Toronto Pride Parade 2022
Pride Month is a time dedicated to uplifting LGBTQ+ voices, celebrating LGBTQ+ culture, and supporting LGBTQ+ rights. We celebrate pride during the month of June to commemorate the Stonewall Riots of June 28, 1969. Police raided a popular gay bay in New York City’s West Village, The Stonewall Inn, sparking a series of demonstrations that transformed the gay liberation movement.
As someone who identifies as pansexual (when sexual choice is not limited to biological sex, gender, or gender identity) and has been “out of the closet” for a year, I pay tribute to the founders of gay liberation by being true to myself, speaking out against LGBTQ+ hate and discrimination, and donating to organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Fifehouse. It is important to recognize and understand the herstory of gay liberation and pride so we can continue progressing the rights, liberties, and acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community.
After two years of living masked in isolation, we have seen an official return to in-person events, activities, and public displays of advocacy. Toronto’s Pride Parade painted the city in rainbows as colourful floats, dancers, drag queens, and LGBTQ+ individuals and allies waved their rainbow flags, carried signs about love and acceptance, and peacefully marched towards Yonge-Dundas Square.
Being my first pride parade, I felt I had found a family. This celebration was built upon the typically negative notion of “being different”; however, having all our differences come together, we became one in the same – proud individuals who want peace, love, and acceptance for all.
Given the tensions in the current political climate around human rights for marginalized groups, pride celebrations prove that we cannot shy away from lawmakers and authorities who try to suppress progression. There has been incredible progress for LGBTQ+ rights, but to prevent regression, we need to continue to voice our discontent about the infringement of our human rights and liberties and pride for our sexualities, genders, and identities.
As part of my LGBTQ+ advocacy, I was able to plan, design, and execute a presentation and workshop on LGBTQ+ culture and gender biases for my workplace. Even though I’m part of the LGBTQ+ community, I am always learning more about sexuality and gender, which I would like to share with you.
The ever-growing LGBTQ+ acronym can be intimidating, but the willingness to learn can help ease your anxieties. Here’s a quick cheat sheet of the LGBTQ+ acronym we use in Canada.
LGBTQIA2S+ refers to one’s sexual identity; gender refers to a set of cultural identities, expressions, and roles – codified as feminine or masculine – that are assigned to people based upon the interpretation of their bodies, more specifically, their sexual and reproductive anatomy. Since gender is a social construction, it is possible to reject or modify the gender one is assigned at birth (i.e. transgender) and develop, live, and express a gender that feels truer to oneself.
Gender identity is a personal conception of oneself as male, female, both, neither and/or another gender. Gender identity can be the same as or different from the gender a person is assigned at birth. Gender identity is a matter of self-identification; no one can tell anyone else how to identify or what terms to use. One of the leading struggles with gender and gender identity is cisnormativity - the assumption that cisgender identity (the identity you were assigned at birth) is the norm - making it all the more important to keep an open mind as people learn about themselves and their identities.
“Openness may not completely disarm prejudice, but it’s a good place to start. – ”
Pride is not limited to the month of June, and we need to extend our inclusivity, respect, and learnings beyond. To be an LGBTQ+ ally, you can:
Educate yourself on LGBTQ+ culture
Understand that not all experiences are created equal
Avoid making assumptions about someone’s gender or sexuality
Be inclusive & open-minded
Advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, culture, and allyship
Thank you to everyone who has supported and continues to support the LGBTQ+ community and charities and came out to show their pride in their city. In the words of the famous Stonewall Riots activist Sylvia Rivera, “I’m not missing a minute of this. It’s the revolution!”
Please enjoy my pride gallery below!
