My name is Francine. I volunteered for Pride Toronto as a Team Lead from 2013 - 2015. I was on the Dyke March team (short-lived), on the Clean, Sober & Proud Team and was a Beverage Garden Manager for the Wellesley Stage (where Blockorama is currently held). I received two personal and one team based awards while working at Pride. I was interviewed to make it onto the short list of suggested nominees to be put forward to the board to run for the board twice. I volunteered in reception during one festival season.
I joined Pride because I didn’t see people who looked like or sounded like me. I stood up, asked questions, pushed back, held up others, got frustrated, regrouped and generally made myself known.
I put up with quite a bit during that time, including gas lighting, bi phobia, rumour spreading, racism, misogyny, fake allies and mental health stigma but kept going back. That is, until I was hit with an ultimatum. “We really like your work and you’re so great on the weekend but in order to continue being a team lead, we need you to not attend the monthly team meetings with the other 70 year-round volunteers”. Essentially, my labour was more than welcome but who I am was not. I gave in my key.
Mine is not by any stretch of the imagination an isolated story. And right now, there’s a lot of discussion about Pride Toronto, where it’s resources are spent and how that plays out in the public eye. I feel that the treatment of Black people within Pride Toronto who volunteer on the weekend, year round and those at staff and board levels need to be discussed just as publicly.
In the past I didn’t open up because as a Black, bisexual, immigrant woman with multiple chronic health issues, I felt I had no power and that no one would believe me. I think it’s time to reclaim the narrative.
Are you a Black person who has been part of Pride Toronto at any level in its 35 year history? Please join me in sharing your stories as I continue to share mine. I believe you.
Here’s how:
Use the hashtag #BLKatPrideTO or #BlackPrideTOstories on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube or Instagram.
Anonymously (or not) submit your story (link, screenshot, photo or text) to [email protected] These will be posted at http://blackatprideto.tumblr.com/ in order to keep a record.
#BLKatPrideTO
#BlackPrideTOstories
[email protected]
http://blackatprideto.tumblr.com/
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