TORONTO — Although it was an evening meant to celebrate the progress made by LGBTQ+ leaders and organizations across Canada, the star-studded inaugural PTP Pink Awards carried an underlying sentiment that dark times were ahead.

Two days after American voters re-elected Donald Trump as president and a week after the Alberta government introduced sweeping legislation that could impact the lives of transgender people, Thursday evening was full of a cautious optimism summed up by host Priyanka during the show’s opening.

“What a week, right?” » declared the first winner of “Canada’s Drag Race” to nervous laughter from the audience.

“The internet is getting louder and louder, people are getting more opinionated and it’s great that everyone has a voice, but oh…it’s hard!”

The famous drag queen put the negativity aside shortly after assuring the room that “what the doctor orders is weird joy.” And so, for much of the night, queer positivity resonated the loudest.

Five notable LGBTQ Canadians, including actor Elliot Page and musician Rufus Wainwright, handpicked community groups they believe have made a difference.

Each organization received a $5,000 donation, a place in a media awareness campaign and a portion of the proceeds from a silent auction.

Page chose Calgary-based Skipping Stone, which aims to connect transgender youth, adults and their families with support systems.

Before taking the stage, the “Umbrella Academy” actor talked about keeping perspective on the threats facing the trans community.

“The path to liberation is not linear and this backlash is very real,” he said.

Page added that it’s important for the LGBTQ community to be there for each other and “strategize together about how are we going to resist what happened and what else might happen.”

Skipping Stone executive director Amelia Marie Newbert paused during her acceptance speech to note that at that point it was likely the Alberta Legislature was “literally debating our right to exist , something that should not be debated.”

However, she stressed that Skipping Stone’s recognition was significant not only for the organization but also for the province’s transgender community.

“It’s about them feeling like there’s hope,” she said.

“Knowing that there are people on our side, that hope is priceless.”

Winner Jeremy Dutcher selected 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations, a Toronto-based office that connects the Indigenous community with local resources.

The musician, a two-time Polaris Music Prize winner, said he was also captivated by the efforts of other LGBTQ organizations.

“None of this happens in a vacuum,” he said.

“There’s a constellation of people doing really incredible transformative work that makes space for queer people.”

Other names honored include queer activist Latoya Nugent, a refugee in Canada, who chose Among Friends, a program for LGBTQ+ asylum seekers that takes place at Toronto’s 519 Community Centre.

Hockey player Marie-Philip Poulin, absent from the ceremony due to a match, chose You Can Play, which promotes inclusiveness in sport.

Wainwright chose PFLAG Canada, the local chapter of the education and support organization for the LGBTQ community.

Entrepreneur Salah Bachir, who received the Legacy Award for his philanthropy, completed the list of winners.

Pink Triangle Press executive director Jennifer McGuire said organizers were inspired to launch the show because of the growing hostile climate towards the LGBTQ+ community. in many regions.

“We have seen an increase in hate crimes directed against the community, a reclamation of rights targeting not only trans people but beyond – reproductive rights, surrogacy rights, depending on the country,” he said. she declared.

“It was an opportunity to turn the page on that and frame a public conversation about positivity and people doing good.”

Pink Triangle Press is the publisher of Xtra magazine as well as an advocate for LGBTQ+ representation in Canadian media.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published November 7, 2024.

David Friend, The Canadian Press