Andrew Lang.ca - for Just another WordPress weblog

Toronto’s Pride Week is aptly named. For the queer communities it is a moment to celebrate. For everyone else it is an opportunity to reinforce their complete and utter acceptance. For me it was an experience that made me especially proud – of my city, my country and for the Pride Committee – who put on one of the best run events in the World.

Yesterday’s parade was my third and it has never been bigger or better. Generating tourism worth close to 100 million dollars into the city is quite an accomplishment but raising awareness and bridging the gaps of understanding is what it is really all about.

To be in the parade looking out at the spectators one knows that every person in attendance was an equal and active participant.

One only has to speak to one of the many tourists in Toronto for the event to be reminded of how good things are here and how, sadly, some must return to intolerance and bigotry.

We still have much to do but the tide has turned on injustice and we are forcing ignorant ideas into the shadows. The close-minded are wary now; more cagey. Where there was once bravado in their hatred now there is fear of being found out.

The time has come to put the words Pride Week and Pride Parade in italics because every day is a day in which Toronto’s queer communities should be proud – proud of what they have endured in the name of just being who they are and proud that they never stooped to the vile levels of their detractors.

Pride Week is no longer just for our queer communities because yesterday I was extremely proud to join them in this celebration of diversity.