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18 Years of Fierté

Fierté Montréal, Our Story

Since 2007, Fierté Montréal has celebrated the diversity, visibility and resilience of the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. But this history is part of a much longer struggle. From the first activist gatherings to today's festivities, we look back at the evolution of Fierté Montréal's celebrations and their role in the queer liberation movement.

A Brief History of the Fierté Montréal Celebrations:  

The energy and crowds that define the Fierté Montréal Festival today are the result of years of activism and the celebration of 2SLGBTQIA+ identities. People of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities have always existed and have always occupied public spaces—considering the norms, limits, and possibilities of their time. The queer liberation movement is not new, but in the past 60 years, it has made significant progress in advancing the recognition of our communities’ rights. The Fierté Montréal celebrations are part of this ongoing movement.

Montréal had seen several protests regarding the “pre-Olympic” police raids in the 1970s, but the Pride movement in Montréal didn’t truly take off until the end of the decade. In October 1977, about fifty Montréal police officers, armed with submachine guns, raided the Truxx, a gay bar on Stanley Street, arresting nearly 150 people under “house of debauchery” charges. The raid and the ensuing protests—2,000 people took to the streets the next day—led the Gouvernement du Québec to amend the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation in a historic vote on December 15. This amendment was a first in North America, and the raid has since been referred to as Montréal’s Stonewall. Learn more about the history of 2SLGBTQIA+ struggles in Montréal, Québec, and Canada in this article.

The first Pride march in Montréal was organized in 1979 by gay activist John Banks (who passed away in June 2024) after reading an article about the 10th anniversary of Stonewall. He joined forces with other local activists, including Armand La Monroe, to form the Brigade Rose. That first year, Guy Prezeau secured a permit, and 52 people marched along Saint-Laurent Boulevard between Sherbrooke and Duluth streets. Without rainbow flags, the marchers sewed two sheets together, dyed them pink, and cut them into a triangle to display at the front of the march. The following year, in 1980, the Brigade Rose grew to around 250 marchers.

The Association pour les Droits des Gais du Québec (ADGQ) undertook the Pride March until 1986. Between 1987 and 1992, various committees took on the task of organizing Pride parades in and around the Gay Village -already in the same area than today, the neighbourhood bordered by Sherbrooke Avenue to the North, René-Lévesque Boulevard to the South, Berri Street to the West, and Papineau Avenue to the East. The parades took place at the end of June of each year.

In July 1990, police officers from the Communauté Urbaine de Montréal raided a private party at a downtown loft known as Sex Garage. The police officers, who had removed their badges, beat several partygoers with batons, threatened to open fire on anyone attempting to leave without police escort, and arrested eight people. The next day, nearly 250 people gathered in front of Police Station 25 to denounce police brutality and the profiling of queer individuals. The police response was even more violent—50 people were arrested and subjected to further mistreatment while in custody. Some were beaten so severely that they had to be transported to the hospital. Journalists and TV camerapeople captured and reported the scenes of police brutality, bringing widespread attention to the incident. Two weeks later, 2,000 protesters marched through the streets of Montréal to Parc La Fontaine, where various speakers and artists took the stage. In 1993, in response to the events of Sex Garage, Suzanne Girard and Puelo Deir co-founded Divers/Cité and organized the first-ever “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual, and Transvestite Pride” parade. This first attempt drew over 5,000 people, and by its third edition, the number of participants and spectators had grown to over 15,000. By 2010, the event had expanded into a multi-day festival, attracting over 100,000 attendees. The festival featured a wide range of free outdoor activities, including DJs, exhibitions, comedy shows, and music concerts. At the end of 2006, Divers/Cité decided to discontinue the parade and focus on its cultural festival. This decision led to the creation of Fierté Montréal in 2007. Struggling with financial difficulties, Divers/Cité ceased its operations in May 2015.

In 2007, Fierté Montréal (then known as Célébrations de la Fierté LGBTA) took over the organization of the Pride Parade in Montréal following Divers/Cité's decision to step away from community events planning. The first edition of the Fierté Montréal Festival took place on July 28 and 29, 2007. That year, 1,500 people participated in the inaugural Fierté Montréal Pride Parade, greeted by more than 50,000 spectators gathered along René-Lévesque Boulevard.

Since its first steps, Fierté Montréal has upheld the one-minute silence, originally introduced by Divers/Cité, to honor the pioneers of 2SLGBTQIA + communities and to commemorate all those who lost their lives too soon due to HIV/AIDS. Fierté Montréal has also been the driving force behind many innovations, including an annual theme, a jury-awarded recognition for outstanding parade contingents, a Children’s Day, and the appointment of local and international Grand Marshalls—many of whom 2SLGBTQIA+ activists working tirelessly to organize pride events in their own countries.

Since 2007, the Fierté Montréal Festival has steadily grown year after year. By 2024, it brought together over 300 organizations, gathering the 2SLGBTQIA+ community sector, the cultural ecosystem, private businesses, state-owned enterprises, and public institutions, all united to celebrate the creativity and resilience of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.

As of today, Fierté Montréal amplifies the voices of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities to assure their representation, their inclusion and the recognition of their rights in society.

A look back at our history:

*Some information comes from a text written by journalist Richard Burnett for Fierté Montréal as part of the 10th edition of the Festival in 2017.

2007

Dates: July 28-29, 2007 

Theme: The power of the four elements – fire, earth, air and water

75 000 participants 

Grand Marshals:  

  • André Montmorency: actor, director, writer, painter, host, journalist and comedian 
  • Armand « La Monroe » Monroe: activist and drag queen 
  • Paryse Taillefer: Entrepreneur

2008

Dates: August 14-17, 2008  

Theme: Welcome to the Circus! 

160 000 participants 

Grand Marshals:  

  • Nicole Brossard: Poet, novelist and essayist 
  • Jasmin Roy: Host, columnist and actor 

Highlight: Logo and name change, becoming Célébrations de la Fierté.  

2009

Dates13-19 August, 2009 

Theme: ¡Fiesta!  

209 000 participants

Grand Marshals:

  • Michelle Blanc: Trans businesswoman, speaker and blogger 

2010

Dates: August 10-15, 2010  

Theme: Our superheroes

267 000 participants 

Grand Marshals:

  • Kaspars Zalitis(Latvia): Board member of the LGBT organization “Mozaika” 
  • Kristine Garina (Latvia): Co-founder of the LGBT organization “Mozaika” 
  • Michelle Blanc: Trans business woman, speaker and blogger

2011

Dates: August 9-14 2011 

Theme: 3011: Odyssey of the future 

299 300 participants  

Grand Marshals: 

  • Alice Nkom (Cameroun): At 24, she became the first black woman admitted to the Cameroon Bar Association 

Claude-Tourangeau Award: COCQ-SIDA  

Highlight: Creation of the Claude-Tourangeau Award, honoring the activist who fought tirelessly against AIDS and the stigma surrounding it. Since his passing, the award has been given annually to an individual or organization that has shown outstanding support in the fight against serophobia. 

2012

Dates: August 13-19, 2012 

Theme: Our flag, our pride  

327 000 participants  

Grand Marshals:   

  • Jean-Luc Romero(France):  French politician and activist 
  • David Testo: Professional soccer player, one of the few openly gay athletes in sports  
  • Line Chamberland: Longtime activist and sociologist 
  • Julie-Maude Beauchesne:  Journalist, public relations specialist and political scientist 
  • Kat Coric: Creator 

Ambassadors:  

  • Jean-Marc Fournier  
  • Kathleen Weil  
  • Marie-Marcelle Godbout  
  • David Testo  
  • Divers/Cité  
  • Le Groupe Banque TD  

Claude-Tourangeau Award: Jean-Luc Romero    

Bâtisseur Award: Jean-Marc Fournier, Kathleen Weil, Marie-Marcelle Godbout, David Testo, Divers/Cité, and TD Bank Group 

Hghlights: 

  • Renaming and rebranding to Fierté Montréal. 
  • Creation of the Bâtisseur Award, recognizing individuals and organizations for their significant contributions to the defense of LGBTQ+ rights in Montreal and Quebec or for their role in amplifying the community’s visibility.  

2013

Dates: August 12-18 

Theme: Red- our flag, our life 

462 560 participants 

Grand Marshals:   

  • Gilbert Baker(USA): American artist, human rights activist, and creator of the rainbow flag 
  • Jej Perfekcyjność (Poland): Polish activist  
  • Dr. Karine Igartua: Psychiatrist and advocate for sexual minorities  
  • Vicky Lauzon: Recipient of the Jasmin Roy Foundation’s Purple Ribbon Award  
  • Maude Chartrand Paquette:  Recipient of the Jasmin Roy Foundation’s Purple Ribbon Award  
  • Nicolas Vandal: Writer and speaker 

Claude-Tourangeau Award: Farha Foundation 

2014

Dates: August 11-17  

Theme: Orange – our flag, our flame 

393,400 participants

Grand Marshals:  

  • Peter Tatchell(UK): LGBT and human rights activists
  • Boban Stojanović(Serbia): LGBT rights activist
  • Dr. Réjean Thomas: Clinician and co-founder of Clinique l’Actuel 
  • Françoise Susset: Clinical psychologist and couples & family therapist 
  • Patricia Jean: Director of Arc-en-ciel d’Afrique 

Claude-Tourangeau Award: Clinique médicale l’Actuel 

Highlight: Four days of rain and record cold temperatures for August.

2015

Dates: August 10-16 August

Theme: Yellow, our flag, our energy

500,585 participants 

Grand Marshals :  

  • Anna Sharyhina (Ukraine): Director of KyivPride and Vice President of Sphere
  • Candis Cayne (USA) : American actress and performer 
  • Monique Giroux: host, producer, author and show designer 
  • Dr Richard Montoro: Psychiatrist
  • Linda Dawn Hammond: Photographer, filmmaker and journalist
  • Hubert Lavallée Bellefleur: Actor
  • Dax Dasilva:Entrepreneur
  • Francis (Penasis) Ishpatau: Political advisor for the Innu people

Claude-Tourangeau Award: ACCM – Aids Community Care Montréal  

2016

Dates: August 8-14, 2016 

Theme: Green : our flag, our nature 

2 200 000 participants 

Grand Marshals:   

  • Sridhar Rangayan (India): Filmmaker, writer and festival director 
  • Raven-Symoné (USA): Actress and producer 
  • Olie Pullen: Student advocating for transgender children’s rights 
  • Héctor Gomez: Support worker for LGBTQ newcomers  
  • Mona Belleau: Inuk activist 
  • Vincent and Bruno Boileau-Autin (France): First same-sex married couple in France 

Claude-Tourangeau Award: RÉZO  

Highlight: Fierté Montréal organizes the 10th edition of the Montréal Pride Festival. 

2017

Dates: August 10-20  

2 676599 participants 

Grand Marshals & Guests of Honor:  

  • Tasheka Lavaan (Ontario, Canada):  LGBTQ activist and communications consultant
  • Martine Roy: Co-initiator of the class-action lawsuit against the federal government for the Purge LGBTQ
  • Puelo Deir: Co-founder of Divers/Cité, Montréal’s first Pride festival
  • Mark Tewksbury (Alberta, Canada):  Globally recognized LGBTQ advocate in sports
  • Florence Gagnon: Creator of Lez Spread The Word, author, and editor
  • Bill Ryan (New Brunswick, Canada):  Professor of social work, gender, and sexual diversity at McGill University
  • Mona Greenbaum: Co-founder and executive director of the LGBTQ Family Coalition
  • Maïtée Labrecque-Saganash: Activist involved with Idle No More and Montréal Autochtone
  • John Banks: Co-organizer of Montréal’s first Pride march in 1979
  • Janik Bastien Charlebois: Activist advocating for intersex rights
  • Jack Saddleback (Alberta, Canada):  Two-Spirit trans man, activist, and member of the National Indigenous Youth Council on Sexual Health
  • Chrissy Taylor (British Columbia, Canada): Trans individual, VP of Operations at InterPride
  • Khloé Dubé: Transgender teen featured in Je suis trans
  • Stuart Milk (United States): LGBTQ rights activist in 63 countries for over 20 years
  • Mado Lamotte: Québec’s most famous Montréal-based drag queen
  • Fleurien Leth Graveson: Non-binary writer, photographer, and activist from Montréal
  • Mark Singh (Ontario, Canada): Activist with leadership roles on InterPride boards

Claude-Tourangeau Award: Joanne Otis, Ken Monteith et Mark Wainberg 

 Highlights: Montréal hosts the first-ever Canada pride, a 10-day celebration inspired by EuroPride and WorldPride, coinciding with:

  • The 375th anniversary of Montréal
  • The 50th anniversary of Expo 67
  • The 150th anniversary of Canadian Confederation

Major milestones: new logo introduction, first edition held at Parc des Faubourgs, creation of QTBIPOC and youth safer spaces



2018

Dates: August 9–19, 2018 

Theme: A Parade Under the Blue Theme 

2,100,000 participants 

Grand Marshals: 

  • Dany Turcotte (Canada): Comedian, writer, and TV host 
  • Miss Major Griffin-Gracy (United States): Trans rights activist since the 1960s 
  • Gus Kenworthy (United States): Freestyle skier and Olympic medalist 
  • Jacq Brasseur (Northwest Territories, Canada): Queer, bisexual, and bigender activist; co-founder of the Rainbow Coalition of Yellowknife 
  • Kennedy Olango (Kenya): Program manager for Men Against AIDS Youth Group in Kenya 
  • Julie Lemieux (Canada): Mayor of Très-Saint-Rédempteur, Montérégie 
  • Dominique Lavergne (Canada): First Mme Cuir Montréal (2017) and Vice President of Weekend Fusion 

Claude-Tourangeau Award: Maria Nengeh Mensah and Ongin 

Highlight: logo change 

2019

Dates: August 8-18, 2019

3,400,000 participants

Grand Marshals:

  • Anan Bouapha (Laos): Founder of Proud to Be Us Laos and activist
  • Danny Godbout: Activist, leader of the leather community, and Mr. Leather 2011
  • Ma-Nee Chacaby (Ontario, Canada): Author and activist, Two-Spirit Elder for Indigenous communities
  • Monica Helms (United States): Author, creator of the transgender flag, and founder of the Transgender American Veterans Association
  • Val Desjardins: Activist, entrepreneur, athlete, and coach
  • Wilson Cruz (United States): Actor and LGBTQ+ activist

Claude-Tourangeau Award: Denis-Martin Chabot

Builder Award: Alexandre Remy, Gerry Cyr, and Luc D'Arcy

John Banks Award: John Banks

Highlight: Creation of the John Banks Award, which recognizes the exceptional contribution of an individual who has worked towards the creation and expansion of the Pride movement.

2020

Dates: August 6-16, 2020

Theme: 360° Edition

849,094 participants

Grand Marshals:

  • Anthony Johnson (USA) & James Makokis (Canada): Indigenous and queer couple, winners of Amazing Race Canada 2019
  • Marina Gallant & Debbie Lynch-White: Management professional, bassist, guitarist, and DJ; and actress
  • Simon Boulerice: Actor, director, author

Highlight: In 2020, due to the global pandemic, the Festival was held 100% virtually.

Builder Award: Luss Martin


2021

Dates: August 9-15, 2021


Theme: Together for All
301,089 participants

Highlight: In 2021, a gradual return to group activities allowed by public health led to a hybrid edition, with some outdoor activities and a significant portion online. After the 2021 edition, changes in the leadership team occurred with the arrival of the new Executive Director. This was also the first time that the Community Day became community DAYS.

Claude-Tourangeau Award: Anaïs Zeledon Montenegro


2022

Dates: August 1-7, 2022

500,000 participants

Grand Marshals:

  • Dr. Bertrand Lebouché: Researcher in HIV and STI screening, sexual health, and optimization of antiretroviral treatment for preventive purposes at McGill University.
  • Joseph Messinga Ngonka (Cameroon): Activist and emerging mobilizer in Francophone African territories, Secretary General of Fierté Afrique Francophone.
  • Laura Niquay: Atikamekw singer-songwriter.
  • Midnight Poonkasetwattana (Thailand): Advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion in the Asia-Pacific region, Executive Director of APCOM.

Awards:

  • Claude-Tourangeau Award: Jordan Arseneault & Jade Elektra
  • Builder Award: Céleste Trianon
  • John Banks Award: Armand Monroe

Highlights: On August 7, 2022, the Pride Parade was canceled at the last minute. The Ville de Montréal appointed Philippe Schnobb, former chair of the STM board, to investigate. His 25-page report, delivered in October 2022, concluded that the cancellation was due to a misunderstanding, without the approval of the Executive Director or the Board. This led to a governance restructuring at Fierté Montréal. The recommendations from the Schnobb report were implemented in 2023.

For the first time, the major events of the 2022 edition took place at the Esplanade du Parc Olympique, the new main site featuring the TD Stage and Casino de Montréal Stage.

A first in Québec: The Festival received the "Commande un Angelot" accreditation, a protocol aimed at preventing and addressing sexual harassment in nightlife settings, making Fierté Montréal the first festival in Québec to receive this accreditation.

Also for the first time, the Festival’s main site included a booth dedicated to demystifying kink realities, as well as psychosocial support services related to alcohol and substance use.


2023

Dates: August 3-13, 2023 

Theme: Never Without My Pride! 

775,000 participants 

Grand Marshals: 

  • Christiane Taubira (France): French politician and writer 
  • Hetera Saskya Caïla Estimphil (Haiti): 28-year-old transgender woman and LGBTQIA+ activist from Haiti 
  • Scott Wabano (Ontario, Canada): Two-Spirit Cree EEYOU from Mushkegowuk & Eeyou Istchee territory, creative director, fashion designer, stylist, and online content creator 
  • Yannick Nézet-Séguin: Artistic director and principal conductor of the Orchestre Métropolitain since 2000 

Awards: 

  • Claude-Tourangeau Award: Alexandra de Kiewit (posthumous) 
  • Builder Award: Barbada 
  • John Banks Award: Laura Yaros 

Highlights: Rebranding and website redesign to refresh Fierté Montréal’s identity. 

The Pride Parade made a strong comeback since 2019, with a record 15,500 registered marchers and an audience of over 200,000 people to commemorate past struggles and victories, honor those who paved the way, and amplify the demands of 2SLGBTQIA+ organizations. 

More than 180 2SLGBTQIA+ and allied organizations from Montréal and over ten regions across Québec participated in the Community Days, presented by Air Canada, attracting over 145,000 visitors on Friday, August 11, and Saturday, August 12. 

In July 2023, Fierté Montréal continued its transformation by adopting new bylaws, providing for the recruitment of new members and the progressive renewal of the Board of Directors. 

In November 2023, Fierté Montréal launched "Ensemble pour toustes", a podcast series produced by Marie-Hélène Frenette-Assad and hosted by political-social comedian Coco Belliveau. The series takes listeners across a queer Québec, engaging with community members about the struggles, histories, demands, and realities of 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals living outside major urban centers. 

2024

Dates: August 1-11, 2024 

Theme: We Are the Rainbow! 

410,000 participants 

Grand Marshals: 

  • Sasha Colby (United States): Drag performer, dancer, and trans activist from West Hollywood, California. 
  • Ouissem Belgacem (France/Tunisia): French-Tunisian footballer, writer, and CEO of OnTrack Sport, a company supporting high-level athletes in their post-career transition. 

Awards: 

  • Claude-Tourangeau Award: Le Dispensaire 
  • Builder Award: Chloé Viau (posthumous) 
  • John Banks Award: Fugues 

Highlights: 

  • In April 2024, Fierté Montréal received the Tourisme Montréal Distinction Award in the Marketing and Destination Promotion category for its brand identity and website revamp. 
  • For the first time, Fierté Montréal took place in downtown Montréal: The Loto-Québec Stage at Esplanade Tranquille hosted four days of queer cultural programming, welcoming 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, tourists, and visitors. 
  • 17,000 marchers joined the Pride Parade, drawing over 200,000 spectators to amplify the demands of 2SLGBTQIA+ organizations. Despite a temporary disruption by counter-protesters, the event continued successfully, thanks to mediation efforts stemming from an action plan developed since winter 2024. 
  • Severe rainstorms on Friday, August 9, forced the cancellation of outdoor events for the day. These activities were rescheduled for Saturday, August 10, with the support of artists and producers. 
  • Similar efforts were made to accommodate several 2SLGBTQIA+ community organizations at the Community Day on Saturday, August 10, presented by Air Canada, following the cancellation of Friday's events. As a result, 90,000 visitors engaged with 135 2SLGBTQIA+ and allied organizations from Montréal and over eleven regions across Québec.