Adam and I were lucky enough to be able to go spend some time in The Village last weekend in celebration of Pride Toronto. We were able to capture a lot of really great images of some fun, happy people and loving couples in the middle of a celebration. It was pretty amazing and we had a fantastic time.

What is amazing about Pride for me is the diversity of the groups that come together to celebrate. The atmosphere is one of camaraderie. It is one of belonging. Even though you’re walking in a crowd of hundreds of thousands of people that are different colours, different shapes, different sizes, different genders, different ages, from different parts of the world, you all want the same things for each other: to belong; to be understood; to be happy.

Some people would say that there’s no distinction at that point between homosexuals and heterosexuals. Gays and Lesbians in Canada have all the same rights as their straight counterparts, and they have for quite a few years. However, I think that we celebrate Pride for reasons beyond just ourselves. We celebrate Pride in and for countries where equality is still far from reality. We celebrate Pride because there are countries where you can be killed for being gay or lesbian. We celebrate Pride for awareness and for freedom. We celebrate Pride, not just for our rights, but for the rights of those all over the world.

A couple of months ago, Adam and I were assaulted on the subway between St. Clair West and Eglinton West stations. Two men came on board the train and were offended by us. What was our crime? I had my arm around Adam. That’s it. Nothing else. I had my arm around my boyfriend in a country where we have the ability to marry, adopt children and do everything else a straight couple can do. Even still, we were verbally attacked.

When I say attacked, I don’t mean that the guys called us a name and moved on with their lives. I mean that they sat next to us, yelling and screaming obscenities, calling us names, telling us that we’re disgusting. They asked another guy who was just sitting on the subway if he agreed and he just laughed and said yes. Someone sitting close to us tried to stand up for us and he was physically threatened. We just sat there and let the situation play out without trying to make matters worse.

Eventually, a lesbian couple sounded the security alarm on the train and transit officials came out as soon as they could after it stopped. The guys got out of the train and ran off, still screaming obscenities at and about us as they ran away, but nobody was physically hurt.

That was in 2011 and that was in Toronto. That’s why we still have Pride. That’s why we still find comfort in this huge, yearly celebration of what we have and as a reminder of what we still have left to do.

I said all of that so that you, the reader, will have a little more understanding how lucky and good I feel to have been able to take part in Toronto Pride. I felt fortunate that I was able to photograph so many happy groups, individuals and couples out celebrating an amazing event.

For all of those I photographed who find their way to this page, please get in touch with us through the Contact page on this blog. We’ll be glad to send you a copy of your photo. If you see someone you know, send them over to the blog or our Facebook page to have them contact me as well.

We hope everyone had a safe and happy Pride. We know we did. :)