A boisterous, multi-generational group of CCLA supporters marched in this year’s Toronto Pride Parade to honour the struggles and victories of LGBTQ communities. Having participated in some of these struggles just this past year, CCLA was proud to participate in this event.
Much has been said and written about the parade, so for this post, I will be sharing a few personal observations which I will call:
Moments of Pride
- Proudest moment: introducing my children to some of the students from St. Joe’s and other Catholic schools. This courageous group of high-schoolers has been struggling for several months simply to create a club for LGBTQ students in their schools. CCLA has provided some support. These young people continue to fight, and were rightfully treated as heroes at this year’s Pride.
- Favourite T-shirt: on a young man in the crowd. The shirt read “Proud to lo…” that’s all I could see because of where he was standing, so I moved closer. He caught my eye and leaned back. T-shirt said “Proud to love him” – and as I looked up, he pointed gently at the young man he was with.
- Best decorations: This is a tough one – there were costumes of angels, butterflies, and queens; vibrant, colourful balloons, ribbons, flags, boas, hats, feathers, and streamers. There was a rainbow flag so big it must have taken 40 people to hold it. And of course there was the new CCLA T-shirt – with a maple leaf made up of Canada’s many rights and freedoms.
- Most touching connections: As we marched, there were non-stop cheers and waves and high fives. But the expressions on the faces of some of the older folk were the ones that touched me most – enormous smiles of joy and pride, and something in the eyes that suggested it is not always this good. When they called out “Happy Pride”, it took on special meaning.
- Best music – from the truck behind us – as a result, CCLA’s children, students, grandparents and others ended up dancing down Yonge Street under the watch of over one million people.
