What does Pride mean to you? Do you think of the Pride festival in June, or of a movement in the form of political progress? Maybe Pride for you is the confidence of being "out" in the open, free of shame.

In my search to find out what Pride means to Torontonians, I sat down this week with Lorraine and Eliza, two staff members at Good For Her. The pro-woman, pro-queer sex shop is a unique find - located at 175 Harbord Street, the store features queer-friendly workshops, a huge range of toys and books for diverse users, and women and trans-only hours on Sundays.

Celebrating Difference

"There's a lot about Pride the event that is about showing people, ‘Yes we are like you,' but there's a lot about Pride that's saying, ‘No, actually, we're celebrating our difference.'"

Lorraine, who has put in over five years as a staff member at Good For Her, sees this ying-yang of unity and diversity as an important part of Pride. For Lorraine, it is the diversity that unites us.

"I feel like no matter who you are, there's a place for you at Pride - you fit under the umbrella."

Community is Key

Eliza has been working at the store for about a year, as well as being involved in the Feminist Porn Awards. For her, Pride is all about communities joining forces.

"I see Pride as a place for all of the different communities to come together to talk about their lives and have fun."

Eliza sees the store as a vital place for the LGBTTIQQ2SA community. "[Among] our staff, we talk about the language that we use around body parts and genitals. We try to be neutral and not make assumptions about people's identities.

"Most of us [at the store] have a connection to the queer community. Whether we identify that way or not, we have some lived experience so we can identify with our customers."

A Celebration

Despite being constantly surrounded by sexuality at Good For Her, Pride clearly represents more than sex for these two.

"Pride is about being able to celebrate all the things that make up who you are," says Lorraine.

-Words by Keren Gottfried, Media Committee Journalist