Princess St. and music filled the air, Kingston’s Pride Parade burst to life with celebration, colour, and a message from protestors.
Kingston Pride staged its annual parade starting at the Memorial Centre and winding toward Confederation Park on June 14. Thousands marched through downtown Kingston, showcasing solidarity across the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and its allies. As the month progressed, booths began popping up along the street, selling Pride-themed merchandise to locals preparing for Kingston’s biggest Pride event of the year.
This year’s festival theme, “The Rainbow and Beyond: Stronger Together,” was selected by the Kingston Pride Board to represent the diversity and strength of the Kingston community, both within and beyond the 2SLGBTQIA+ spectrum.
At noon, the parade kicked off with Grand Marshal, Patrick Brant, an Indigenous Canadian drag queen, artist, and vocal activist for 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusivity, leading celebrations. Marching behind were local students, Kingston residents, and businesses—large and small—proudly showing their solidarity.
Among the crowd, there was a large representation of the University community, including AMS Commissioner of Social Issues (External), Edward Sy, Commissioner of Social Issues (Internal), Mujeedat Lekuti, and Keith McNinch, events coordinator for Queens and a prominent member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
While the atmosphere was celebratory, the event also became a platform for broader political expression. A quiet group of roughly 50 protestors moved through the crowd, holding signs that read “No Pride in Genocide.”
The protestors, including Queen’s students and Kingston locals, took part in the demonstration, carrying both Pride symbols and Palestinian flags and signs to shed light on what they viewed as an urgent but overlooked issue within mainstream Pride events.
In an interview with The Journal, protestor Camila Pinea emphasized that her participation went beyond celebrating queer identity, aiming to raise awareness for global injustices. Pinea highlighted the importance of advocating for those facing oppression elsewhere, particularly in Palestine.
The protest ended on sidewalk outside of Mark Gerretsens’ office, the federal Member of Parliament for Kingston and the Islands. Demonstrators continued to call for global solidarity, urging that Pride not only be a celebration but also a space for justice, political expression, and intersectional resistance.
After the parade, community members gathered in Confederation Park, where booths, performances, and activities continued the day’s events. Local organizations offered resources, information, and giveaways, providing a space for attendees to connect, learn, and celebrate together.
Tags
Labour 4 Palestine, Pride Parade, Protest
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