After the parade

Pride Season isn’t just a celebration: it’s a protest, a commemoration, and a call to action. Its roots lie in centuries of resistance to discrimination, violence, and erasure. Today, Pride Season is a reflection of the rights and freedoms guaranteed under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which affirms the equality of all individuals regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.^{Footnote 1}

Sadly, the protection of these rights is not experienced equally by all Canadians.

In recent years, there has been a disturbing rise in hate targeting 2SLGBTQI+ communities in Canada. Police-reported hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation increased by 69% in just one year from 2021 to 2022.^{Footnote 2}    When looking at the same data from 2016 to 2023, that percentage spikes to a 388% increase.^{Footnote 3}

And yet, public perception does not always match this lived reality. While 2SLGBTQI+ communities continue to face significant threats, two-thirds of Canadian adults believe that 2SLGBTQI+ people face less stigma and discrimination than they did a decade ago.^{Footnote 4}  Nearly half of respondents think that sexuality and gender identity are a choice, and more than a third believe people can be "groomed" into being sexually or gender diverse.^{Footnote 4}

These attitudes contribute to ongoing misunderstanding and harm.

A (very) brief history of 2SLGBTQI+ communities in Canada

Understanding Pride Season also means understanding history.

Long before colonization, Indigenous Nations across what is now known as Canada had rich traditions recognizing gender and sexual diversity. Many honoured Two-Spirit people with sacred roles in their communities.^{Footnote 5}   Colonization, however, imposed Christian and European norms that strictly enforced binary gender roles and heteronormativity, systematically erasing these identities through laws, church doctrine, and tools of assimilation such as residential schools. ^{Footnote 5}

Despite centuries of erasure, 2SLGBTQI+ people have always existed and resisted. Trans rights are often seen as a "new" conversation but activists like Rupert Raj, born in Ottawa in 1952, are a modern example of advocacy for trans people’s rights as early as 1971. ^{Footnote 6}   

Nevertheless, stigma persists.

A 2022 national survey found that only 62% of Canadians feel comfortable around someone whose gender is not exclusively man or woman, and only 66% feel comfortable around a person who is transgender.^{Footnote 4}    These statistics suggest that legal progress has not been translated into lived reality.

Canada’s own government has also been complicit. From the 1950s through the 1990s, the federal government carried out a campaign now known as the LGBT Purge to investigate, harass, and dismiss 2SLGBTQI+ individuals from the military, RCMP, and public service. Thousands lost their careers and reputations under the guise of "national security”.^{Footnote 7}

This systemic discrimination didn't only occur at the federal level. Police forces across the country conducted bathhouse raids, disproportionately targeting gay men. Notable incidents occurred in cities such as Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, and Edmonton, criminalizing queer spaces and further marginalizing the communities.^{Footnote 8}

It was only in 2017 that the Canadian government formally apologized. Standing in the House of Commons, the Prime Minister acknowledged and expressed deep regret for the systemic discrimination and injustice experienced by 2SLGBTQI+ people in Canada.^{Footnote 9}

These examples represent only a fraction of the long history of resistance and resilience that has shaped Pride Season, which grew from grassroots activism and protest. While Canada has made significant legal strides, the ongoing rise in hate, combined with public misunderstanding, reveals a disconnect between the law and the lived experiences of 2SLGBTQI+ communities.

Support beyond the Pride parade

For too long the 2SLGBTQI+ communities have solely carried the burden of fighting for their own safety, dignity, and inclusion—often at great personal cost. It’s up to everyone to bridge the gap between legal rights and lived experience by practicing active allyship in our daily lives.

And it’s easier to do that than you might think.

Here are a few things you can do year-round to support your neighbours, friends, coworkers, and those around you.

1. Adopt a lifelong learner mentality: There are many words used to describe the 2SLGBTQI+ communities. It may seem like the acronym keeps changing and letters keep being added, but it’s meant to represent Canada’s diversity, so everyone feels like they belong. Try not to be discouraged! Resources exist to help you understand the meaning behind each letter and symbol.
2. Take the time to reflect: There are misconceptions that exist about the communities. For example, young people are not the only demographic who are sexually and gender diverse. In fact, 26.6% are over the age of 45.^{Footnote 10}    Older generations who are part of 2SLGBTQI+ communities have worked tirelessly to develop a more inclusive future.
3. When you can, speak up: Small actions can have a big impact. Using gender-neutral terms like “people,” “honoured guests” or “everyone” instead of “ladies and gentlemen” can ensure all those being addressed feel welcomed and respected. 

Pride Season is a time to celebrate but also to remember, resist, and recommit to a future where everyone in Canada can live free from violence, discrimination, and fear. To truly be strong and free, we must stand up for the rights and safety of all people, especially those whose identities or communities may not be our own.

Additional resources:

• Unity: Anti-stigma awareness campaign
• Women and Gender Equality’s support for 2SLGBTQI+ communities