, and features every float or group you could imagine.
Even the police department comes out in force to march IN the parade, because the parade is of the community and for the community. Honestly, it brought a tear to my eyes to see it last year.
Maybe because it’s World Pride or because we’re a bit more settled in Toronto now, we’ve noticed how much support is given to Pride in this city.
Businesses are not backwards about putting the rainbow flag up in their stores. Even though the cynical side of me might snark about them going after the “pink dollar”, on another happier level, it makes me feel welcome and accepted.
I was also pleased this week to see that the US is moving forward to a greater level of tolerance on gay issues, with Utah and Indiana’s bans on gay marriage being overturned as being unconstitutional. The tide in the US is turning and it’s a wonderful thing to see. I only hope Australia isn’t far behind.
But let’s not bring the party down. The grey skies over Toronto are threatening to do that right now. But the forecast for this weekend is for sunshine…and a hell of a lot of rainbows.
Happy Pride, everyone.
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