Rainbows everywhere as Toronto readies for WorldPride

Businesses, neighbourhoods and streets given the rainbow treatment as anticipation builds for the 10-day event

Toronto has erupted in a celebration of colour as rainbows spread across the city in anticipation of WorldPride, which takes over the city from June 20 to 29.

The first of two rainbow-coloured crosswalks was installed at Church and Alexander streets overnight on June 3, with the second painted at Church and Isabella streets the following night.

Also June 4, Toronto Public Health unveiled the city’s first official condom. The “CondomTO” has an illustration of the street signs for Coxwell Avenue, Wood Street and Cummer Avenue and carries the message “No matter which way you go, put it on.” The condoms are being deployed around the city, particularly in the Church-Wellesley neighbourhood, in advance of WorldPride.

Meanwhile, the Church and Wellesley branch of TD Canada Trust unveiled a rainbow vinyl wrap on its building and around its ATMs.

The first of 200 lamppost banners that will be deployed across the city in celebration of WorldPride also hit the streets in the Village and along King Street West. The simple banners feature a rainbow flag and tell people to “Feel welcome. Everywhere.”

Ryerson University deployed Pride banners in its district, as well, boasting, “Your pride is our pride.”

Up the street from the Village, the Yorkville branch of the Toronto Public Library has its four front columns wrapped in rainbows. The branch is hosting a queer comedy night on June 12, featuring Danz Altvater, Catherine McCormick, Paul Hutcheson and Dawn Whitwell.

Click on the picture above for our gallery of images from around the city.

Rob Salerno is a playwright and journalist whose writing has appeared in such publications as Vice, Advocate, NOW and OutTraveler.

Read More About:
Culture, News, Canada, Pride, Ottawa, Toronto

Keep Reading

A still image of Anne, played by Amybeth McNulty, in braids and a coat, looking at another child in Anne with an E.

Why the adaptation ‘Anne with an E’ speaks to queers and misfits of all kinds

The modern interpretation of Anne of Green Gables reflected queer and gender-diverse people’s lives back at them 
Karla Sofía Gascón as Emilia Perez in Emilia Perez. Gascón wears black with colourful embroidery, has long hair, and a brown purse and delicate chain.

Trans cartel musical ‘Emilia Pérez’ takes maximalist aesthetic to the extreme

REVIEW: The film’s existence raises intriguing questions about appropriate subjects for the playful machinations of French auteurs
Dorothy Allison sits behind a microphone. She has long, light-coloured hair and wears glasses and a patterned button-up shirt.

5 things to know about Dorothy Allison

The lesbian feminist writer passed on Nov. 6

‘Solemates’ is a barefoot stroll through the history of our fetish for feet

Queer historian Adam Zmith’s newest book allows us to dip our toes into the past of a common, yet stigmatized, kink