Be Free – Pride Toronto (2024)

2024-06-30 14:00:00

309

2024-06-30

Festival Weekend Event

Closing Night: Be Free

  • TD Main Stage - Nathan Phillips Square
  • 100 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5H 2N1

Description

Pride doesn’t end when the parade does, and when you arrive at the end of that rainbow you’ll find gold, solid gold! Records that is, because we are giving you the Pride hits you know and love all day long from 2PM to 11PM. Right at the Parade terminus local DJ legends Mark Falco and Sandy Watts will be spinning the best in House, Dance, and Disco music so you can dance the day away like you’re back at Boots, Stages or JOY. Category is NOSTALGIA!

If that wasn’t enough we are bringing your favorite Pride anthems to you live! Taking a trip through the ages, spreading boundless joy with a montage of hits from the past right up to the future of 2SLGBTQI+ music. 60s Motown and 70s Disco Legend, Thelma Houston (Don’t Leave Me This Way) plus Jamaican-Canadian disco queen Claudja Barry (Boogie Woogie Dancing Shoes), segues into 80s New Wave with Carole Pope of Rough Trade (High School Confidential). Then the party keeps on going with a bevvy of 90s House Divas including CeCe Peniston (Finally), Simone Denny of Love Inc. (Superstar and All Things (Just Keep Getting Better)), and Ultra Naté (Free and If You Could Read My Mind). Lastly, we come up to the present and approach the future with BIMINI (Rupaul’s Drag Race UK), exciting new talent GRAE, and Dragonette (Hello and Slow Song) who are keeping the spirit of Pride alive. So come to our Closing Night, have the time of your life and Be FREE!

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    Performances By

    Toronto AIDS Candlelight Vigil

    The AIDS Candlelight Vigil is an open community event held annually at the AIDS Memorial to remember, honour and celebrate the lives of the people lost to AIDS. This annual event is planned by a committee representing many Toronto 2SLGBTQI+ and AIDS service organizations, including The 519, ACAS, Action Positive, AIDS Committee of Toronto, Black Coalition For AIDS Prevention, Casey House, ETFO/FEEO, Fife House, Toronto People with AIDS Foundation, Ontario Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Strategy, 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations, and Pride Toronto. The 40th annual Toronto AIDS Candlelight Vigil will take place on Tuesday, June 25th, 2024 at 9 pm at Barbara Hall Park.

    Date & Time: June 25th, 9pm-11pm
    Location: Barbara Hall Park, 519 Church St

    Additional information:

    • Ticket Cost – Free
    • Ticket Link / Where to get the ticket: N/A
    • Age limit or Regulations – N/A
    • Wheelchair accessibility – Yes

    Summer Solstice and The Rose’ Picnic

    Rosé Picnic proudly stands as an ally and partner of Pride Toronto, celebrating the vibrant diversity and inclusivity of our city’s 2SLGBTQI+ community. Our support extends beyond the boundaries of our event, as we recognize and honour the rich history and ongoing struggles for equality and acceptance. Together with Pride Toronto, we embrace the spirit of love, unity, and celebration, fostering a welcoming space where everyone can shine. Join us as we raise a glass to love, equality, and the power of community.

    Rosé Picnic is dedicated to breaking the stigma around women’s issues and promoting equality, equity and diversity.
    $5 from every ticket purchased will support the catalyst fund at Women’s College Hospital Foundation, securing critical resources needed to continue to advance its greatest priorities. The fund fuels life-saving research, accelerates the transformation of in-patient surgeries into same-day procedures and supports the design of groundbreaking new mental health solutions.

    We can be champions of women’s wellbeing and encourage everyone—men and women alike —to take action to create more equitable healthcare for all.

    Date & Time: Friday, June 21st 5pm- midnight and Saturday, June 22 – 12 noon – 5pm
    Location: Hotel X – 111 Princes’ Blvd. Toronto, ON

    Additional information:

    • Ticket Cost – Single Day Ticket – $59.95 – VIP – $250
    • Ticket Link / Where to get the ticket: click here
    • Age limit or Regulations – 19+
    • Wheelchair accessibility – yes

    Aportia Chryptych: A Black Opera for Portia White

    Nova Scotian contralto Portia White was the first Black Canadian concert performer to achieve international fame in the mid-20th century, touring North America and performing in Europe while being hailed as the best classical voice of her generation. Yet despite such artistic accomplishments, her story has been erased from Canadians’ collective memory.

    Working against this history, Aportia Chryptych: A Black Opera for Portia White is a bold, new Black opera that sets out to reclaim Portia White’s story, evoking memories of the past as a form of political resistance. Spoken word, rap, folk songs, hip-hop, R&B, and classic opera repertoire collide in an explosive score that seeks to break down musical silos and unite artistic and cultural communities. Aportia Chryptych is an original Canadian Opera Company commission, created by director/librettist HAUI with composer/conductor Sean Mayes and starring Canadian soprano Neema Bickersteth, Emmy Award winning-soprano Adrienne Danrich, and Juno-nominated singer-songwriter SATE.

    Date & Time: June 14 (7:30 p.m.)
    June 15 (2 p.m.)
    June 16 (2 p.m.)

    Location: Canadian Opera Company Theatre – 227 Front St. E., Toronto ON, M5A 1E8

    Additional information:

    • Ticket Cost – $75
    • Ticket Link / Where to get the ticket:click here
    • Age limit or Regulations – 19+
    • Wheelchair accessibility – Seating at the Canadian Opera Company Theatre is all on one floor, accessible from the street level. Please inform the ticket services representative of your needs when you purchase tickets.

    Lezlie Lee Kam

    Be Free – Pride Toronto (1)

    Pronouns: Gender Mysterious

    Biography:
    I am a world majority, Brown, Carib-Indigenous , trini, Indo, Chinese, callaloo, differently-abled, Jurassic and Bionic DYKE, Rainbow Senior/Elder.

    Currently: a co-chair of the board of Pride Toronto, the Toronto Senior Pride Network, the board of ODLAN (Ontario Digital Literacy Access Network), trainer with The 519, the Liaison Committee of the ministry of seniors and accessibility, the VHA (Visiting Homemaker’s Association) Pride Working Group, Sinai Health System “Pride is good for your health” committee, a co-facilitator of the Youth/Elders Program of Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, a volunteer at Hennick Bridgepoint rehab hospital, a member of True Davidson Acres LTC GSA (gender sexuality alliance), the city of Toronto SSLTC Working Group – developed “Leading and Learning with Pride – A Tool Kit to Support 2SLGBTQI+ SENIORS” (launched June 24/2022) and a co-author of the 2SLGBTQI Best Practice Guidelines of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario. Effective November 2023, a member of the Fabulous Stories Project for The Canadian Centre for Gender & Sexual Diversity – developing Queer Curriculum for high schools and a consultant for The Canada Senior Pride Network.
    Humble and privileged recipient of the 2019 Inspire Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2021 Community One Foundation Steinert & Ferreiro Award and the 2023 Jill Andrew (NDP – MPP, Ontario) Community Hero Award.

    Featured in the videos “Out At Home”, “The Journey of My Strong Brown Trini Carib Callaloo Dyke Body” – 2016. In 2023, feature length documentary “Supporting Our Selves” from The Community One Foundation.

    Honoured DYKE Ambassador and Honoured Rainbow Senior Ambassador – PRIDE TORONTO – 2022
    I am an educator, accessibility/accommodation consultant, story teller, sometime actor and a respectful troublemaker, disruptor, infiltrator and agitator 😈.

    I live and work from an anti-oppression, anti-racism, Truth and Reconciliation, intergenerational and intersectional perspective. I advocate for Two Spirit, Indigenous, queer and transgender rainbow 🌈 seniors and youth of colour.

    I enjoy doubles, dancing, dim sum, a cold beverage and a “trini lime “ anytime.

    My EXISTENCE is my RESISTANCE!! Website – lezlieoutofthecloset.com

    Board of Directors Questionnaire

    The Distillery Historic District The Distillery District Queer Marketplace

    The Distillery Historic District, nestled in the heart of Toronto, is a beautifully preserved neighborhood known for its charming cobblestone streets and Victorian-era industrial architecture. Transformed into a lively cultural hub, it boasts a mix of art galleries, boutique shops, theaters, restaurants, and distilleries, making it a unique blend of history and contemporary flair.

    The first-ever Distillery District Queer Marketplace at the Distillery Historic District in Toronto, in partnership with Pride Toronto Festival 2023, was explored. This unique event, which ran from June 5 to June 11, was designed to support local artists, artisans, and the 2SLGBTQI+ community. It featured shopping, live entertainment, and the opportunity to snap selfies amid the iconic Heart of the Distillery adorned in rainbow Pride. In addition to the Queer Marketplace, guests had the chance to explore over 70 boutiques, unique shops, galleries, theaters, and world-class restaurants.

    Magenta Foundation Joy, Sorrow, Anger, Love, PRIDE

    The Magenta Foundation is a respected platform dedicated to supporting emerging and contemporary artists, fostering their creative talents and enabling them to reach a wider audience through exhibitions, publications, and educational initiatives. By championing the work of these artists, Magenta Foundation contributes significantly to the enrichment of the art community.

    A celebration of Toronto Pride from the 1970s to the present was presented by The ArQuives. This significant cultural event marked the 50th anniversary of The ArQuives in 2023, in partnership with the Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival. It delved into Toronto Pride’s profound impact on acceptance and social development through photography, ephemera, posters, and writings by community leaders.

    City of Toronto Progress Pride Flag Raising Ceremony

    As Canada’s largest urban center, the City of Toronto has thrived as a vibrant, inclusive hub for cultural diversity, economic innovation, and community engagement, while maintaining a rich historical heritage and a dedication to sustainable urban development, establishing its position as a global leader in various fields.

    The Progress Pride Flag Raising Ceremony, a major cultural event that took place on June 1, marked the commencement of PRIDE month, celebrating the rich history, diversity, and courage of Toronto’s 2SLGBTQI+ communities. The event was held at various locations, including Toronto City Hall, North York Civic Centre, Scarborough Civic Centre, and Etobico*ke Civic Centre.

    Be Free – Pride Toronto (2024)

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