Annual Pride parade in downtown Peterborough on Saturday afternoon leaves no one behind

With this year’s Pride Week drawing to a close, members of Peterborough-Nogojiwanong’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community and allies celebrated diversity and inclusivity during the annual Pride parade on Saturday afternoon (September 27) in downtown Peterborough.

The parade began at City Hall and travelled down George Street to Millennium Park, where the annual Pride in the Park celebration took place.

The theme of this year’s Pride Week is “All of Us or None” which, according to the Peterborough-Nogojiwanong Pride website, was submitted by a local queer trans activist who described it as a refusal to give in to hatred and a reminder that action, solidarity, and collective care are essential.

“All of Us or None speaks to the interconnectedness of our struggles and our liberation,” the Peterborough Pride website states. “It reminds us that true progress doesn’t happen unless it includes everyone — especially those most often pushed to the margins. When any part of our community is under attack, we are all called to respond. None of us are free until all of us are free.”

The theme reflects the challenging times facing members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, with the rise of anti-trans legislation, the banning of 2SLGBTQIA+ books in schools and libraries, and the withdrawal of public support by some organizations and businesses for progressive causes.

In what has become an annual tradition, Peterborough photographer Sean Bruce took photos of this year’s parade and shared several of them with kawarthaNOW.