This article was published on July 12th, 2012

One of the largest Pride celebrations in the world, attracting an estimated one million people, the 2012 Pride Toronto festival and  parade was held June 22 – July 1, 2012. Pride Toronto celebrates the history, courage, diversity and the future of the LGBT community in Toronto.

This couple were married on a float during the 2012 Pride Toronto parade.

Bright, elaborate and daring costumes

The events take place over 24 city blocks in Toronto’s Church-Wellseley neighbourhood. The festival includes seven performance stages, 80 community booths, and 147 sponsor, marketplace and food booths.

Activities and community spaces include family pride, youth pride, clean and sober spaces, Trans pride, Dyke march and rally, and 40 affiliate events.

Celebrating diversity and culture

The week-long event involves a significant amount of human resources. Collaboration for the festival and parade takes of 5 full-time staff, 11 board members, 48 year-round volunteer team leads, 45 year-round volunteers, 1,200 weekend volunteers, and 296 performers. There are over 150 parade and march participants, and community groups.

Toronto will be hosting WorldPride in 2014, the fourth event ever held, and the first held in North America.

Toronto’s Pride festival attracts visitors from Greater Toronto and across the world, and generates an estimate $136 million for the local economy.