Latest news with #SistaPatriciaDerouin
CTV News
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
‘It's a lifetime achievement': Drag storytime guardian leads London Pride Parade as Grand Marshal
Whenever there is a drag storytime in Southwestern Ontario, Sista Patricia Derouin and her band of 'Guardians' are likely there. 'When I heard that there was trouble at the drag story times and the right-wing people were attending them and harassing the drag queens, I thought, well, I gotta go,' said Derouin, 72, the creator of the Drag Storytime Guardians/Guardians in Action. That group has more than 1,000 members province-wide who protect drag performers, families and children from anti-LGBTQ+ hate. The group was formed after a confrontation at a children's event in Parkhill, Ont. where her Windsisters motorcycle club stepped in to fend off angry protestors. CTV London was there and captured the encounter. 072025 - London Pride Parade Sista Patricia Derouin (left) and her Windsisters motorcycle group form a human chain outside the Parkhill, Ont. Library protecting those entering Drag Story time from protestors on Apr. 29, 2023. (Brent Lale/CTV News London) 'It was a horrific, horrific show in Parkhill,' said Derouin. 'They attacked us verbally, they interfered and they tried to get into the story time. It is performers dressed up reading stories to children, and their obsession with that is unbelievable. And I, I still don't understand why people are so obsessed about us.' Her group of Guardians often surround the performers during story time when they are at their most vulnerable. 'I've dealt with a lot of hatred in my day, and one of the biggest and worst events I can remember was a story time in Ingersoll, Ontario, where the Guardians were there and they had their flags and the kids could come in peacefully despite the disgusting signs from the haters. It was pretty scary,' said drag performer Mrs. Chastity Cage. 'We were literally surrounded by haters within the library themselves, holding up signs all around us. The Guardians slipped in between and created this entire barrier around.' 072025 - London Pride Parade Sista Patricia Derouin (left) - the creator of the Drag Storytime Guardians - stands with drag performer Mrs. Chastity Cage prior to the serving as Grand Marshal of the 2025 London Pride Parade. (Brent Lale/CTV News London) For her activism, Derouin was recognized by the community as the Grand Marshal of the 2025 London Pride Parade. 'It's a lifetime achievement,' said Derouin. 'I've been a activist my entire life. My parents, my family were all in service. I retired from serving the homeless community. I'm a full-time queer activist and it was a job that was made for me.' 072025 - London Pride Parade Sista Patricia Derouin waves to the public while leading the 2025 London Pride Parade as Grand Marshal. (Brent Lale/CTV News London) A proud butch lesbian, Derouin encourages people to celebrate who you are every moment of every day. During Saturday's drag story time at Victoria Park, there were the usual few protestors, but she believes her group has made life a lot easier and safer in the past few years for members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. 'I don't back down and they (protestors) know that I do not step back,' said Derouin. 'We're here to support our community and I'm going to stand right in front of you and I'm not moving. They know that and it makes them a little bit nuts.'
CTV News
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
‘120 entries'; Pride London Parade's grand finale of week-long Pride London Festival
The Pride London Festival in Victoria Park runs all day Saturday and Sunday. (Brent Lale/CTV News London) It's billed as 'London's most colourful day of the year.' The Pride London Parade begins Sunday at noon. 'We have 120 entries and we're anticipating between 6,000 to 8,000 people participating,' said Robyn Hodgson, president of Pride London Festival. 'It is the second largest pride parade in Ontario.' Sponsored by Canada Life, the parade will return to staging in the Western Fair District parking lot after being forced onto Queen's Ave due to construction the past couple of years. 071925 Drag performers Bow Dangles and Mz. Affra-Tighty read stories in Victoria Park on Saturday July 19, 2025. (Brent Lale/CTV News London) 'We're able to go from the fairgrounds, as we always have,' said Hodgson. 'We'll deviate onto Queen's Avenue and then come all the way over to Waterloo in front of City Hall on Dufferin and then arrive at the park and everybody can join back in our festivities.' Downtown London already has many streets closed due to construction, and Sunday afternoon there will be more closures for the annual Pride London Parade. The City of London says there will be temporary rolling road closures from 12p.m. to 4 p.m. Richmond Street from Central Avenue to Oxford Street will be closed 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. They are asking people to plan ahead. The Grand Marshal of the parade is Sista Patricia Derouin. The 72 year old is described as a 'fierce and beloved elder' who is know in the community as one of the Drag Story Time Guardians. 071925 Sista Patricia Derouin (right) will be the Grand Marshal of the 2025 Pride London parade. (Brent Lale/CTV News London) After the parade, the Festival will continue until the final act at 7 p.m. Sunday night. Saturday featured entertainment in the park, including Drag Storytime, Drag shows, a performance by the Original Kids Theatre, yoga and music. 'It's all about inclusivity,' said Hodgson. 'We are trying to be open, inclusive to all genders, all races, all sexualities. It is just about showing our appreciation for all members of our community.'
