How I celebrated Pride month on campus

Every year, the month of June marks Pride month and a time when the TMU community comes together to celebrate the history, spirit and value of 2SLGBTQ+ communities. This is a time to feel proud of all queer identities, and commemorate those who have had to sacrifice their life and freedom because of their identity. More than 50 years after the Stonewall riots in New York, June is meant to reignite strength and honor every member of the community with love, celebration and respect.

As an ally, I chose to attend Pride month events to join in on the celebration and offer my support. I also wanted to learn about the history and meaning behind Pride especially in a Canadian context so I could gain a well-rounded understanding of the community and their experiences. 

Gay Toronto History Walk: Then and Now

Fun fact: The TMU campus is just one block over from Toronto’s Gay Village at the intersection of Church Street and Wellesley Street! This is where you’ll find a lot of queer-owned shops, and even rainbow crossings painted on the street. While Pride month ends in June, this area is full of inclusive events such as drag performances and themed parties all year round.

To learn more about the story behind the Gay Village, I went on a Gay History Walk led by Toronto based author Jeff Joachim Schmidt (external link)  and hosted by Pride Toronto (external link) . Jeff took us to 2SLGBTQIA+ community spaces on Church Street, showing us the first Gay Apartment Block, an AIDS Memorial, and community spaces such as Woody’s, Club Toronto, and finally, Glad Day Bookshop which is the oldest queer bookstore in the world. Having passed by these spaces many times, I was fascinated to learn about their rich history and the long withstanding resilience that have held them strong all these years. 

TMU Pride Picnic at the Pitman Quad

Hosted by the TMU Trans Collective (external link) , TMSU Bipoc Student Collective (external link) , and The Centre for Women and Trans People (external link) , the Pride Picnic was a fun celebration held at the Pitman Quad. A vendor market ran through the quad stretch, with queer artists selling their artwork on canvases, T-shirts, tote bags and pins. All small businesses were student-owned and queer-focused; shopping from them is a great way to support diverse communities.

The event ended with two drag performances, dance, music and great food. On a bright summer day, the TMU community showed up to support each other and important causes—this event perfectly captured the spirit of Pride Month!

Block Shake on the Lake

One of the final events hosted by TMSU organization The Queer Space (external link) , Block Shake on the Lake was held on Lake Devo on campus on a Friday evening. Featuring performances from an all-queer lineup, this event encouraged everyone to get into the lake (empty during the summer!) and dance their hearts out. They also had a funnel cake food truck nearby, along with free snacks—always a welcome plus for on-campus events.

Pride Parade through Toronto and the TMU campus

One of the key features of the TMU campus is its prime downtown location. The Pride Parade (external link) , hosted by Pride Toronto, is the worlds’ second largest Pride Parade. A chunk of the parade goes through the TMU campus; the Church Street stretch between Wellesley Street and Dundas Street is sectioned off with a street festival. You’ll find vendors, DJs, drag performances, street food, merch stations, and a lot of music and dancing. Pride weekend is usually on a peak summer day, so it is often marked by bright sunshine. Thankfully, there are water fountains sanctioned by the City of Toronto throughout the parade. You can always locate where important stops are stationed on the Festival Map (external link)  provided by Pride Toronto. 

The motto for this year’s parade was All In, meant to signify everyone coming together in unshakable solidarity. The goal was to promote resilience and hope in a celebration that welcomes everyone with open arms. Seeing even parts of the campus transform during this weekend was an exciting reminder of everyone participating in the Pride spirit of equity and inclusivity.

As I attended these events, I spent a lot of time learning about the history and meaning of Pride month. Beyond the colors and positivity, there is a long, painful history that deserves to be remembered and honored. Pride means different things to everyone, but the main message is always the same: your uniqueness is important, and deserves to be celebrated.