AIDS activism to be in spotlight during Pride Month

Flag-raising kicks off celebrations with festival running June 22-24

This year’s Pride Month will focus on AIDS activism, Pride Toronto announced Tuesday.

“The 2018 creative reflects the change our community is undergoing, how deeply impacted the community has been by loss, both in the past and now,” the group wrote in a news release. “This year we focus on the continued struggle — against the criminalization and stigmatization of people living with HIV/AIDS — and honour those who took action to change their medical, social and political circumstances.”

In a phone interview with the Star Tuesday, Pride executive director Olivia Nuamah said that Pride will be putting on fundraising events in honour of AIDS Activism, including a brunch. At the end of this year’s parade, there will be a procession intended to honour “not only those we’ve lost through AIDS, but those we’ve lost recently,” Nuamah said, referring to the men allegedly murdered by Bruce McArthur.

While the theme of loss is mournful, Nuamah noted that Pride is unique for its roots as a protest movement.

“It didn’t start off as a celebration; it kind of became that, as acceptance grew,” she said. “It is very easy for the community to remember a time when it was the subject of vilification, and, in this case, what ends up happening is you come together to reinforce the fact that as a community you are strong.”

Pride Month begins on June 1 with a flag raising at Toronto city hall. The festival will take place from June 22 to 24.