Along with a 47,000 square foot Pride House located in downtown Toronto, "PrideHouse Celebrates!" will create a live street site during each weekend of the Games that will include stage shows, sports and games play, and licensed gardens, it is claimed. 

The plans, which have received the full support of the Province of Ontario, City of Toronto, lead partner CIBC bank, and the Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games Organising Committee, are hoped to make athletes from all 41 countries feel at home when they make the trip to Canada next year.

PrideHouse Toronto hopes its plans will allow athletes to feel like they can be themselves on the field of play and in the Athletes' Village, and let spectators who attend events know they will not be subjected to homophobic jeers and language.

PrideHouse Toronto has released plans to make the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games the most inclusive ever for the LGBTQ community ©PHTO



"Given that 11 Pan American nations competing at the Toronto 2015 Games still criminalise LGBTQ activity, it's important to send the message that there is a place for all in sport," said PrideHouse Toronto spokesperson Ryan Tollofson.

"Along with public art projects, the PrideHouse Pavilion will be a safe welcoming space for people to watch these Games, and learn about LGBTQ participation in sport as well as human rights in the Americas."

PrideHouse Toronto is also building on the energy and excitement of the Toronto 2015 Games to issue a call to action to make sport inclusive at school and community levels across the province.

Trained PrideHouse ambassadors are activating regional celebrations to promote LGBTQ inclusion in sport through panel discussions, sports days and film nights.

An educational outreach programme to elementary schools across the province will be launched in April 2015.

For further details on PrideHouse Toronto's plans for the Pan American Games, click here.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
July 2014: Human rights campaigner Tatchell announced as Champion of Pride House at Glasgow 2014
May 2014: Glasgow City Council agrees to fly LGBT flag for Commonwealth Games
February 2014: Glasgow 2014 welcomes LGBT community with announcement of Pride House
January 2014: Pride House International "impressed" by reaction to global solidarity appeal ahead of Sochi 2014
December 2014: Pride House International calls on groups around globe to hold events during Sochi 2014