'More to Pride than celebration': Hamilton LGBTQ community calls for greater support

As Canada's largest Pride parade takes over downtownToronto Sunday, somemembers ofHamilton's LGTBQ communityare reminding Canadians Pride Month is more than a celebration.

"We don't have enough queer joy. But there's more to Pride than celebration. Pride is not just about that. It's about fighting for our rights. And right now that's more important than ever," drag performer Karma Kameleonsaid.

Kameleonmade the remarks attheunveiling of a new rainbow crosswalk in downtown Hamilton, atKing William Street and Ferguson Avenue North, earlier this month.

Chris Paul Farias, a children's author and member of the LGBTQ+ community inHamilton, saidsigns of visibility and support like the new crosswalk have become more important in the past few years.

"There's more hate right now toward queer people, toward 2SLGBTQIA+ community, than I have ever seen," they said.

Communities acrossCanada have seen a rise in anti-LGBTQ+protests, often targeting drag storytime events, in recent years.

Across Ontario this spring, someschool boardsdebatedwhether to fly Pride flags inJune.

The York Catholic School Board banned flying Pride flags in May, while parents with students in the Greater Essex County School Board in Windsor threatened to keep their children out of class if the school board raised Pride flags in their district.

A video surfaced in late Mayof a Niagara Catholic District School Board trustee comparing the Pride flag to a Nazi flag, a direct comparison she has since denied making.

Hamilton police reported that theLGBT+ community were one of the groups to be the most frequently victimized by hate crimes in 2022, along with the Black and Jewish communities. Theyare now investigating the recent theft of severalPride flags in the city at several Catholic schools and from people's homes.

In light of this, Kameleon said members of the LGBTQ communityneed more support from others.

"[Pride] isnot just about love islove. It's about using your voice, whether you're queeror not to support a community that's in need of it...because right now it's a terrifying time to be queer or to be othered inany way,"Kameleon said.

City has 'long way to go': Pride Hamilton chair

While projects like rainbow crosswalks are meant to show LGBTQ+ people support,some community members say they aren't enough.

"It's good for the people who live in this community, for them to see some sort of visibility for the community. But at the same time, it's not going to erase the current issues that are still in this city," said Kiel Hughes, chair of Pride Hamilton.

Hughes said Hamilton "still has a very long way to go" when it comes to acceptance andinclusion.

"Being a blue collar city is not an excuse for ignorance," Hughes said, adding that LGBTQ+ community members should feel safe celebrating Pride in Hamilton, instead of having to goto other cities to celebrate.

Pride Hamilton isorganizing the city's mainPride event this year, set forAug.27at Pier 4 Park.

Hughes said the event waspushed to later in the summerdue to bumps in the planning process.

But, Hughes said, the event dateisa reminderthat Pride shouldn't be constricted to one month of the year.

"There's no such thing as Pride is only in June. Prides happens across Canada from Mayall the way up to September...We live 365 days a year, sometimes 366. And that means you should live with Pride and live with love all the time," Hughes said.