Pride week in Hamilton

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Pride week kicked off in Hamilton with a flag-raising ceremony at City Hall. Council members and Hamilton police raised the pride flag on a day that is usually filled with celebration but instead, it was more of a sombre occasion as the world continues to grieve for the 49 victims of the LGBTQ community in Orlando.

A large crowd gathered in front of City Hall for the ceremony. It was a reminder that the fight isn’t over to stop the hatred. Marlon Picken, the former chair of the LGBTQ advisory committee says it’s time to hold governments accountable.
“You mourn for the dead and fight like hell for the living and that’s exactly what we’re going to do.”

Community members say they’ve never seen an attendance like the one today. In 1995 for the first Hamilton pride there were about 20 people, today hundreds showed up to show support for the LGBTQ community and for Orlando.

Hamilton’s first openly gay councillor, Aidan Johnson says pride is filled with joy but for many people today it’s also a pride with sadness and anger.
“I’m hopeful we can make this pride a meaningful day and use it as a spring board to greater love and greater justice.”