Some 200 people marched, danced and kissed their way to the downtown core Tuesday afternoon to protest the G20 and raise awareness on queer rights.
The march, led by a drum troupe belting out “We’re queer, we’re fabulous, we’re against the G20,” made its way from Queen and Yonge Sts. to University Ave. under the watch of scores of police officers. “We’ve made strides in the queer and trans communities, but there’s still lots to be done,” said Dagmar Werkmeister, a member of the Gender Justice advocacy group.
“Why is what’s important to so many people on the street not important to the policy-makers?” she asked. Ro Velasquez, an organizer of the event, said the march was also to raise visibility of the violence against the queer and trans communities that happens on a daily basis. “Since 2006 hate crimes have doubled,” she said. “Where is the investigation, where is the police justice?”
Throughout the march, the group — some clad in penguin masks and walking in step with music — would stop and have a kiss-in where protesters would grab a partner or even a police officer and try to land a smooch.
March participant Adriana Alarcon said she convinced one female officer to give her a kiss. “I just think we need to get them with love. It was my goal today to kiss a cop,” she said.The event, however, wasn’t entirely peaceful. One participant was tackled by police shortly after the march kicked off in front of a monument at Queen and Yonge, spurring jeers of “shame” from the crowd.
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