Happy Pride!

If you live in North America, June is Pride Month in many places.

If you live in Toronto, this week is Pride Week – culminating in three parades on the weekend: the trans march, the dyke march and the Pride parade.

Depending on your social location, this could mean a great deal to you, nothing at all, or be a head-scratcher.

Pride marches and parades began in June 1970 to commemorate the Stonewall riot that occurred on June 28^th 1969 when the Stonewall Inn (a popular spot for 2SLGBTQI+ patrons in Greenwich Village, New York City) was raided by police. This was not the first police raid, but it was a night the patrons fought back.

With the march a year later, the 2SLGBTQI+ rights movement was born.

Some 2SLGBTQI+ facts:

• 2SLGBTQI+ stands for: Two Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, and others (the +)
• There are many versions of the acronym including: LGBT, LGBTQ, and many longer ones as well
• Being Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual was illegal in the UK until 1967, in Canada until 1969, and in the USA until 2003
• LGBTQ-identities are still criminalized in 69 countries worldwide as of 2021 (some where it is punishable by death)
• Gender identity is still not covered by human rights in many countries (gender identity and gender expression has been protected under the Canadian Human Rights Act only since 2017)
• Marriage equality has been a reality in Massachusetts USA since 2003 (Massachusetts), in Canada since 2005 and exists in 31 countries.
• Pride events occur in many parts of the world at various times
• 102 countries celebrate Pride (8 new ones in the last 3 years)

Celebration, Movement, …?

With this in mind, Pride is a celebration for some, an affirmation for others, and an opportunity to continue to raise awareness of continuing inequities and lack of safety for many in 2SLGBTQI+ communities. It is a day to be grateful, a day to reflect on progress, and a day to commit to continuing to fight for safer spaces – within 2SLGBTQI+ communities and everywhere for those who identify as 2SLGBTQI+.

Allies – we need them

Like any movement, allies are important.

And while you may enjoy the Pride festivities, you may also be wondering how you can be (more) supportive of your friends, colleagues, and family members who identify as one (or more) of the letters in the 2SLGBTQI+ acronym.

Allyship is about more than a moment of intervention. In order to be effective, it requires a broader awareness with which to make informed decisions about how we will show our support.

How to be an Effective Ally

And…we are so pleased to launch our new e-course, How to be an Effective Ally where you can so just that – increase your awareness in order to be more effective in your allyship.

If this resonates with you, if you are curious, and if you want to know more, please .

It’s 25 minutes of your life, that could make a huge difference in someone else’s. 

Pay attention.