Pride Champion: Lali Mohamed
Lali Mohamed
Sociology ’14
Pronouns: He/him/his
Photo Credit: Emanuel Pires
When you were growing up, could you ever have imagined that you'd be in a series like this?
No way! Growing up I feared I was the only quirky queer kid who looked like me in the world. There wasn’t a lot in terms of representation in the media, but I found myself increasingly fond of libraries that held incredible treasure troves of stories that expanded my imagination and made me feel less alone. James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, Essex Hemphil. Through my work with Salaam Canada I understand that isolation still exists for many young people. And so it’s nothing short of humbling to be included in this series.
Is there someone or some event that was central in your experience as a 2SLGBTQ+ community member?
I remember stepping out of Wellesley subway station at the clumsy age of 16 to the electric and intoxicating sounds of the Caribbean. Across the street there was a parking lot bursting at the seams with a constellation of spectacularly dressed Black people. This moving image absolutely transformed my life. So much has happened since in this city but what’s remained constant is the joyous gathering that has taken place in that parking lot. Blockorama (external link) has been a home and meeting place — a magnificent and magical agora — for countless numbers of us who live and love on the intersections of Blackness and queerness. I’m forever grateful to the Blackness Yes! (external link) committee for their insistence to cultivate this transformative space during Pride.
Many of the Pride month activities are rooted in large public celebrations. With those kinds of events prohibited due to COVID-19, how will you celebrate pride this year?
Queer and trans people continue to be some of the most creative people on the planet. I’m excited to see how Pride Toronto pivots their incredible programming online and brings us together virtually.
Do you have a Pride tradition?
It’s been an important tradition to attend the AIDS Candlelight Vigil, an annual memorial that honours the lives lost to HIV/AIDS. There is so much strength and resilience in our communities, and the vigil is a powerful reminder to celebrate those who are still with us. It’s a somber and heartfelt moment that grounds the importance of continued advocacy and action.