Local Pride events facing increased security costs
The federal government is offering more money to pay for security costs at Pride events amid rising anti-LGBTQ2S+ hate.
It’s something organizers in Waterloo region have seen first hand.
“Unfortunately there are people who think that us spreading love and building community is problematic,” Grand River Pride co-founder Bryan Causarano said.
“We’ve had some hateful emails. We’ve had signs ripped down.”
Causarano is in the midst of preparing for Grand River Pride’s first-ever street party in downtown Galt on Saturday.
The inaugural celebration in Cambridge has been more than a year in the making and caps off a series of events, including comedy and film nights and drag performances.
“We wanted to make sure future generations of kids can see the happiness, see love, see support wherever they go,” Causarano said.
But the show of love comes at a time when LGBTQ2S+ people are being increasingly targeted by hate.
Grand River Pride is spending $1,500 to have a pair of officers patrol the street party.
Meanwhile Tri-Pride said it’s seen its security costs nearly double to due inflation and additional hires.
"An increase of security is due to a spike in increased incidents of hate directed toward the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. The increase is also to handle the anticipated increase in attendance to the festival," the festival said in an email.
LOCAL LGBTQ2S+ EVENTS TARGETED
In January, police added patrols outside of Elora Distilling due to threats against a drag show at the venue.
Around a month earlier, Guelph drag queen Crystal Quartz cancelled a show in Burlington due to online threats.
A transgender Pride flag crosswalk in Kitchener was also vandalized in April.
EMERGENCY FUNDING
Similar incidents across the country led to a request by the National Association of Canadian Pride Organizations for $1.5 million in emergency security funding in mid-May. On Monday, the government agreed to back that request.
But the timing of the government’s announcement means some events may miss out on paying for improved security.
Causarano said the situation is “a little bit stressful,” but ultimately, organizers are excited.
“I'm excited about all the stuff that's happening,” Causarano said. “I'm more excited just to see how happy people are that this is happening right where they live, right in the communities that they belong to.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Looking over our shoulders': A killing looms large in a little B.C. town
Something shifted in the pretty little village of Lumby, B.C., after Tatjana Stefanski vanished. It used to be the sort of place where parents let their kids roam free or play in the local creek, but everything has changed.
Toronto man falls off his chair after seeing $70M Lotto Max win in his bank account
A Toronto man who won $70 million in a recent Lotto Max draw literally fell off his chair when he saw the funds in his bank account.
Montreal-area high school students protest 'sexist' dress code
Approximately 50 Montreal-area students — the vast majority of them female — were suspended Wednesday after their school deemed the shorts they were wearing were too short. On Thursday, several students staged a walk-out to protest what they believe is a "sexist" dress code that unfairly targets girls.
Officer who arrested Scottie Scheffler is being disciplined for not having bodycam activated
The Kentucky police officer who arrested top-ranked golfer Scottie Scheffler outside the PGA Championship is receiving 'corrective action' for failing to have his body-worn camera activated.
'It's over': Minister says B.C.'s decision on Surrey police transition upheld in court
The B.C. Supreme Court has ruled in the provincial government's favour on the City of Surrey's legal challenge to its ongoing transition to a municipal police force, according to B.C. Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth.
Luxury beauty brand Clarins to pull out of Hudson's Bay stores in Canada
French luxury makeup and skincare brand Clarins is pulling out of Hudson's Bay stores in Canada.
Air travel is expensive. WestJet wants the government to do more to change that
WestJet is asking the federal government to put measures in place to lower ticket costs for travellers, but questions remain on who would foot the bill.
American Airlines retreats after blaming a 9-year-old for not seeing a hidden camera in a lavatory
American Airlines has distanced itself from a court filing in which the carrier said a nine-year-old girl should have noticed there was a camera taped to the seat of an airplane lavatory.
Ottawa police investigating death of a gosling in Kanata
Ottawa police are investigating after someone allegedly stomped on a gosling in Kanata. Police say it appears that Canada geese laid eggs in the area, 'and on May 21, a suspect stomped on one of the hatched babies.'