Nate Knows … Why the Toronto Pride flag raising ceremony is important. I didn’t realize how important it was until I arrived at Nathan Phillips Square on Monday, June  28 and watched Councillor Kyle Rae deliver a very moving speech about how far our city has come in terms of equal rights for the LGBT community. The ceremony wasn’t just about gays raising a flag, it was about showing our respect for the community members who had fought so hard for a flag raising ceremony to even exist in the first place, let alone an entire parade! Toronto is far ahead of the rest of the world in terms of LGBT equality and that is something to be proud of. I was so inspired by the ceremony that I will be raising my own freak flag high this week! Happy Pride, everyone!