I’d always wanted to combine my two favourite things — gays and screaming — so Gay Day at Wonderland was great. I’d never gone to Gay Day before, but some friends wanted to get together, so we hopped in a car, blasted some Dionne Warwick and hightailed it to the park. It was wonderful: not just seeing other gay people, but also seeing young children with gay family members happily enjoying a day in the park. For those who lead visibly gay, trans or queer existences, it’s a time and place to feel safe and secure in numbers; some in the gay male community aren’t really aware of what it’s like for our more identifiable brothers and sisters to be out and about in public.

For those who are new to being out, Gay Day is a great way to feel they’re among family while enjoying what other people take for granted. It’s also a terrific fundraiser for PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), an entirely volunteer-run non-profit charity. PFLAG literally puts families back together: from operating the 24-hour support lines to the monthly meetings. Money is needed to help these volunteers help other families, and if you can help by riding a few roller coasters? Well, that’s just bloody brilliant.

Gay Day is Sat, Aug 18 at Canada’s Wonderland, 9580 Jane St, Vaughan. canadaswonderland.com, pflagcanada.ca

And a reminder of just how incredible Gay Day can be in an editorial from last year.