IN Magazine: July/August 2020

SUPPORT

HOW TO SUPPORT

PRIDE MONTH FROM HOME

Pride is different this year, but that doesn’t make your support and presence any less impactful or necessary

By Bobby Box

Pride is going to be a lot different this year. Church Street won’t be bustling with our colourful community and allies. Instead, we will be quarantined in our homes, attending the month’s events online.

“This year the festival is themed Virtual Pride Month as all events and programming will be offered virtually,” Toronto’s mayor, John Tory, announced June 1 in the official Pride proclamation.

“While Pride has had to go virtual due to COVID-19, programming will keep the LGBTQ2S+ and broader communities connected throughout the month.”

JULY / AUGUST 2020

Making the best of a bad situation, Toronto Pride will still feature key events like Trans Pride, the Dyke Rally, the Drag Ball and the Pride Parade, as well as regular weekly activities like trivia, how-to workshops, and lunch and learns. (Visit inmagazine.ca/pride-2020 to find virtual Pride event listings from across the country and more) “Virtual Pride is an opportunity to use technology as a platform to showcase the many talents of our diverse LGBTQ2+ community members in new and exciting ways,” according to the Toronto Pride website. “You will be able to experience the performances, passions and energy of our many amazing artists like never before.

The show must go on!”

recent years typically raises in the range of 15 per cent to 20 per cent of our gross operating revenues,” explains Stacy Kelly, director of philanthropy at The 519, an organization committed to the health, happiness and full participation of the LGBTQ2S+ communities.

“In 2019, we raised $1.5 million through the GSF.” In addition to its popular four-day festival, The 519 normally organizes in-house events, such as LGBTQ2S Family Pride, LGBTQ Newcomers Pride, LGBTQ Refugee Pride, Trans Pride and Seniors Pride, and supports other events like the annual Toronto AIDS Vigil, during Pride Month.

Individuals, organizations and companies that are running thirdparty fundraisers during Pride further add to The 519’s revenue and, therefore, to its ability to continue to provide services and programs for our communities throughout the year. Only time will tell how organizations will be impacted by the switch to digital.

Fortunately for The 519 (and for our entire community!), the organization has been selected by Pride Toronto as an ‘Honoured Group’ and ‘Charity of Choice’ for Pride 2020, meaning it will be promoted throughout Digital Pride as a charity worth supporting.

The 519 is also exploring options in offering a digital version of its Green Space Festival.

But what does this new format say for organizations that rely on Pride for funding? For most LGBTQ2S+ organizations, Pride “The pandemic has had devastating social and economic impacts on Month is a key source of revenue to fund their year-round programs, our communities, which have dramatically amplified already existing services and operations that benefit the community. systemic barriers to health, economic inclusion and participation,” Kelly says. “Beyond the urgent response we must provide for our “For the past 12 years, we have been running a fundraising music most marginalized and vulnerable community members, we must festival during Pride, called Green Space Festival [GSF], that in also continue to advocate for change to advance human rights 48

IN MAGAZINE