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
'The world is too messy for bureaucratic hurdles': Canada still bars Afghanistan aid
Ottawa has plans to finally stop blocking Canadian development aid to Afghanistan this year.
Student anti-war protesters dig in as faculties condemn university leadership over calling police
Students protesting the Israel-Hamas war at at universities across U.S., some of whom have clashed with police in riot gear, dug in Saturday and vowed to keep their demonstrations going, while several school faculties condemned university presidents who have called in law enforcement to remove protesters.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Hamas is reviewing an Israeli proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza, as possible Rafah offensive looms
Hamas said Saturday it was reviewing a new Israeli proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza, as Egypt intensified efforts to broker a deal to end the months-long war and stave off a possible Israeli ground offensive into the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
Cisco reveals security breach, warns of state-sponsored spy campaign
State-sponsored actors targeted security devices used by governments around the world, according to technology firm Cisco Systems, which said the network devices are coveted intrusion points by spies.
I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'oesn't get' the global phenomenom.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Russia renews attacks on the Ukrainian energy sector as Kyiv launches drones at southern Russia
Russia launched a barrage of missiles against Ukraine overnight, in attacks that appeared to target the country's energy infrastructure. Meanwhile, Russia said its air defense systems had intercepted more than 60 Ukrainian drones over the southern Krasnodar region.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.