Pride's Meaning (June 25, 2018)

It's June 25th

Toronto's Pride celebrations

Are wrapping up

As the month ends

In 5 days time

Before Canada Day (July 1st).

A celebration

At its heart

Acknowledges the darkness

That we

The LGBTQ+ community faces

On multiple fronts.

Where love is

Openly displayed and used

As a weapon for change

By a community

That knows death and pain

All too well.

Despite the multi-billions of dollars

Spent on HIV/AIDS research

We haven't found an universal cure

Or vaccine.

Although

We've developed drugs

That allows those Infected

To live long and productive lives

Today.

In 72 countries

Still illegal

For gay men

And straight transwomen

To have sex.

Or that

In 8 countries

It's a death sentence

For being true

To one self.

Never mind

In an open country

Like Canada

Problems still exist.

For the second straight year

Toronto Police Service

Been politely told

Their uniformed or float presence

Isn't welcomed.

Rooted

In deep historical reasons

That affects all parts

Of the LGBTQ+ community.

Magnified by

The police handling

Of Bruce McArthur’s

Alleged career

As the mass murderer

Of 8 gay men.

Especially

As these deaths started

A few years after

The Infamous bathhouse raids

Sparking Toronto's original

Pride parade (in 1981).

It may take several months

Even years

After the public inquiry

And a possible second apology

From Toronto's police

For true healing to happen.

Before uniformed officers

And Police Service’s floats appear

In future Toronto's Pride parades

Spraying parade celebrants

With toy water guns

Once more.

Therisa © 2018

Author’s note: another poem, as part of this year’s Pride Poetry.