Tjinomasa Kandundu

The 24-year-old was born in Namibia and came to Canada in November, 2010. She is celebrating her first Pride this year.

What made you come to Canada?

I was running away from my family. They used to harass me emotionally and sexually. My mom and aunt used to tell my cousin to rape me because they believed that being homosexual can be cured by sleeping with a man.

What were the events that led up to you coming to Canada?

Being sexually harassed and being beaten up by my sister and my cousin. These things would have caused me to die because I was so depressed I started [hurting] myself. And I know for sure, if I would have stayed, my cousin would have raped me and probably killed me.

How have things changed for you since moving here?

I'm happier. It's like, wow, I'm in a dream, seeing other homosexual people around, holding hands, kissing in streets. It's something that is new to me and I feel like, really, this is where I belong.

What does celebrating Pride mean to you?

I'm not sure what it's all about, but I know it's celebrating the freedom of being homosexual. So I'm just looking forward to see what is happening there and excited to meet new people of my same sexual status.

Why do you think it's important to celebrate Pride?

Personally, I think it's important to celebrate my freedom of being who I am and the fact that I'm being accepted here. It shows people out there who might be homophobic that we are normal people just like them.

Mezart Daulp

He is 25 and works for the Asian Community AIDS Services as a youth program co-ordinator and MSM outreach worker.

Where are you from originally?

I was born in China, but I'm not typical Han Chinese. I'm the Muslim minority in China, people call us Uigur or Chinese Muslim. I moved to Japan when I was 9.

Did you have any experiences in Japan related to your sexuality?

I think mostly it was my family, because we're Muslim. My dad once told me that if his son were gay he'd kill that son. I was 12 or 11.

What does celebrating Pride mean to you?

I kind of lost meaning when I came to Toronto about Pride because, when I was in Japan, it was more advocating. ... But when I came to Toronto, it was more like parties, and I didn't see much community activism, or maybe it's over ... but I don't really think so.

Do you think it's still important to celebrate Pride?

Yes. Not only celebrate, but fight.

What does it mean to you to be a gay person who is also a new Canadian?

I thought when I came here, it would be a gay utopia. Then I came and I saw things didn't change much. I still face homophobia and now I face more racism in the gay community and there are so many issues still. So it's interesting how I'm still in a similar position to when I was in Japan, even though I can be more open as a gay. I still face lots of challenges. So it's still like finding my safe place, that's the journey that I haven't finished yet.

Hurly Meraveles

Last year, the 27-year-old hitchhiked to Vancouver to highlight racism and homophobia issues. This year, he heads east and will blog about it on his website, thumbsupcanada.com.

How have your experiences as a gay person changed since you've moved here?

Here you can be a gay man without having to cross-dress, which is very typical of the Philippine understanding of being gay. But also here I feel like there's a lot of boxing. People put you in boxes. In the Philippines people would engage in gay activities and gay sex, but do not consider themselves gay, and that's fine. Here, there is a lot of, if you have sex with another guy, even if you don't want to identify as gay, or if you don't identify as gay, then people say: "no, you are actually gay."

What does celebrating Pride mean to you?

I think Pride is being who you are, it's a feeling, and being able to express who you are regardless of your sexuality or sexual orientation. It's also a reminder of the work that has to be done. I work with youth in schools and there's a lot of homophobia going on without them even knowing that their words, for example, have a homophobic history. Also, when I was travelling across Canada doing anti-racism and anti-homophobia workshops and awareness, I definitely encountered a lot of people who are very homophobic.

What changes have you seen in the LGBT community in both the Philippines and in Canada?

I think the LGBT community is growing more and more visible, and that's really good, because I think one of the reasons why people are homophobic is also because of the invisibility of the gay community.

Alred Atwongyeire

Now 49, he fled Uganda as a refugee. HIV-positive but healthy, he volunteers at the Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention.

What was it like being a gay man in Uganda?

Gay men in Uganda hide a lot. Because when it [becomes] known you are a gay man, usually you can be stoned to death. So I was doing it undercover. Pretending to have a girlfriend. I even once had a wife. Other people who don't know that it is in someone's nature to be gay, they [see] it as a serious crime, so they do mob justice against someone who is known to be gay.

Were you ever in danger?

Yeah, because at the time I left, I had bribed the policemen and they had set me free, but I had already been in custody. I was arrested. That's when people got to know about it.

How long were you in jail?

Three days.

How has living as a gay man changed since you moved to Canada?

Here, I found out, is [a place] of freedom. So I'm comfortable here.

What's the best part?

Freedom, of course. I'm not working, but this is a government that is looking after me. I get [assistance]. I don't think there is any other country like Canada. In fact, to me, I take Canada as heaven. I have never been to heaven, but we were brought up being told, 'in heaven there is peace,' so I take it like heaven.

Are you excited to celebrate Pride?

I cannot miss it.

Richard Bruce

An administrative assistant, 27, he came to Canada from Jamaica two years ago as a refugee due to his being gay.

Were you openly gay in Jamaica?

Not out in public, but to my family and my friends. It was difficult. That's the main reason why I came here, because this was one of the only places that I knew that I could get to where I could live openly and not be afraid.

What was the fear?

Fear that I might die, wake up one day and my house [would be] on fire, or somebody at work finding out that I'm gay and telling everyone. It was just a huge fear that if someone found out, then that's the end of it. You either die or you leave. It's just how it works. If you talk to anybody that's Jamaican that's exactly what they'll tell you. I didn't like going out anywhere because there was always a stigma attached to if two men went to the movies together or if two guys went to have dinner together. There was always some kind of stigma.

How have things changed for you since moving here?

I've been able to live openly as a gay man. If somebody asks me if I'm gay, I can say, "yes, I am gay." I don't have to pretend that I'm not. It's just a whole different feeling than when I was living in Jamaica [where] you have to be looking over your shoulder all the time - you can't tell anyone that you're gay. But here, it's like the total opposite.

Misset Parata

She came out after moving to Toronto from Venezuela eight years ago. She is 36.

What was it like to be gay in Venezuela?

It wasn't easy. I wasn't out. I remember when I was about 13 I started to have feelings, but that was like, you know, you're a teenager and you're like, "oh no, this is not right, maybe." Then when I was 18, I was reminded, "oh, maybe I could be gay." I was threatened by my best friend's sister. I think she noticed that I liked my friend and she actually called me a lesbian and she threatened to hurt me. After that incident, I watched myself and said "no, I'm not gay." I put all my feelings away. I grew up in a slum in Venezuela and it wasn't safe to be gay, so I totally took that idea out of my mind. I said maybe if that came through they'd kill me.

How did it feel to finally come out and live openly as a gay woman?

Wow. I remember when I came out, and I came out to friends first, it was such a relief. I always say that I was reborn when I was 28. And that's why maybe I feel like I'm still growing, I feel like this is a new me. I'm a happy person. I feel full, I feel complete with myself in the sense that I'm able to be who I want to be without hiding it. It's wonderful.

What does celebrating Pride mean to you?

I remember when I celebrated my first Pride and I was out. At that time it was a big celebration for myself. A year had gone by, and I had realized how important [it was]. Not just a party and seeing people, no. For me it's a reminder that there are a lot of people that are still struggling, not just in Venezuela. I feel that I celebrate for myself and I also in certain ways celebrate for them.

CORRECTION

Mezart Daulet works for the Asian Community AIDS Services. His surname was misspelled on Saturday. The accompanying photo should have been credited to Peter Power.