Walks of Pride: The Courage to Exist in Public Space

7/22/2026

by Cossette

The Conseil québécois LGBT and Cossette launch an interactive platform mapping the personal stories and resilience behind Pride, one journey at a time.

At a time when homophobia and transphobia are on the rise across Quebec, the Conseil québécois LGBT and Cossette are joining forces to highlight a fundamental truth: before Pride becomes a powerful collective movement, it begins with individual journeys.

Walks of Pride is a new interactive platform that maps these everyday, deeply personal moments. Through firsthand stories, members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community share memories that reveal the courage it took to simply walk down a street, claim a neighbourhood, or exist openly in public space.

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Some walks may seem ordinary, yet they can change a life. The street where someone walked to a first date while fully embracing themselves. The sidewalk where they held the hand of the person they love for the first time. The bus ride where they wore a dress without hiding. In Quebec, more than half of trans people (53%) still actively avoid public spaces out of fear of harassment or violence. For many, simply leaving home remains an act of resistance. It is through this everyday courage, and the determination to exist in public space, that Pride takes shape.

The platform is simple in concept. Between Pride Month in June and Montreal’s major Pride celebrations in August, 2SLGBTQIA+ people are invited to map a walk that marks a moment in their journey toward self-emancipation: a specific memory, a few city blocks, an everyday route that becomes something more. Each story is geotagged on a map of Montreal, transforming the city's streets into clickable rainbow routes. Some of these walks will also invite members of the public and allies to retrace the journey alongside the person who shared it—so that no one has to walk alone.

For the Conseil québécois LGBT, which brings together more than 85 organizations across the province, the campaign comes at a pivotal moment.

“The right to move freely and exist safely in our cities is at the heart of our advocacy. This platform reminds us that every step taken in public space is both a political and profoundly human act. By bringing our voices together with Cossette’s creative vision, we hope to show that our stories deserve to be read, respected, and protected—one street at a time.”

Mylène de Repentigny Corbeil, Co-Chair of the Conseil québécois LGBT.

“Behind the power of a crowd are thousands of quiet, invisible walks that demand extraordinary courage. Simply leaving home as your authentic self is already an act of bravery. That’s where Pride begins. With Walks of Pride, we wanted to give these moments the recognition they deserve. Because when we celebrate individuals, we strengthen the community stronger as a whole.”

Chris Bergeron, Vice-President, Branded Content at Cossette.

To follow the rollout of the platform and explore the personal stories and journeys shared by the community, visit walksofpride.ca.