Amnesty International joined 12,000 marchers in the World Pride parade in Toronto.
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Our biggest concerns were sunburn, dehydration, and blistered feet. Why did we march? Because we can.
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Because we couldn’t not so long ago in Canadian history.
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Because the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) community in many countries continues to march in the face of discrimination, threats, and violence.
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And because in many countries it is not possible to march or even be ‘out’ with your sexual orientation or gender identity.
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Toronto wrapped itself in rainbows as the host of World Pride, the ‘Expo of Prides,’ which drew activists from around the globe.
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We participated in the World Pride Human Rights Conference, where we heard from activists working to end discrimination in their home countries—many are activists that Amnesty International works with closely, and some are human rights defenders on whose behalf we regularly work.
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We co-hosted a screening of a documentary on homophobia in Jamaica and took action to show our solidarity with Jamaican LGBTI activists.
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We joined with partners in the transgender community at the Trans March. And we showed our support for Bill C-279, a bill on gender identity currently waiting to pass in Canada’s Senate.
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And we were out in force at the World Pride parade, where we marched to cheers and chants of “Amnesty, Amnesty!” as we marched in solidarity with the brave activists in so many countries who march in situations where sunburn is the least of their worries.
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All week long we were humbled by the courage and determination of LGBTI activists from around the world, we were thrilled with the support from our Amnesty International community in Toronto, and we left with hope. Hope that with sustained activism both in Canada and around the world, that a world where our diversity is celebrated is possible.
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Learn more about Amnesty International’s work in support of LGBTI rights or contact our LGBTI Coordinators.
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