Pride weekend in Toronto began Saturday afternoon with the annual Dyke March and rally, a demonstration aimed at promoting safe and positive spaces.
The 2012 march began with a 1 p.m. rally at Church and Hayden Streets, near Bloor Street East.
Participants are expected to move north on Church to Bloor, south on Yonge to Carlton, before heading east on Carlton Street. The final destination is east-end park Allan Gardens, where a picnic has been scheduled.
The march is open -- but not limited to -- individuals who identify as lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, asexual, transgender or two-spirited.
As per tradition, the Dyke March takes place one day before the Pride Parade, an internationally-renowned celebration of tolerance.
Both events are part of the city’s 10-day Pride festival, which attracts thousands of tourists from around the world and generates an estimated $136 million for the city.
