Jun 22, 2022 Happy Pride!

Happy Pride, Neighbour!

I am so happy that we can celebrate Pride season in person this year! Each June we celebrate the vibrancy of the 2SLGBTQ2+ community. In Toronto, this culminates with a festival this weekend and the Pride Parade on Sunday. Gathering together for Pride is a celebration of how far we’ve come, but also serves as a reminder of its roots as a protest. Recent decades have seen great progress, but I recognize there is still more work to be done.

Since forming government I am proud of the advancements we’ve made alongside the 2SLGBTQ2+ community who advocate for a fairer, more equitable Canada. Some these achievements include:

• Banned the harmful and medically discredited practice of conversion therapy by making it a criminal offence;
• Issued a historic apology to individuals harmed by federal legislation and policies that led to discrimination against LGBTQ2 people in Canada;
• Unveiled a LGBTQ2+ National Monument to begin construction next year;
• Introduced changes so passport holders have been able to identify themselves as gender “X”;
• Established Canada’s first LGBTQ2 Secretariat to fund community organizations and ensure queer perspectives are included in the development of federal policy;
• Introduced legislation to protect transgender people and prevent against discrimination based on gender identity and gender expression; and

• Funded research for Canadian Blood Services to implement a sexual behaviour-based model of screening blood donors, rather than use questions about sexual orientation or gender.

Just this month, a Rainbow Wing was opened nearby at the Rekai Centre at Wellesley Central Place. This is the first dedicated space for LGBTQ2 residents in a long-term care home in Canada.

Below you can find some local pride events, local 2SLGBTQ2+-owned businesses and 2SLGBTQ2+ resources.

Local Pride events

• Dyke Rally and Dyke March: Saturday, June 25th, 1–4pm.
• Church on Church Pride Celebration Service: Sunday, June 26th, 11am.
• Pride Parade: Sunday, June 26th, 2–6pm.

Local LGBTQ2+-owned businesses

• Craig’s Cookies

• Flamingo Market

• IQ Living

• Mandy’s Bistro

• Lady Cone Hop Yard (Saturday’s at Withrow Farmers’ Market)

• Moss

• Murray’s Farm (Saturday’s at Withrow Farmers’ Market)

• Lavender Menace

• Onyx Chocolates

• Pop Music

• Silly Goose Kids

This list is by no means exhaustive, please let me know any ones that I may have missed.

LGBTQ2+ resources

• The 519: organization dedicated to advocacy for the inclusion of LGBTQ communities
• Youth Line (text: 647-694-4265)
• AIDS Committee of Toronto
• The Arquives: Canada’s LGBTQ2+ Archives
• Casey House and Fife House (hospices)
• Egale Canada
• Pride Toronto
• Rainbow Health Ontario
• Rainbow Railroad
• Triangle Program: Canada’s only high school for LGBTQ2+.

Happy Pride!

Julie

Julie Dabrusin

MP for Toronto—Danforth