(Toronto) A large crowd filled the streets of downtown Toronto on Sunday to take part in the largest Pride parade in Canada.
Shrugging off the heat, thousands of brightly dressed attendees cheered, danced and waved rainbow flags to show their support for Canada’s LGBTQ community.
The event took place in a heightened security environment caused by an increase in threats targeting Pride festivals across the country and an increase in hate incidents targeting the LGBTQ+ community.
Parade organizer Pride Toronto says policing costs have more than doubled this year, while insurance costs have risen from $67,000 in 2022 to more than $300,000.
Some onlookers acknowledged that threats to the LGBTQ+ community made parades more necessary than ever. According to them, it is even more important to celebrate Pride and show solidarity with the community.
“The Pride Parade is a celebration, but also a protest,” said Sarah Rice, who traveled from London to join her queer community.
PHOTO CHRIS YOUNG, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Parade organizer Pride Toronto says policing costs have more than doubled this year, while insurance costs have risen from $67,000 in 2022 to more than $300,000.
This urge to demonstrate for one’s rights was evident along Younge Street. Marchers carried banners that read “protect trans youth” or “protect trans youth”.
Georgia Sontos, a 65-year-old Torontonian, said she has come to watch the parade since it draws tens of thousands of people. “We are here, we are loud and we matter,” she said.
Some prominent politicians were also on the party grounds, including federal New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh and a handful of Toronto mayoral contenders.
A by-election will be held on Monday to find a successor to John Tory.