WorldPride has come to North America for the first time. Well actually Canada, but that country is in the continent of North America. This is an event that LGBT pride issues on an international level through parades, festivals and other cultural activities.
Quite appropriate that Canada is hosting this cycle of WorldPride, as the country is a leader in being progressive towards the LGBT community. While there is still more work to do, Canada has had same-sex marriage for almost 10 years.
Plus the province (similar to a US state) of Ontario just elected their first openly gay Premier (similar to a Governor). This is the first time an openly gay head of government has been elected in North America. Or of any Commonwealth jurisdiction.
So Canada has plenty to celebrate. In preparation of WorldPride the committee handling the event has commissioned several artists to paint murals around Church and Wellesley. This area is known as the gay community.
One of the most historic moments in Canada’s gay movement was the Toronto Bathhouse Raids. In 1981 the Toronto police raided four bathhouses and arrested over 200 men. That mass arrest galvanized a movement that solidified the gay community in Canada to act as one. To protest the discrimination against gays and lesbians in Canada. The Toronto bathhouse raids became Canada’s version of Stonewall. So it is quite fitting that this historic moment have a mural all its own.
With original art from Troy Brooks and the mural painting and design from Christiano De Araujo, the project got underway in the fall of 2013. Along with paint generously donated by Dulux Paints.
Below is a video showing the project from start to finish in 18 days. WorldPride concludes June 29, 2014 with the huge Gay Pride Parade.
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