TORONTO, (CTV NEWS) Starting as a small parade in 1981, the annual Pride Toronto has grown into a week-long festival making social and political statements, highlighting creative achievements, and succeeding at being a good party for 1 million people. What is the secret of Pride Toronto's success? Confronted with that question, Co-Chair Natasha Garda considered a long time and answered, "our volunteers." An estimated 800 people give their time and energy to manage thousands of details as they plan parties, marches, community events and a grand finale parade. Councillor Kyle Rae believes people are still volunteering, after all these years, because they are celebrating. "(This is) their Christmas, New Year, it's their holiday season. People participate because not only is it a celebration, it's a statement about who you are." Rae experienced first-hand many of the struggles to make Pride a reality since its inception in 1981 as a festival. While the Pride festival of today is in large measure a big party, he remembers times when Pride Week was also about protest.
The start of gay pride parades in 1981 was "a conscious effort" to bring the community into the light of day. Now with equality rights recognized in law, he feels there is more confidence within the community. "I think people come out because they're making a statement to the world that Toronto is a really special place, that the equality rights that we've been able to enjoy here are rare and you don't see them around the world."
Hundreds of thousands participate on Yonge St. in Toronto for the Pride Parade on June 26, 2005. (CP / Aaron Harris)
Taking up causes The volunteers have a special passion for the cause, usually with a keen awareness of those who in previous years helped fight for their rights. "I think we must celebrate a dialogue that started all those years ago that was very serious," Garda says. "We have to celebrate for those people, otherwise we can't admit that we've made the changes that we have. Look how far we've come, especially with same-sex marriage and the general acceptance of the community." "I think people come out because they're making a statement to the world that Toronto is a really special place, that the equality rights that we've been able to enjoy here are rare and you don't see them around the world," Rae said. Volunteers aren't paid for their work, and sometimes it's a thankless task. Their efforts are often met with criticism from within the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer/Questioning, 2 Spirited (LGBTTIQ2S) community, and further criticism from outside. "It's a stressful organization to work for, in terms of the workload," Garda said. "You've got to have a real and passion for what you're volunteering for." "A lot of us put in almost full-time hours on top of our other full-time paying jobs."
Parade goers watch during the Pride Parade on Yonge Street in Toronto. (CP / Kevin Frayer)
Driving in morning rush hour traffic was the best time for Lenore MacAdam to do an interview. Her responsibilities as Dyke March Coordinator are on top of her job as comptroller and human resources manager for a Mississauga company. She has little time to spare. "It has been a lot of work, probably a little bit more than I realized," MacAdam said with a laugh. This is her first year as a coordinator, which means she is working with another coordinator who has done the job before. Even with shared responsibilities, the workload is heavy. "My full-time job was not socially relevant at all ... and I just found it was a really great way to connect to the community." During the morning interview and commute, MacAdam revealed it was her last day at work. She had quit, looking to get a break from the rat race and also hoping to find more ways to contribute to her community.
Bringing up babies Ron Ophir has given his time to Pride Toronto in the past, selling tickets and working in the beer gardens, but he stepped-up to a bigger role for 2006 as Family Pride Co-ordinator. The university professor told CTV.ca that he felt strongly about the need for a family event during Pride Week, but there was a personal motivation too. "It gets me more involved, I get to know people so that I have more of a network." Later this year Ophir will become a father through a surrogate. Having a network of other parents within the LGBTTIQ2S community is suddenly very important. "(Being a parent) is something I've wanted to do as long as I can remember." As Ophir was concluding a semester with his students, he has been preparing for a new arrival and managing the details of Family Pride. His excitement is unrestrained. Ophir calls it the "realization of a dream" that happened because the time was right and because Toronto has many supports for a single man about to become a dad. "There's no one configuration (of a family) anymore. For a long time there hasn't been." This is Ophir's final year as a coordinator. He is throwing himself into the work with as much vigor as possible "because I can't promise I'll be able to do it next year." Chances are he will be attending Family Pride with an infant in his arms, too busy to devote time to anyone else.
*Ken Regular, CTV.ca News
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