Pride is a time of liberation, joy, and expression. However, it has become tightly intertwined with capitalism, consumption, colonialism, and whiteness. It is important to remember that the first Pride was a riot and that if Pride isn’t fighting for the inclusion of the most marginalized members of the queer and trans communities; then it is reproducing many of the systems of oppression it desires to dismantle. 

So, with that being said – I have some tips for how you can be an effective ally this Pride season!

1) Get informed. Understanding the roots of Pride, as well as Canada’s history of gendered and colonial oppression, will provide insight into today’s social inequity. I suggest reading:

• Marginalization of Aboriginal Women. This article explains Canada’s colonial history, colonialism’s introduction of patriarchy, and the impact that has on the present-day oppression of Indigenous women
• Indigenous Women and Two-Spirit People: Our Work is Decolonization. Author Chelsea Vowel explains how “organizing around violence against trans and Two-Spirited peoples is central to any struggle against gender violence.”
• Transgender Women of Colour are Pioneers of the LGBTQ-Rights Movement. Why Are They Still Fighting for Their Lives? Read for an insight into why “It’s very disrespectful to the legacy of the queer liberation movement when the LGBTQ community at large refuses to prioritize the well-being and survival of trans women of colour”

2) Support and engage with art made by queer and trans artists. Here are some suggestions:

• Vivek Shraya Shraya is a multi-disciplinary Canadian artist whose book “I’m Afraid of Men” should be required reading for everyone living under the patriarchy.
• Adèle Barclay>Barclay is a queer Vancouver poet whose debut poetry collection, If I Were in a Cage I’d Reach Out for You, (Nightwood, 2016) was nominated for the 2015 Robert Kroetsch Award for Innovative Poetry and won the 2017 Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize.
• Alok Vaid-Menon.ALOK (they/them) is a gender non-conforming writer and performance artist. Follow them on Instagram for beautiful prose and major fashion inspo.

3) Donate to organizations that are doing the real and tangible work of supporting our queer and trans community members. I recommend:

• Qmunity is a non-profit organization based in Vancouver, BC that works to improve queer, trans, and Two-Spirit lives
• UNYA UNYA’s 2-Spirit Collective provides support, resources, and programming for Indigenous youth, ages 15 to 30, who identify as 2-spirit or LGBTQ+, and for those who are questioning their sexual or gender identities
• Coalition Against Trans Antagonism CATA’s mission is to identify and challenge oppressive ideologies and practices within (and not limited to) governmental bodies, non-profits, academia, unions, community organizations, and individuals, to reduce and eliminate the harms experienced by trans and sex worker communities.
• WAVAW. WAVAW is the only rape crisis centre in the Lower Mainland to offer specialized and gender-affirming support services to folks of all marginalized genders, including all trans, nonbinary, and Two-Spirit survivors of sexualized violence.

We have queer and trans people of colour, particularly trans women of colour, to thank for countless, invaluable contributions to the feminist movements, and queer liberation movements.

This Pride season and all year round be sure you are centring the experiences and voices of these communities in your protests, parties, and parades.