Toronto Pride Week turned 29 this year, but the fight for gay rights began much earlier.
June 1969 saw the world’s first Pride: riots at the Stonewall Inn in New York City in response to violent police raids the previous night. It’s a far cry from the festive and well-supported Pride Week today. These 40 years were proudly celebrated by U of T marchers from LGBT-OUT at last Sunday’s parade, the crowning event of the 10-day Pride celebrations that drew one million visitors to Toronto. From Canada’s first “homophile association” to protesting bathhouse raids, U of T’s history reflects the oppression and courage of those who paved the way.
