Toronto's Pride parade is meant to be a celebration. But some participants say there's ‘a sense of heaviness'
Lee Dizon remembers last year's Pride parade in Toronto well.
He, along with other members of SIBOL Filipino-Canadian Pride Network, danced and waved Filipino flags as they marched through the downtown streets. Crowds of people cheered from the sidewalks while music from other groups marching echoed between the surrounding skyscrapers.
'It was really a pivotal moment,' Dizon recalled, noting SIBOL was the first-ever Filipino organization to march in Toronto's annual Pride parade. It was also the group's one-year anniversary.
Marching was also memorable on a personal level.
'We marched last year, yes, as a group,' Dizon said, 'but then we felt like each of us had our own stories to tell.'
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SIBOL will be part of the Pride parade this year on June 29, but Dizon said there is 'a sense of heaviness' amid the excitement to march again.
With Toronto's annual Pride parade and festival around Church Street just under three weeks away, news of corporate sponsors pulling their funding as they simultaneously roll back DEI programs have put a damper on the spirits of Dizon and others in the city's LGBTQ community during what is typically a time of celebration.
Corporate sponsors turning their back on Pride is partially why Pride Toronto says it has $900,000 less this year compared to last.
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Headlines coming out of the U.S., along with some from elsewhere in Canada, on governments targeting and pulling back protections for trans and gender-diverse people have also not helped people's moods.
'It feels like things are moving in the wrong direction,' said Curran Stikuts, director of advocacy and strategic communications for The 519 community centre in the Village.
Since February, multiple past corporate supporters of Pride Toronto have pulled their funding, including Nissan, Google and Adidas. Meanwhile, The Abnormal Beauty Company (owned by Estée Lauder) and Tim Hortons lowered their contribution amounts.
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For its part, Pride Toronto says this year's festivities won't be noticeably different, even as the organization has fewer corporate sponsors and higher costs associated with running a large-scale event.
'We are moving ahead full steam,' Kojo Modeste, executive director of Pride Toronto, told the Star last week.
But if the organization is not able to make up this loss of funding, Modeste warned that the 2026 celebrations will be affected.
At a press conference Wednesday, the director noted that some have stepped up to fill the gap — including the City of Toronto, local businesses and individual people who have donated more than $10,000 — but Modeste appealed for more help.
'This is an opportunity,' he said, 'to come and support to make sure that Pride remains a staple in the city of Toronto.'
Millions of people come to Toronto every year for the Pride festival at the end of June, and Pride Toronto says its event is the largest in Canada and second biggest in the world. This year's festival will start on June 26, with most of the events and parades taking place from June 27 to 29.
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Queer people from around the GTA told the Star that news of corporations pulling back their support in Toronto and elsewhere is concerning, but that it has reminded them of Pride's origins as a resistance movement — which dates back to the Stonewall Riots in New York City in 1969.
'For some it is a party,' said Alyy Patel, founder of Queer South Asian Women's (QSAW) Network. 'But that party has always been grounded in very political roots.'
For Patel, Pride has always meant coming together with other queer people, particularly women of colour, to feel liberated in a 'powerful space.'
Jansher Saeed added that this year's Pride is an important reminder that the queer community can't become too dependent on corporations for support.
'It's more crucial for us to think of Pride as a protest,' he said, 'as a space where we can build community and where we can support one another, especially in a hard time.'
There has been a 'real hunger' from community members at The 519 for these opportunities to be around other queer people, according to Stikuts.
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'We recognize as a community the need for that joy in these moments that feel a little bit more perilous,' he said, adding that people just want to 'play and have fun.'
As SIBOL prepares to march in its second Pride parade in a changed cultural climate, Dizon said corporations and governments turning their backs on the queer community shouldn't stop him and others from celebrating their identities in public.
If anything, it's a reason to keep making their voices heard.
'The fight doesn't stop here,' Dizon said, 'We have a long, long way to go. So continue fighting and continue moving.'
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CTV News
3 days ago
- CTV News
Beausejour among rural communities to experience first-ever Pride event: Eastman Pride
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CTV News
3 days ago
- CTV News
Pride Toronto's $900K shortfall sparks NDP call for ‘stable' and ‘predictable' funding
With Pride Toronto facing a $900,000 deficit and warning next year's event could look drastically different, Ontario's New Democrats are urging the province to step up their financial commitment. 'The provincial government has largely left arts and culture funding the same since 2009,' Toronto Centre MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam, told CTV News Toronto. 'It hasn't kept up with the rate of inflation and any funding that the government says that they have infused is largely related to COVID activity, which was one-time funding.' The Ontario NDP says it has introduced a motion in legislature that calls for 'stable' and 'predictable' funding for major cultural events such as Pride Toronto, which they say generates enormous economic returns. While Pride Toronto has dominated headlines in recent weeks, Wong-Tam says it's part of a wider crisis stemming from over a decade of flat funding for Ontario's $26-billion arts and culture sector, which employs 270,000 people. 'Organizations like Pride Toronto, plus all the other major festivals in Ontario, have been struggling to gain access to provincial funding,' they said. 'What that means is that they are so much more reliant on corporate partnerships and what we've seen is that corporate partnerships can be fickle.' 'Not asking for a handout' In a press conference held last week, Pride Toronto Executive Director Kojo Modeste confirmed losses from organizations such as Google, Home Depot, Nissan and Clorox — some of whom, he says, already committed to participate in this year's events. He says the loss, combined with soaring costs and security expenses, pushed the festival's projected shortfall to nearly $1 million, straining their $5-million budget. 'We are not asking for a handout; we are asking for our fair share of the pie,' Modeste said, noting that Pride generates $200 million in taxable revenue. 'As we face our current challenge, we're not asking for much, we're asking for less than one per cent of the taxable revenue we bring in annually.' Some governments have already answered the call. The City of Toronto increased its annual funding by 35 per cent to $350,000 this year. However, Modeste said there's been little movement from Queen's Park or Ottawa. Insurance costs alone have jumped nearly 200 per cent since 2022, and Modeste told CTV that they now spend over $425,000 on security annually. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Ontario's Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming wrote to CTV News Toronto suggesting that they have already provided funding to Pride Toronto this year. 'This year our government is providing Pride Toronto with over $450,000 including advertising space and sponsorships, which includes $335,000 in direct grant funding from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming – part of the over $1.9 million we have provided directly to the organization since 2018," they wrote in an email. 'In addition to funding for Pride Toronto, our government provides support to eight other 2SLGBTQIA+ events across the province.' More than just emergency relief The motion introduced by the NDP is about more than just emergency relief, Wong-Tam explains — it's about rethinking how Ontario supports a major employer and economic driver. 'Whether it's through the collection of tax revenues or the employment of people, arts and culture does a lot to hit above its weight, to foster tourism and to promote social cohesion and the economy.' Wong-Tam added that festivals like Pride not only activate public space but also contribute to Ontario's brand as a vibrant, inclusive destination — something that both the Conservative and previous Liberal governments haven't made a priority. 'I would say that the Government of Ontario has very little relationship with a juggernaut like Pride Toronto,' they said. According to Ontario Art Council, their share of government's budget stands at just $60 million, adding that 'OAC's base budget has been mostly at this level since 2009.' 'Perfect time for Canadian corporations' Without stable government backing, Wong-Tam warns Ontario risks undermining years of both cultural and economic progress. 'Would you rather reduce the GDP by $26 billion annually? Would you rather see the unemployment lines go up?' they said. 'If their answer is yes, then they're not civic-minded people.' Wong-Tam points to Quebec as a model, where provincial funding is more robust and integrated into long-term cultural planning. 'Can you imagine what we would have in Toronto and Ontario if governments stepped up with a strategic plan to infuse money into these festivals that hire hundreds of thousands of people in Ontario?' For now, the motion has not been scheduled for debate. But Wong-Tam said the urgency is growing. 'This is the perfect time for Canadian corporations to step up if they can,' they said.
Toronto Star
4 days ago
- Toronto Star
Your Guide to Toronto Pride 2025
From pool parties to craft corners, there's all sorts of ways to celebrate Pride all month long. Here are some of this year's most anticipated events! June 18, 5-10 p.m. Skates & Sounds Roller Drag Ball College Park, 400 Yonge St. Dance and skate to live DJ sets and watch drag performances on wheels at this free event. No skates? No problem: the event offers free skates. Check out the onsite LGBTQ2S+ Vendor Market and support local queer-owned businesses. June 19, 6:30-11 p.m. QUEER EAST SOCIAL - Pride Month Celebration Honouring Juneteenth Café ZUZU, 555 Dundas St E. Celebrate freedom, identity and community at this space, which makes room to reflect on the ongoing struggle for racial, sexual and gender equity while uplifting the joy and resilience of Black, queer and trans communities. Dance, shop and support queer-owned and/or operated vendors. June 19, 7-9 p.m. The ArQuives, Queer Trivia Night Glad Day Bookshop, Toronto Get ready for Pride-themed queer trivia night! No registration required; teams encouraged but not necessary. If you don't have a team, you can join one or take on challenge solo. The first question is at 7p.m. June 19, 7-11 p.m. Pride pool party 11 Polson St. This year's signature event is headlined by Lydia B. Kollins, star of RuPaul's Drag Race season 17 and All Stars 10. This event is also Pride Toronto's biggest fundraiser, which allows the org to keep the rest of Pride programming completely free. Grab a ticket or rent a full VIP Cabana. June 20 - 22, 10 p.m.-12 a.m. Pride: Village Fest, Pre-Pride party Church St. Beer Garden, 512 Church St. Head to the Church Street Beer Garden for a fierce pre-Pride party! Three days of dance beats include sets by local DJs, and drag queens including Gia Metric, Oceana Aqua Black of Canada's Drag Race Season 2 and Denali, star of Ru Paul's Drag Race and Ru Paul's Drag Race All Stars. June 21, 12-10 p.m. Stackt - Pride STACKT Mkt, 28 Bathurst St. Check out Toronto's trendiest outdoor marketplace for live drag performances, DJ sets, a local vendor market featuring queer and trans small business owners — there's even queer line dancing! June 22, 1-3 p.m. The Youth/Elders Program: Speed History Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander St. Queer people of all ages are invited to a special session of Speed History: an intergenerational opportunity for one-on-one and small group conversations with queer and trans people. Note: This is a masked event. June 22, 5-7:30 p.m. Queer Climb Meet Up Basecamp Climbing, 677 Bloor St. W. This is a special Pride edition of Toronto's Queer Climb Meetup at Basecamp Climbing: Whether it's your first time rock climbing or you're a regular, the group promises fun challenges, games and raffles. Limited spots, RSVP is required. This is a paid event. June 22, 3-6 p.m. Parkdale Pride Crawl Start: Simpl Things, 269 Dunn Ave. Join Parkdale in celebrating Pride with a neighbourhood pub and food crawl — all in support of local queer organizations. June 22, 12–5 p.m. Newcomers Pride Earlscourt Park Join Newcomers Pride in Earlscourt Park and celebrate all things queer and fabulous with queer and trans newcomers and allies for an afternoon of queer-positive fun! June 22, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Pride Market Street w/ Tynomi Banks St. Lawrence Market, 95 Front St. E. Celebrate Pride at St. Lawrence Market with drag performances on the Great Lakes Brewery Stage featuring the Tynomi Banks. Youth workshops and demos with Freedom School Toronto and the Toronto Kiki Ballroom Alliance. Jun 23, 7 p.m. 2SLGBTQ+ Crafting Drop-in for Adults North York Central Library, 5120 Yonge St. Celebrate Pride with a low-key evening of crafting at the library! Meet other crafty queer and trans people and allies while you make Pride flag magnets, origami, or bring your own project to do. This is a drop-in program for adults 18+. June 24, 8 p.m.- 2 a.m. GayStation The Black Eagle, 457 Church St. Calling all queer gamers! No cover charge, just buy a drink. All controllers provided by the bar. Play Mario Kart World on Switch 2, Rock Band on the dance floor, and new Street Fighter 6 on PS5. GayStation happens every Tuesday 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Happy gayming! June 25, 6- 7:30 p.m. The Arquives, Church-Wellesley Village Tour 34 Isabella St. Wander the Church-Wellesley Village on a walking tour led by the ArQuives and learn about the rich history of 2SLGBTQIA+ people and places, focusing on the Church-Wellesley Village. Tour starts at The ArQuives and ends at Barbara Hall Park. Pay what you can; suggested: $5.
