For 18 years, The Pride Committee of Peel served the Brampton, Mississauga and Caledon areas.

 

The Pride Committee was a volunteer organization, with the goal of bringing Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals, Transgender, and our allies together in Peel Region.

 

We were pleased to bring you Pride events right here in Peel Region!

 

Our Mission: The Pride Committee of Peel is a volunteer organization run by members of the community in Peel Region. Our goal is to host social events in a positive, safe and inclusive environment for the LGBT Community and our allies in Peel Region.

 

The Peel Pride Committee formed in 2002 and put on its first event in 2003, and has been honoured with the full support of the City of Brampton, with the annual Proclamation of Pride week in Peel Region, and the flying of the Rainbow colours over Brampton City Hall. Pride

 

Celebrations are now Proclaimed by The Town of Caledon and The Region of Peel, and celebrated by LGBTQ+ community members and their allies throughout the region!

 

In addition to hosting events in our community, we have proudly participated in past regional and provincial events event's, including Niagara Pride, York Pride, the annual Peel Regional Race Against Racism, Halton Pride, Hamilton Pride, and marched with Peel Regional Police at Toronto Pride.

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Why July?

Long before National Pride was declared in June Peel Region celebrated Pride in July. This was done for a few reasons.

• We are very close to Toronto and couldn't fathom trying to compete with their events.

• Sometimes people just start attending Pride events at Toronto and want to keep celebrating.

• We intentionally planned it about two weeks after Toronto so that we could march in Toronto and promote that Peel Region was active and here!

We continue to celebrate in July in Peel Region to stand separate from Toronto and be our own community. it doesn't mean you won't see Pride flags flying in June in Peel...in fact they were abundant this year! We just ask that people continue to fly them and recognize that Peel Region is rich and diverse and Proud.

 

History of Pride

Pride

From the June 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York, evolved the modern day quest in search for gay and lesbian civil rights, equality, justice and liberation for the members of our communities. Pride is about celebrating gay life, and demonstrating to the straight community a rejection of the notion and belief that our difference is wrong or bad in any way. It is a statement of our self-acceptance, dignity and pride in ourselves, our partners and each other.

Who We Are

Pride is our coming out of the closet, a public expression of our belief that our sexuality and identity are normal, healthy and right for us as individuals, and as a community. From a very young age, we're taught to feel and believe that being gay was abnormal, a deviant in a society that believed that to be anyone not straight was evil, a monster, or a pervert. Society is changing, evolving as all things do. Gay Pride has helped to hold our heads high, give us honor, identity and respect. Homophobia is no longer tolerated in many countries of the world, hate is now a crime, and discrimination challenged.

The Need For Pride

Being gay is not easy. To face the negative stereotypes that are associated with it on a daily basis challenges the strongest of us, in both who we are, and what we choose to believe. It is not a life one would necessarily choose for ourselves, and not one we would necessarily wish on others. To face alienation from friends, from family, whether it be due to ignorance, or intolerance, is a painful and trying experience. We are what we are, and just as we must accept the straight world, they too have to accept us.

Our Symbol

The original rainbow flag was introduced in 1978 when it first appeared in the San Francisco Gay and Lesbian Freedom Day Parade. It had eight stripes, each colour representing a component of the community; hot pink for sex, red for life, orange for healing, yellow for sun, green for nature, turquoise for art, indigo for harmony, and violet for spirit. The next year pink and turquoise were removed from the design, and royal blue replaced indigo. This six-colour version quickly spread from San Francisco to other cities, and soon became the widely-known symbol of gay pride and diversity it is today. It is even officially recognized by the International Congress of Flag Makers. It flies proudly in gay communities throughout North America.

Be Proud

Be proud of who you are, and who you choose to love. We continue to evolve. The intolerant will always be with us, but their masses are shrinking. Society can change, can learn and can evolve. Our struggle for our rights, and our freedom's will pave the way for future generations, for the day when we will be fully accepted.That future does not seem too far away!!!!