The Best Work You May Never See: Taxi Toronto, Egale Canada Show Pride With "Coming Out" Film

Coming out can be difficult and complicated, and it’s not something most cis-gendered, heterosexual Canadians have insight into. According to a recent study from Egale (a national LGBTQI2S human rights organization), over 80% of LGBTQ+ individuals have felt distress related to their sexual orientation or gender identity, and 54% haven’t come out to their colleagues for fear of being rejected or bullied.

To bring attention to this issue, Egale and creative agency TAXI Toronto created “Coming Out”--a film made up entirely of user submitted footage. The film highlights the emotional struggles we’ve had during the COVID-19 quarantine--for all of us, waiting to come out has been hard. But imagine a much more challenging isolation where you’ve been waiting your entire life--that’s what LGBT+ people go through when they can’t come out as who they are. This film encourages people to foster better, more accepting communities.

“With the global pandemic putting a halt to in-person Pride events, it is crucial now more than ever for people to feel safe in who they are--this [film] is a step in creating that awareness with a broader audience,” said Helen Kennedy, executive director of Egale Canada. “We hope it shines a light on important issues and conversations surrounding equality for our LGBTQI2S community in Canada and beyond.”

“Coming Out” runs online and on Egale’s social channels nationally in Canada through the summer.