Happy June and Happy Pride Month! Celebrating the amazing contributions and identities of the wonderful LGBTQ+ community, pride is all about finding joy and liberation in who you are, no matter your identity. As the month of June comes to a close, the city is celebrating Pride in a variety of innovative and fun ways, from specialty events, concerts, to the annual Toronto Pride March. Whether your interest lies in the arts, sports, or music, there is something for everyone. Without further ado, here are five upcoming Pride events happening in the GTA that one definitely cannot miss!

Pride March

One of the most important and iconic events of Pride month is no doubt the Pride March on the 25th ! Marching from the corner of Church St and Bloor St, allies can enjoy a variety of celebrations and festivities, including themed floats, performances and live music. Requiring no money to participate, all you need to do is dress up in your best rainbow attire and arrive with a smile! You can find more information and register here: https://www.pridetoronto.com/festival-2023/parade/ 

Green Space Festival

Hosted by the largest 2SLGBTQ+ community centers in Canada, the 519, the Green Space Festival is an annual space that celebrates the diversity in cultures and identities with a range of themed alfresco parties. From the 23rd to 29th, allies can join in on a night of delicious food, live music, and extravagant performances from local drag queens and queer performers. It is also an amazing opportunity to help support and fundraise for the 519, which continues to actively support local underserved LGBTQ+ communities in Canada. You can check out their website here along with more details on the festival: https://www.the519.org/support-the-519/greenspacefestival/ 

YOUphoria: A Pride Showcase

Exploring the question: “What is your queer joy?”, YOUphoria is an art exhibition that aims to tell the stories of the queer community and share their definition of their queer joy. From June 21st to July 9th, the exhibition will showcase a variety of experimental and contemporary pieces that hopes to redefine and shift the traditional narratives of the queer experience, with artworks from over 38 queer and Canadian artists. Whether you are an aspiring artist, or just someone who appreciates viewing art, this is an excellent chance to celebrate the beauty of queer identities and the works of rising Canadian queer artists. Check out the details here: https://propellerartgallery.com/exhibitions/youphoria-a-pride-showcase/ 

Drag Ball

One of the largest Drag events in the city this month, the annual Drag Ball is hosted at Nathan Phillips Square on June 24th, where an amazing lineup of drag performers will showcase their talents and celebrate the unique culture of drag throughout history. With special meet and greets and specialty performances from famous Drag Queens, this is definitely not an event to be missed. Don’t hesitate to bring friends along to join in on the fun! You can find more information here: https://www.blogto.com/events/drag-ball-2023-toronto/ 

Pride Speed Social

Looking for a chance to socialize and make some new queer friends? The Pride Social happening on June 24th is definitely one to check out. A speed social networking event where one gets to meet a variety of queer business owners, content creators and entrepreneurs in all professions, the pride social aims to connect the queer community and share communal insights with one another over drinks and lunch. Led by the Queer Business and Entrepreneur Network, this is an unique opportunity to meet fellow queer entrepreneurs and build meaningful friendships and partnerships. You can register for the event here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/pride-toronto-speed-networking-tickets-647133151677 

We hope you are having an amazing Pride Month!