Pride Month has officially kicked off at the University of Toronto, with flags raised across its three campuses to mark the occasion.
On Wednesday, a crowd gathered at Varsity Stadium on the St. George campus for the Progress Pride Flag Raising, an annual event hosted by the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education (KPE) and the Sexual & Gender Diversity Office. Similar ceremonies were held at U of T Scarborough and U of T Mississauga.
“In raising the Progress Pride flag, we acknowledge the work that is still to be done and our Faculty’s continued support for 2SLGBTQ+ communities,” said Gretchen Kerr, dean of KPE, at the Varsity Stadium event.
“Not only does it signify the beginning of Pride month, it also demonstrates our ongoing dedication to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion in everything we do.”
Kerr also noted that June is also National Indigenous History Month and reminded attendees that advocating for 2SLGBTQ+ rights also means standing against all forms of oppression.
“There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives,” she said, quoting the American poet, lesbian feminist and civil rights activist Audre Lorde, who died in 1992.
In his remarks, U of T President Meric Gertler highlighted the university’s long history of advocacy and allyship, with the first gay and lesbian group of any Canadian post-secondary institution established at the university in 1969.
In the 1990s, U of T laid the groundwork for what would become the Sexual & Gender Diversity Office – another first – and became one of the first major employers in Canada to extend pension benefits to same-sex couples, he said. He also noted that the university’s landmark Positive Space campaign will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2026, and that many U of T employees now benefit from significant coverage for gender-affirming care.
“You should also know that our commitment today is stronger than ever,” said President Gertler. “These programs and initiatives have made U of T a better place – even as they serve to remind us of the struggle for genuine inclusiveness and respect that continues to this day.”
Event attendees also heard from Vanessa Lin – a kinesiology major, Varsity Blues rower and strength and conditioning coach who was nominated by her peers as the 2SLGBTQ+ community impact honouree – who said the raising of the Progress Pride flag is a deeply meaningful moment.
“I see the flag as a symbol of how far we’ve come – even just during my short time here at U of T – and as a reminder of all the people and hard work it takes to keep moving forward,” she said.
The event was emceed by Carter Holmes, the first male student-athlete at U of T (and in the province of Ontario) to perform on a collegiate pom team.
He thanked the Varsity Blues community for its “unwavering support” and allyship.
“I stand here as a proud, accomplished gay man – not in spite of my experiences, but because of the people who chose to champion me along the way. Their mentorship and belief in me helped build the person you see today.”