In a turn of events that brings to mind the question of whether the coronavirus pandemic is God’s holy judgment on Earth, it was announced this week that Toronto’s annual LGBT Pride Parade, one of the world’s largest LGBT festivals, has been canceled.
According to GoPride, Toronto Mayor John Tory made the announcement during a press briefing on the coronavirus pandemic, delivering the news that the city was canceling all city-permitted events through the end of June.
“Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the city of Toronto is canceling all city-led major events, festivals, conferences, and cultural programs,” Tory said, “and is also canceling all city permits for major events organized by external groups at civic centers, squares, parks, public spaces – including road closures, city-operated museums, and cultural centers. All of those permits will be canceled through June 30.”
As you may know, June is considered “Pride Month” worldwide, with many major cities across the globe holding relevant events all month long, typically culminating in a raucous parade at the end of the month.
“In alignment with the City of Toronto’s statement, Pride Toronto will no longer host the Festival Weekend on June 26-28, 2020,” tweeted Pride Toronto, which organizes the festival. “Stay proud and stay safe, Toronto.”
In alignment with the City of Toronto’s statement, Pride Toronto will no longer host the Festival Weekend on June 26-28th, 2020. Our full statement is available online https://t.co/KSXeLOs9E3 Stay proud and stay safe, Toronto. #PrideToronto #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/T7ANaknTpJ
— Pride Toronto (@PrideToronto) March 31, 2020
In a separate statement, Pride Toronto said that it would put on some sort of programming but offered no details as of this writing.
As of last Thursday, Toronto reported 897 COVID-19 cases and 11 deaths from the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
According to figures released by the European Pride Organizers Association (EPOA), hundreds of LGBT pride marches and festivals have been canceled as the coronavirus compels governments across the world to impose prolonged bans on large gatherings.
While we, like our Father in Heaven, do not rejoice in harm befalling anyone, we know that He is the righteous and holy Judge of all the earth.
He is the God of immeasurable mercy, but He is also the fount of righteous justice.
LGBT “Pride” is just one way in which humanity has turned its back on its Creator. If we believe God holds this world and its affairs in the palm of His hand, how can we fault Him for exercising perfect justice alongside immense mercy? We can’t.
Saints, we must weep for this sinful, fallen world. We must cry out to our fellow image-bearers of God and plead with them to repent, to turn from their sin, and to believe the Gospel and trust in Christ’s righteousness.
This is our true mission, and it is more crucial now than ever.
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