6th Edition of Montréal Pride
August 13 to 19, 2012
Montréal, June 20, 2012 — After a record-breaking year in 2011, Montréal Pride will be back for an exciting 6th edition from Monday, August 13, to Sunday, August 19, 2012. Once again this year, Place Émilie-Gamelin will be the main site for the festivities, with a jam-packed program offering more outdoor free shows, activities and events that ever before.
Montréal Pride is organized each to celebrate the legal and social advances made in Québec and in Canada, while underscoring the fact that much work remains to be done around the world. The program features cultural and festive activities, as well as a human rights component. This year, human rights will hold a more prominent place in the program, with a two-day conference on LGBTA rights to be held on August 14 and 15.
This emphasis on human rights is also reflected in Montréal Pride’s choice of two official spokespersons, each bringing attention to different issues faced by the LGBT community. The English-language spokesperson will be professional soccer player David Testo, the former Montréal Impact midfielder and one of the few openly gay athletes in professional sports. Since coming out last fall, David has become a vocal advocate for LGBT rights and has worked to create awareness for the reality of LGBT athletes in sports. The French-language spokesperson will be French politician and HIV/AIDS activist Mr. Jean-Luc Romero. Mr. Romero is the regional council of the Ile-de- France region of France and, in May 2002, he became the first and only politician in France to have publically revealed his positive HIV status. Since then, he has fought tirelessly against HIV/AIDS and serophobia and is an advocate of end-of-life rights. Mr. Romero will lead one of the panel discussions during Pride’s two-day conference on human rights.
The Pride Parade, the highlight of the week’s festivities and community activities, will take place under the theme, “Our Flag, Our Pride” on Sunday, August 19. This festive theme invites participants to give free rein to their imaginations and to let their true colours shine through. Like the rainbow, the flag is a symbol of hope and peace, with its vibrant colours (red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet) representing the rich diversity of the LGBTA community.
The parade will once again be held in the heart of downtown Montréal on René-Lévesque West, starting at Guy and continuing east to Sanguinet. The parade is sure to attract thousands of spectators and the 2.35-kilometre route is easily accessible by public transportation. In 2011, a record 160,000 spectators lined the streets to enjoy the parade. The parade will end at Place Émilie Gamelin, where the celebrations will wrap up with a free outdoor mega T-Dance.
Community Day, which is always at the heart of Montréal Pride week, will be held again this year along Sainte-Catherine Street between Papineau and Saint-Hubert on Saturday, August 18.
The full program is available on the Montréal Pride website with more details being added over the coming days and weeks. Those who wish to register for the Pride Parade or as volunteers are invited to visit the website for details and contact information for the organizing committee.
Montréal Pride would like to thank its partners and underscore the critical role they play in making the Pride in Montréal possible: TD Canada Trust, the official Presenter of Montréal Pride; Viagra, the official presenter of the Pride Parade; the Gouvernment of Québec; Tourisme Montréal; the City of Montréal; the Borough of Ville-Marie; the SDC du Village; Fugues; Trojan; Priape; Barefoot Wine; Mojo; OutTV; Via Rail; Eska Water and the Gouverneur Place Dupuis, Delta Centre-Ville, Lord Berri, Queen Elizabeth, Marriott Courtyard Vieux-Montréal, Maritime Plaza and Nouvel Hôtel & Spa hotels. (list as of June 20, 2012).
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Lynn Habel
lhabel@fiertemontrealpride.com
Telephone: (514) 903-6193 ext. 3523
About Montréal Pride
Montréal Pride was formed and legally founded under the name Célébrations LGBTA Montréal in 2007 as an initiative of Montréal’s LGBTA community, following Divers/Cité’s decision, in May 2007, to cease the organization of the Pride Parade and Community Day. Montréal Pride is a community-driven, not-for-profit organization overseen by a Board of Directors consisting of members of the business community, local LGBTA associations as well as representatives from the event-planning and tourism industries.
About TD Community Giving
TD invests in communities to make a positive impact where it does business and where our customers, clients and employees live and work. In 2010, TD donated over $50 million to support community organizations in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. In Canada, we focus on Education and Financial Literacy, Creating Opportunities for Young People, and the Environment. For more information, visit www.td.com/corporateresponsibility.