August 2019 Issue #32 August 2019 Issue #32 | Page 195

Montreal’s Gay Pride Parade takes place on August 18, 2019. It’s is
fun, flamboyant, and everyone is invited. Gay Pride week runs from Aug 8 – Aug 18, 2019, of-
fers sporting events, conferences, free outdoor concerts, LGBT-welcoming. This year will be the
anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Riots which will add to the importance of the week in Cana-
da.
More Than a Parade
The parade is an LGBTA tradition going strong since it was founded in 1979 when a group of
200 people commemorated New York City’s 1969 Stonewall Riots with “Gairilla,” the precur-
sor to Montreal’s Pride celebrations. The Pride Parade is a show of the community’s solidarity,
strength, and demand for the same respect, dignity, and basic rights as those granted to het-
erosexuals. Information on Pride activities and the history of the parade can be found on the
Montreal Pride Celebration website.
The parade is generally held every mid-August and is preceded by a week of Pride activities
and events. This year’s parade starts at 1 p.m. and will begin at Metcalfe Street and end on Al-
exandre-DeSève Street. (map). Expect the parade to last two to three hours. Whether to bring
children or not is an individual decision. Pride Montreal recommends you take public transport
or walk to the parade.
The Pride Parade is part of a weeklong celebration with art, music, and entertainment. Annu-
al events include a family-friendly Community Day and the Mega T-Dance, a huge celebration
held right after the Pride Parade.
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