THE HONOURED GUESTS
Athletes are the grand marshals of this year’s Pride parade – though so far, only one has confirmed his participation.
He is Mark Leduc, the silver medal winning Olympic boxer.
This year’s Honoured Group is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered At The University Of Toronto.
THE BASICS
Mayor Mel Lastman officially opens Pride with the raising of the rainbow flag at City Hall. That’s at 12:30pm on Mon, Jun 21 at Nathan Phillips Square (Queen at Bay, on the second floor of the outside deck).
Mayor Mel then co-hosts a thank you reception in honour of homos, from 5:30pm to 7:30pm, on Wed, Jun 23, in City Hall’s main rotunda. You’ll need to RSVP (so they order enough food); call (416) 392-7667.
The 15th annual AIDS Candlelight Vigil is 9pm, Thu, Jun 24 at Cawthra Square Park (behind 519 Church St).
The Metropolitan Community Church Of Toronto service is at 10am on Sun, Jun 27 at the north stage, corner of Church and Gloucester (call 416-406-6228 – the MCCT’s Hero Awards are now handed out a few days before, at a $150-a-plate fundraiser; that’s at 7pm, Thu, Jun 24).
The fourth annual Pride And Remembrance Run is at 10am on Sat, Jun 26. Monies raised will go to the David Kelley Lesbian And Gay Community Counselling Program and PFLAG (Parents, Families And Friends Of Lesbians And Gays). At Church and Isabella streets. Call (416) 944-9449.
The Dyke March starts at 2:30pm on Sat, Jun 26. It begins at the corner of Church and Wood streets. It will go along Wood to Yonge, up to Bloor, east to Church St, and back down the main drag to Wood.
The Pride parade starts at 3pm on Sun, Jun 27. It begins at Church and Bloor, west along Bloor to Yonge, down Yonge to Gould St, then east to Church, where it ends.
A chunk of Church St is closed, from 10pm Fri, Jun 25 to the wee hours of the following Monday morning. Wellesley is closed from Sunday at 4am.
Beer gardens, stages and tables showcasing the wares of businesses, artisans and community groups will dot the area.
Child care will be available at the Church Street Public School (83 Alexander St), from noon to 6pm on Sat, Jun 26 and 27.
The Equal Access Viewing Area for the Pride parade is on the west side of Yonge at Maitland.
Pride is at (416) 92-PRIDE; the offices are located at 65 Wellesley St E, suite 304. The website is www.pridetoronto.com. Pride meetings are held the second Tuesday of every month at 7pm at the 519 Church Street Community Centre.
For complete listings and weekend details, check out Xtra’s Ultimate Pride Guide, a 48-page digest inserted into this issue of the paper. It’s also available separately at selected locations.
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