As Pride Month draws to an end, Toronto boasts of hosting the biggest rainbow show

Even the weather Gods playing truant couldn’t dampen the spirit and mood of the thousands who came out to show support and solidarity to the LGBTQ+ community at the Pride weekend, which is the heart of the festival and filled the streets waving Pride’s rainbow flags.

Participants braved incessant rain that threatened to wash away some of the fervor and spirit.  It was also the time to remember sombrely the victims of suspected serial killer Bruce McArthur from the LGBTQ community.

During the festival weekend, 18 city streets were shut down and 100 artistes on 18 stages put up a show to remember in North America’s largest showcase of queer art and culture.

Thirty-eight years after the first community parade, Pride Toronto is still symbolic of solidarity and celebration for many in the LGBTQ+ community and has been woven into the cultural milieu of the city.

“The rain did not slow down another incredible Pride Parade,” tweeted Toronto Mayor John Tory, who officially opened the parade at 12.30 pm at the intersection of Church Street and Bloor Street, which later made its way to Yonge-Dundas Square.

Some mismanagement, however, crept in as media pens were hard to locate with volunteers missing at key points.

This year, Pride Toronto had introduced a wellness area and partnered with 9 local businesses to pilot Drink & Carry- Toronto’s first licensed street bar that would allow the public to purchase a drink from a participating bar, walk out on the street and enjoy it while watching the festival.

On this year’s theme, Pride Toronto’s executive director Olivia Nuamah said: “This year our theme is 35 years of AIDS activism, which is a celebration of the progress we have made against a disease threatening communities around the globe.”

More than 200 organizations took out their floats as part of the parade. From tech giants Google and Microsoft to various not-for-profits and Canada’s top banks sent out the message of inclusion, identity, and respect through their respective platforms.

Earlier, panels covered a variety of topics including Youth and HIV, Criminalization of HIV, Trans and HIV, Living and Thriving with HIV and 35 Years of AIDS Activism and included speakers from local organizations as well as local activists, many of whom are living with HIV.

In addition to this campaign, Pride Toronto lent support to the private member’s Bill M-186, which advocates for the involvement of those with HIV/AIDS in government health care decisions relevant to them as well as a renewed focus on reducing stigma in the community.

Former Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, NDP leader Andrea Horwath, Federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Carolynn Bennett, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Navdeep Singh Bains and Green Party leader Mike Schreiner attended the celebrations on Sunday.

“What a day at Toronto’s Pride parade! Proud to join @theJagmeetSingh and our newly elected NDP MPPs alongside thousands of marchers to celebrate love and the diversity of our LGBTQ2S+ communities,” Andrea Horwath, leader of Ontario’s Opposition, tweeted.

The parade in recent years has been a source of controversy with police withdrawing their application to march in the event because of tensions over the handling of the case of alleged serial killer Bruce McArthur.

Keeping with the subdued tone at the annual celebration, marchers paused for a moment of silence at 3 pm and later, during the parade, participants sported black T-shirts that read “we will not rest until we’re safe”.

(Images by Radha Bose, Reporting by Sayantan Banerjee with Asha Bajaj and Suman Das)