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Toronto is home to one of the largest pride celebrations across the globe. With more than 2.4 million attendees in 2022, Pride Toronto came out of the pandemic with a fierce and thunderous roar! With one of the most diverse populations in the world, Pride Toronto is a massive celebration of diversity, inclusion, and all things queer. If you’re looking to elevate your pride game, Pride Toronto is an absolute must!
Pride has been a long time in the making, from a small gathering of dedicated activists fighting for their right to love and be seen to the vibrant celebration we know and love today. Since 1970, the pride movement has supported 2SLGBTQ+ communities in pursuing the unequivocal right to be heard, understood, accepted, and respected.
From the first picnic organized by Toronto’s first queer activist organizations that became the “Gay Day Picnic” to the first Toronto Pride Week march in 1974 and the addition of the Trans March in 2009, Pride Toronto celebrates the communities that have continued to gather and celebrate the beauty and confidence that comes from being your most authentic self.
Pride Toronto was founded on the fundamental truth that love prevails, and we are all deserving of it. It continues a legacy that is deeply intertwined with the rich, progressive history of Toronto’s queer community.
“While we celebrate how far we have come as a community, Pride Month is also a critical time to lift up and advocate for many vulnerable groups within the 2SLGBTQ+ community who continue to be marginalized and left behind,” shared Board Co-Chairs Grant Gonzales and Yuri Hernandez.
Pride Toronto is a celebration of love and diversity, but there is always room to include important conversations about how we can help change our world for the better and improve acceptance and accessibility across our communities.
Toronto starts to celebrate all things queer with the coming of June, also known as Pride Month.
The Pride festivities culminate on Festival Weekend—June 23-25—when the city’s world-renowned Pride Parade takes over Yonge Street, the longest street in the world.
The weekend is known for being the best celebration in the country, and hotels and flights to the city book up well in advance. Make sure you book early to get in on the best deals and experiences Pride Toronto has to offer. In addition to the city’s famous Pride Parade, Pride Toronto offers other exciting flagship events during Festival Weekend, including the Trans March, Dyke March, and StreetFair.
With everyone wanting to get in on the celebration, Pride Toronto provides opportunities to experience some of the best DJs and performers in the world. And if drag is your thing, Pride Toronto has a vibrant Drag Ball planned as well! Toronto also offers some of the country’s best cultural and culinary experiences.
Toronto is extremely accessible to New York. A flight to Toronto is just over an hour and a half, and you can land directly in the city center by flying into the island airport. Come for the parade and stay for the whimsical and exciting performances, thought-provoking conversations, and immersive art installations.
Supporting Pride Toronto means amplifying these voices and prioritizing local, community-focused advocacy. With an even bigger and more fabulous festival in the works for 2023, make sure to firm up your plans soon, and elevate your Pride game!
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