An army of lovers will never be defeated

In Trinity Bellwoods park, a plaque adorned with this queer, feminist slogan appears at the foot of a memorial tree for local gay artist and activist Will Munro. Adapted from the closing line of a poem by 1970s lesbian poet Rita Mae Brown, this is a vital message of hope.  

As Pride month gets underway, violent backlash is raging against incremental progress for trans rights and visibility, and the joyful freedom of expression that drag performers embody. Far-right extremist voices are increasingly mainstream, proving to be well-funded and well-coordinated in their efforts to sway people who may be vulnerable to their rhetoric. Their strategy of stirring up fear surrounding a tiny minority of the population has gained traction.  

What often works to their advantage is relative clarity in using messages that play on fear. By contrast, trying to account for the nuances of human experience – to help people unlearn powerful myths and understand those whom society has forced to the margins – is far more complex. For those of us who defend trans rights, it’s too simplistic to say that love will conquer all. Yet love is, in a lot of ways, the core of our beliefs, and what we can lean into as the antidote to fear. 

We have a gut feeling about doing what's right and wanting to look out for other people. Love is the well we can draw from to keep going. Spending time to connect with our bodies, and the places in us where love lives, is not a frivolous pursuit. And Pride is the ideal moment for this. Let’s embrace the pleasure of our bodies in every way, to whatever extent we’re able. Be physically together in community, at marches, parties, drag shows; and by the same token, rest, meditate, and hydrate. It’s all fuel we need for the fight. 

Rita Mae Brown put it like this: an army of lovers shall not fail. We wish everyone a safe, loving Pride. We are with you, at this moment and for the challenges still to come.