Ontario Pride groups say extra federal security dollars now necessary to run safe events

For a third year in a row, $1.5 million in federal funding is being made available to local and national Pride organizations to pay for increased security at festivals and parades celebrating the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

The funding comes amid a national uptick in hate crime incidents against 2SLGBTQ+ individuals, and moves by U.S. President Donald Trump to rollback rights for gay and transgender people, and end diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

"We are very excited, and it's a necessity at this point in time," Tami Murray, president of the Oxford County Pride Committee, told Afternoon Drive on Wednesday, referring to Pride Toronto's recent loss of some corporate sponsors.

Oxford County Pride has applied for the funding since 2023, and will again this year, said Murray, who is retiring from the role of president in October after 10 years.

The funding from Women and Gender Equality Canada is available through the Community Safety Fund, which was launched in 2023 by Fierté Canada Pride, the national organization representing local Pride groups.

The federal government had earmarked $3 million over two years for the fund in its 2024 budget. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Mark Carney reiterated the funding as he raised the Pride flag on Parliament Hill.

"Unfortunately, around the world, there's a backlash struggling against the progress that has been made," he said. "In this time, Canada will always stand up for the vulnerable and the equal rights we cherish."

Most Pride organizations are non-profit and rely on fundraising, Murray said.

"We want to be able to provide that money back into events, things that are actually practical and tangible for the community. We don't want to spend tens of thousands of dollars on security."

Funding from the Community Safety Fund can be spent on insurance, personnel, safety equipment and supplies, training, and infrastructure such as barricades and fencing, according to Fierté Canada Pride's website.

Small events and festivals, such as those with an overall budget under $500,000, can apply for up to $10,000 in funding. Festivals budgeted over $2 million can apply for up to $250,000.

Last year, more than 60 organizations across the country received funding, Fierté Canada Pride says, with 21 in Ontario.

One London-area Pride group, Elgin County Pride, was unaware of the funding, but say they could have used it in previous years with security and insurance being their two largest expenses.

"Security is a growing concern and our neighbouring communities pay a small fortune for their security," spokesperson Devon Church said.

"We have had to rely on volunteers and organizations like Drag Story Time Guardians to bring a level of safety to our public events — and we've requested support from them on more than one occasion to stand between our event guests and protestors."

With Elgin County Pride being a small operation facing fundraising challenges this year, "we will get to work on the application immediately," Church said.

According to Statistics Canada, there were 860 police-reported hate crimes targeting sexual orientation in 2023, up 69 per cent from 2022. At least 224 incidents occurred in the month of June.

Fifty-two per cent of reported crimes specifically targeted gays and lesbians, while 24 per cent targeted other sexual orientations, such as asexual or pansexual individuals.

"The visibility symbolizes safety to our community," Murray said of the security the funding provides. "It's definitely necessary, given the escalation of some of the rhetoric and propaganda going on."

"About three years ago, we had guys out front of libraries screaming and yelling at children holding 'pedophile' signs, really awful stuff like that. It has digressed, those people coming out, which has been very beneficial."

Up until three years ago, Oxford Pride hadn't needed security, she said.

Oxford County has seen Pride flags targeted in recent weeks, specifically in Norwich Township, police say.

On May 16, the Pride flag outside Emily Stowe Public School was torn down and lit on fire, and days later, a replacement flag was vandalized. Last week, unknown suspects stole a Pride flag from a school on Old Stage Road in the overnight hours between June 3 and 4, police said.

Norwich made headlines in April 2023 when municipal council banned Pride and other non-government flags from municipal properties, a decision it reversed in January 2024.

In nearby London, police continue to investigate after Kathy Bell, the organizer of Wortley Pride, and Stevie Brocksom, a local trans activist, had their vehicle tires slashed outside their homes last month.

In a statement, a police spokesperson said the department's Hate Crime Unit was engaged and actively involved in both investigations.