'They show up with love and support all the time': Pride London organizers praise the community
The 2024 Pride London Festival wrapped up on Sunday, with the highlight of the three-day event being the annual parade.
The parade kicked off at noon running from the intersection of Queens Avenue and Quebec Street to Victoria Park.
A number of Pride parades across Canada, including the one in Toronto, have been interrupted by pro-Palestinian demonstrators. The demonstrators have been calling on Pride organizations to divest themselves from corporations with ties to Israel.
There was no interruption for London’s parade, but there was a small group of anti-gay/anti-trans protestors who were monitored closely by police.
“Thankfully the day went off without a hitch,” said acting Pride London President Michelle Paradis. “You know everyone’s got the right to protest and you’re standing on the corner and that’s OK. You have a right to say what you’re saying but we weren’t interrupted, so that’s what matters.”
It was a large turnout for both participants and spectators at the Pride London parade on July 21, 2024. (Gerry Dewan/CTV News London) Paradis also acknowledges some businesses in the United States have been pulling away from supporting Pride events, but she says that hasn’t been the case in London, “Our local agencies and business here, they show up with love and support all the time. This year did nothing but prove that.”
London North Centre NDP MPP Terrence Kernaghan took part in the parade. London's first openly gay man to be elected to Ontario parliament, Kernaghan said it’s vital to continue to support Pride events, “We see the rise of right-wing ideology, of fascist ideas and, unfortunately, trying to take peoples human rights away.”
Pride supporters line Queens Avenue on July 21, 2024. (Gerry Dewan/CTV News London)Thirteen-year-old Lord Nelson Public School student Quinton Potts identifies as bisexual. He watched the parade with family and friends and appreciates support from others demonstrated at the parade, “It’s definitely important to be open. Always express yourself.”
Natalie Judges took part in the parade holding a sign saying, ‘Trans Rights are Human Rights.’ “It’s absolutely amazing. It’s just so exciting, so vibrant and so bubbly, and it’s just great to come out and be our authentic selves,” said Judges.
The day wrapped up with closing statements at Victoria Park and a farewell closing party.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
From essential goods to common stocking stuffers, Trudeau offering Canadians temporary tax relief
Canadians will soon receive a temporary tax break on several items, along with a one-time $250 rebate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
She thought her children just had a cough or fever. A mother shares sons' experience with walking pneumonia
A mother shares with CTVNews.ca her family's health scare as medical experts say cases of the disease and other respiratory illnesses have surged, filling up emergency departments nationwide.
Trump chooses Pam Bondi for attorney general pick after Gaetz withdraws
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump on Thursday named Pam Bondi, the former attorney general of Florida, to be U.S. attorney general just hours after his other choice, Matt Gaetz, withdrew his name from consideration.
Putin says Russia attacked Ukraine with a new missile that he claims the West can't stop
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Thursday that Moscow has tested a new intermediate-range missile in a strike on Ukraine, and he warned that it could use the weapon against countries that have allowed Kyiv to use their missiles to strike Russia.
Here's a list of items that will be GST/HST-free over the holidays
Canadians won’t have to pay GST on a selection of items this holiday season, the prime minister vowed on Thursday.
A one-of-a-kind Royal Canadian Mint coin sells for more than $1.5M
A rare one-of-a-kind pure gold coin from the Royal Canadian Mint has sold for more than $1.5 million. The 99.99 per cent pure gold coin, named 'The Dance Screen (The Scream Too),' weighs a whopping 10 kilograms and surpassed the previous record for a coin offered at an auction in Canada.
Video shows octopus 'hanging on for dear life' during bomb cyclone off B.C. coast
Humans weren’t the only ones who struggled through the bomb cyclone that formed off the B.C. coast this week, bringing intense winds and choppy seas.
Taylor Swift's motorcade spotted along Toronto's Gardiner Expressway
Taylor Swift is officially back in Toronto for round two. The popstar princess's motorcade was seen driving along the Gardiner Expressway on Thursday afternoon, making its way to the downtown core ahead of night four of ‘The Eras Tour’ at the Rogers Centre.
Service Canada holding back 85K passports amid Canada Post mail strike
Approximately 85,000 new passports are being held back by Service Canada, which stopped mailing them out a week before the nationwide Canada Post strike.