Ten times Pink Dot day was bursting with pride

Asian Community AIDS Services took to the streets to spread the love


Dozens of people, all dressed in hot pink, gathered on Saturday, May 21, 2016, to make themselves heard on the streets as part of Pink Dot TO.

Organized by the Asian Community AIDS Services and the Chinese Canadian National Council’s Toronto chapter, this is the third year the event has been put on.

There was a mix of speeches, musical and dance performances and a loud, very pink, rally that all emphasized Asian LGBT visibility.

Here are some of the best moments from the day:

It begins! Brian Bao-ly, member of ACAS, and Annie Sun, lead the Pink Dot parade down Spadina Street.

This year’s theme was “Love Across Generations.” True to form, people of all ages came out to show their support.

We’re not sure where she found those flowers, but damn, they’re beautiful.

The pink power ranger, representing a time when boys growing up in the ’90s realized they were gay.

Aries Cheung, putting everyone to shame with a power ballad while serving face.

Annie Sun, in a more subdued performance, sang a Mandarin ballad.

Ho down! Hanau I Ka Hula Na Kane are Hawaiian performers. Here they are in cowboy hats, because why not.

 

. . . before performing in more traditional garb.

And this is Kou, living their best damn life by busting out some burlesque in the streets.

(Photos: Arshy Mann/Daily Xtra)

Editor’s note, May 27, 2016: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated one of the co-organizers of this event was the AIDS Committee of Toronto. In fact, it was the Asian Community AIDS Services.

Read More About:
Culture, News, Toronto, Pride

Keep Reading

A pink background with two pairs of people from the nose down in black and white.

Life after twink death is trans joy 

ANALYSIS: Twinks don’t have to die—they can transition

In defence of ‘The Ultimatum: Queer Love’ and its straight host

OPINION: Netflix’s “The Ultimatum: Queer Love” just wrapped another mess-heavy season. Host JoAnna Garcia Swisher may be the key to the future of queer reality TV
A yellow background with side-by-side images of the cover of the novel Hot Girls with Balls and author Benedict Nguyễn. Nguyễn has long dark hair and wears neon; the book cover has green and white text on a lilac background, two volleyballs and a net.

‘Hot Girls with Balls’ is deliciously, painfully online

Benedict Nguyễn’s debut novel is both tender and ruthless about the frictions of being internet famous
A turquoise background with three images side-by-side: Trauma Plot; Sorry, Baby; and John Proctor is the Villain covers/promotional images.

What does an assault story look like in 2025?

 “Sorry, Baby,” “John Proctor Is the Villain” and “Trauma Plot” are changing the narrative about rape stories by reflecting how it hasn’t changed