I’ve been attending Pride since I was 16. Most of my strongest memories revolve the arts-based work I have done during the festival.
As a baby gay, I spent many summers volunteering with Supporting Our Youth to put on the incredible FRUIT LOOPZ stage. Every Pride Saturday some of our best and brightest queer youth talent is profiled on this stage. Many people have gone on to great arts careers or to support LGBTTI2QQ communities in other ways. FRUIT LOOPZ was an event I helped to plan, helped to host and supported by performing at. I’m so thankful for these experiences as they gave me the tools to develop my own event- ARTWHERK!
With ARTWHERK!, some friends and I wanted to create a cultural space that allowed emerging and young LGBTTI2QQ artists to express themselves and talk about the issues affecting their communities. We have been able to create dialogue around issues like HIV/AIDS, body image, immigration, homophobia, sexual identity, family, fashion and the list goes on. While some of these issues are not “queer”, they are all fiercely personal and political. I’m happy to have created an event that honours freedom of expression. By forging a partnership between ARTWHERK! and the Art Gallery of Ontario, we are able to make LGBTTI2QQ issues the issues of our city, country and world.
I’m also proud to perform with BoylesqueTO at various pride events. I’ve been able to talk about sex, gender, body image and many other social issues through satire and burlesque. At our first pride performance, attendees came up to me and said “I never thought I’d see someone that looks like me on stage doing burlesque”. It is quite rewarding to play with and challenge gender norms and try to redefine “sexy” for people like myself who are considered “too this” or “too that”.
This year, many communities are not allowing Pride Toronto to ignore the expressions of their needs. This is a really tricky transition period, which I hope leads to an agreeable outcome. My wish for pride and prides to come is that the organization Pride Toronto and the communities it seeks to represent will find ways to build a wonderful event that everyone can enjoy. But until that happens, my advice to everyone would be to take a risk and try to create what you feel is missing! Community is never just in place. It has to be built – and I’d love to see your creations.
