‘Let them know we’re not going anywhere!’:Trans March kicks off Pride weekend

As Kitanya Wiltshire stepped to the microphone to kick off the Trans Pride March on Friday night, it was clear that the rainy evening weather hadn’t dampened anyone’s spirits.

“Let them listen to it!” shouted Wiltshire, Pride’s trans ambassador, as she led the crowd in a chant of “Here, there, everywhere!” — this year’s Pride slogan. “Let them know we’re not going anywhere!”

Reportedly the world’s largest Trans March, Friday’s event helps kick off Pride weekend, which culminates in Sunday’s parade.

The crowd of at least a few thousand people (Toronto police said they could not provide an estimate of crowd size), many waving the blue-and-pink striped Trans flag, gathered on Church Street, just south of Bloor Street East. 7 pm, before marching west on Bloor, south on Yonge Street, before returning to Church Street via Gould Street.

Several protesters mentioned recent attacks on the rights of trans people in the US — particularly by Florida Governor and Republican presidential hopeful, Ron DeSantis — as part of their motivation to participate.

“I come every year, but this year felt even more important to me,” said Doug B., who declined to give his full last name.

Doug, who came out as transgender 10 years ago, said that despite progress in the past decade, even as gender identity and expression received legal protection under Canada’s human rights laws in 2017, recent political attacks on the US back” and sees similar sentiments gaining momentum in Canada.

“What happens there inevitably affects us,” he said. “And it’s not just in the US. You can see the rise of hate everywhere.”

Approximately one in 300 people in Canada over the age of 15 identify as trans or non-binary, according to the last census.

Several studies show that transgender and nonbinary people report significantly higher rates of depression. More than half worry about being stopped or harassed by the police, according to a 2021 survey conducted by Trans Pulse Canada. The numbers are even higher among racialized trans and non-binary people, especially Black and Indigenous people.

But none of that was on anyone’s mind on Friday night, where the focus was on celebrating trans joy.

“Today we are up and marching,” Wiltshire said. We are visible. They were here.”

Among the loudest groups at Friday’s march was the contingent from Women’s College Hospital, the first hospital in Canada to provide transition-related surgical care to transgender and gender diverse people.

“We are really passionate about equality for everyone, especially queer communities,” said Kabir Shergill, a spokesman for the hospital who also hosted the playlist for its section of the march on Friday. “Where’s the music?” someone yelled behind him. “Turn up the volume!”

SHARE: