8 Virtual Events to Celebrate Pride 2020

Best HealthUpdated: Jun. 15, 2020

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Here's how you can celebrate Pride Month and support the LGBT2Q+ community across Canada and the globe, during the pandemic.

The pride parade and many other events to celebrate Pride Month have been cancelled or tweaked due to coronavirus. But that doesn’t mean you have to miss out. Here are some of the virtual Pride events taking place across Canada that you can explore and join.

The Pride Parade: Sunday, June 28 at 2 p.m. EST

Toronto hosts Canada’s largest pride parade, and this year, it’s being taken online. The parade will feature special performances and speakers, which are yet to be announced. Learn more about how you can participate in the Virtual Pride Parade.

Virtual Market: Open Now

Every year, Toronto hosts a street fair for pride, which is receiving the digital treatment this year. A selection of apparel, food, and home goods vendors will be partaking in the virtual market to support LGBT2Q+ businesses.

Club Quarantine: Every Night in June

Have you heard about it? If not, you’re seriously missing out. Club Quarantine is hosting a Zoom event every night in June in honour of Pride Month. Each “club night” will feature various DJs and performers. Follow Club Quarantine on Instagram to get the Zoom codes.

Virtual Drag Brunch: Sunday, June 14 at 11 a.m. EST

Enjoy a virtual brunch with Toronto drag queens Miss Fiercalicious and Sofonda Cox, and learn about their “For The Love Of Tomorrow” pride kits. All proceeds will go to Pflag Canada, an organization that offers support to anyone with troubles around their sexual orientation and gender identity. The brunch, which is hosted by SodaStream, will air live on SodaStream Canada’s Instagram page.

Digital Drag Show: Tuesday, June 16 at 8 p.m. EST

Toronto drag queen Brooke Lynn Hytes and the first openly gay professional hockey player, Brock McGillis, will be hosting Friendly Stranger’s virtual drag show. For a recommended contribution of $10, viewers will get to watch performances by 12 different queens. All net proceeds will go to Glad Day Lit’s Emergency Survival Fund, supporting LGBTQ2IA+ artists and performers in Toronto’s Church Street Village Community.

Queens Premiere: Friday, June 19 at 8:30 p.m. EST

Celebrate the launch of Queens, a new television series on Toronto drag queens, by tuning in to the show’s premiere. CBC Gem will be streaming it on Friday, June 19 at 9 p.m. EST, and PrideToronto will be streaming an intro panel at 8:30 p.m. EST and a Q&A session with the cast at 10 p.m. EST.

We’re Funny That Way Festival: Friday, June 26 at 8 p.m. EST

The world’s first queer performance festival is also hopping on the virtual bandwagon this year. The one-hour event celebrates the LGBTQ2+ community and includes a mix of comedy and music performances. Find the show on CBC Gem.