This article was last updated on April 16, 2022
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After the interruption in Toronto Pride on Sunday afternoon by Black Lives Matter protesters through a sit-in at the intersection of Yonge St. and College St., the parade kicked off with a dozen cyclists and motorists marching on Church Street through the parade route. Protesters demanded to speak with Toronto Pride officials and the Pride Toronto executive director, Mathieu Chantelois, later spoke with members of the Black Lives Matter coalition to sign an agreement as well.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau became the first sitting prime minister to march in a pride parade. Although he was forced to pause at Grosvenor St. by the protestors, he used to time to snap selfies with parade watchers. Trudeau has previously marched in the Toronto parade but this was his first time as the prime minister. Joined by Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne and Toronto Mayor John Tory, Trudeau mentioned that “Canada is united in its defence of rights and in standing up for LGBTQ rights; this is what we are truly celebrating today.” He rise the rainbow flag on Parliament Hill on June 1 to kick off Pride Month.
However, this year’s jubilee was tinted with sadness due to the devastating shooting that took place at Pulse nightclub, a gay bar, in Orlando. The parade is being dedicated to the 49 victims of the mass shooting. Co-Chair of Pride Toronto’s board of directors, Aaron GlynWilliams, mentioned on Pride’s website that “we will not respond to hate with hate. We will mourn and hold these beautiful family members in our hearts, as we continue to fight violence and discrimination against our community.”
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