UNLIKE TORONTO PRIDE, PRIDE CELEBRATION IN SWEDEN IS MORE THAN A NOISY, RAUCOUS RIOT

My partner and I always leave Toronto the last 4 days of "Pride" Toronto. In fact, a good percentage of the over 10,000 people who live near the Wellesley Stage leave the area. The Wellesley Stage, located in a residential neighbourhood, is allowed to blast ultra high decibel sound until 2 am. All other stages in the city must cease noise at 11 pm as is the case at Montréal Fierté. 

Our "Pride" is just a big raucous riot, is very corporate, overwhelmingly exclusive, and worst of all very politically intolerant. This negative trend in Pride in Toronto started when the city and Pride Toronto allowed BLM to stop our parade in 2016 and thus DESCRATE the memory of the massacre of Hispanic LGBTQ victims in Orlando June 12 of that same year. 

However, a friend who lives in Malmö, sent me this email about Swedish Pride:

"Last week was Malmö Pride, and I volunteered at several events, especially the educational and cultural ones. In Sweden, Pride isn't just about parties or parades, it also includes educational and cultural events. Organizers run trainings, seminars, and debate forums related to LGBTQ+ topics, opening up dialogue between the audience and various organizations, schools, political parties, religious groups, and more. For me, it was a great opportunity to meet new people and broaden my perspective on these issues.

                                

"Last Saturday [July 4 2026] was the parade, and thousands of people attended. I preferred to be a spectator this time, taking photos along the way. At the end of the parade, there were some performances, including a local drag queen show and an 'ABBA' called 'Waterloo' ;-)"

I hope one day that Toronto Pride will again become an inclusive, welcoming, celebration of all life styles. Until then, I will avoid it like a opportunistic social virus that it is.