Canada Celebrates Pride Season Across the United States
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August 15, 2024
For Canada, Pride Season refers to the wide range of Pride events that take place over the summer (June to September) when 2SLGBTQI+ communities and allies come together to spotlight the resilience, celebrate the talent, and recognize the contributions of 2SLGBTQI+ communities. Although special attention is put on the Pride events during the summer months, they happen throughout the year in many communities.
The Government of Canada is committed to protecting the human rights of 2SLGBTQI+ people, and celebrates the diversity and many contributions of 2SLGBTQI+ communities in Canada, the U.S., and around the world.
Historically,Pride gatherings emerged from the first large-scale protests for 2SLGBTQI+ rights. In Canada, the first demonstrations took place in Ottawa and Vancouver in 1971. By 1973, Pride events were held in several Canadian cities, including Montréal, Ottawa, Saskatoon, Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg. Toronto’s Pride weekend in June is now among the largest Pride events in North America.
This year, we wanted to share a few Pride Season highlights from our network of Canadian missions across the U.S. that participated in local festivities in their regions. We’re already looking forward to future Pride events, including WorldPride taking place in Washington, DC, from May 23 to June 8 in 2025. Stay tuned!
New York, NY
On June 2, the Consulate General of Canada and Permanent Mission to the United Nations joined the New Queens Pride March in Jackson Heights, Queens, the first major event to kick-off New York City’s Pride Month. Home to 2.3 million people, Queens is the most-ethnically diverse county in the U.S. and is the largest transgender hub in the Western Hemisphere. With a group of 80 people, Team Canada made a strong impression on the crowd, proudly waving Canada Pride flags. Attendees were excited that Team Canada joined Queens Pride for the first time. The 2024 New Queens Pride Parade was attended by 65,000 people, its largest turnout ever. Over 135 groups marched, including local businesses, non-profits, school, and politicians.
Los Angeles, CA
Also on June 2, the Consulate General of Canada in L.A., joined by Quebec’s Los Angeles-based Délégation générale, participated to show Canada’s support for the local 2SLGBTQI+ community in the annual West Hollywood (WeHo) Pride Parade. WeHo’s Pride is one of the world’s largest annual Pride celebrations, drawing hundreds of thousands of attendees to its events ever year. The Consulate’s participation in the parade was featured in TV station KTLA5’s coverage of the parade. On June 9, the Consulate General also participated in the Los Angeles Pride Parade, walking together with the UK, with over 150,000 live spectators.
On June 7, the Consulate General of Canada in San Francisco kicked off Pride Month at the Golden Gate Business Association’s (GGBA) 50th anniversary celebration. Founded in 1974, GGBA is the San Francisco Bay Area’s LGBTQ+ chamber of commerce and the world’s first LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce. GGBA works to improve business development opportunities for minority-owned businesses in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond, and advocates to protect LGBTQ+ rights, particularly for the transgender community. On June 30, Consulate staff, Bay Area Canadians and friends of Canada also marched in the 2024 San Francisco Pride Parade, which had the theme “Beacon of Love,” and attracted hundreds of thousands of spectators. San Francisco Pride is one of the largest LGBTQ+ celebrations in the world, with over 200 parade contingents and exhibitors.
Boston, MA
The Consulate General of Canada in Boston was one of over 300 organizations that marched in 2024 Boston Pride for the People Parade on Saturday, June 8th. Consulate General staff, friends, and family came together to march with Canada flags and pride t-shirts. The Canadian mission was pleased to participate in the 2024 parade, which had returned only for the second year since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Chicago, IL
On June 9, the Consulate General of Canada in Chicago led a “Diplomats for Equality” delegation, along with representatives from the Australian Consulate General in Chicago, the Mexican Consulate in Milwaukee, and the Québec Government Office in Chicago, to march in Milwaukee’s annual Pride Parade. This was the first time that the Canadian mission had participated in the event, which marked its 20th year of celebrating LGBT Pride in southeast Wisconsin. Diplomats, staff, and family members walked the one-mile route through the city’s Walkers Point neighborhood with cheering crowds along the way.
Denver, CO
The Consulate General of Canada in Denver took part in two separate Pride parades this year. From June 22-23, the Consulate joined Denver PrideFest for its 50th anniversary and joined 280 other groups (17,000 people) marching in the parade. On June 14-15, the Consulate also took part, for the first time ever, in the Pikes Peak Pride Parade in Colorado Springs, CO. Many Consulate staff, members of NORAD, and their families, were pleased to participate alongside the community.
Washington, DC
On June 8, Embassy staff, their families, and friends, including Ambassador Kirsten Hillman, participated in Washington, D.C.’s annual Capital Pride Parade. Organized by the Capital Pride Alliance, the parade celebrates the 2SLGBTQI+ community and its allies. The Embassy brought colorful floats, banners, and flags, contributing to the festive atmosphere that attracts hundreds of thousands of participants and spectators. This year, the parade started at 14th Street and concluded at Pennsylvania Avenue, winding through Shaw, Logan Circle, Downtown, and Penn Quarter.
The event not only celebrates the progress and achievements of the 2SLGBTQI+ community but also serves as a reminder of the ongoing fight for equality and rights. It is a space where people come together to express their identities, support one another, and advocate for a more inclusive society. Performances were an integral part of the festivities, adding to the vibrant celebration.
