June is recognized as Pride Month worldwide – a time to celebrate the culture, progression, and achievements of the 2SLGBTQ+ Community. Parker Ducharme, an Event Coordinator at the Humber River Health Foundation, believes in the importance of fostering a more safe and inclusive society and has shed light on what true Pride means to him.

What does your day-to-day look like?

As an Event Coordinator with the Foundation for just over a year now, I am always busy in the best of ways. I typically start my mornings with administrative work, such as emails and invoices. The afternoon is often dedicated to meetings and prep for upcoming events, such as set up, gathering supplies, coordinating with vendors, and more. Every day looks very different!

What does Pride mean to you?

To me, Pride means being able to bring your whole self into every space and not having to “code switch” based on the places you enter.

Toronto’s Pride 2023 theme is “Here, There, Everywhere.” How do you think this theme reflects Toronto’s vision of becoming a more inclusive community?

I think it ties in with my definition of Pride. Through the theme, “Here, There, Everywhere,” Toronto aims to promote that people who are part of the 2SLGBTQ+ Community can be everywhere – in all parts of their lives and parts of the city – as their whole selves, fostering a more inclusive society.

Moving forward, what do you encourage others to do to continue to celebrate and acknowledge the 2SLGBTQ+ community?

The advice I always come back to is to be an advocate for the community, even if you are not part of the community. By being an ally, it is important to say something if you hear someone making homophobic or transphobic comments, so it is not only left to the 2SLGBTQ+ Community to advocate for themselves, which can be very exhausting. Do not just be a silent ally, be a vocal ally – that goes for anything!