Gay Geeks

Gay Geeks, originally uploaded by nfotxn.

A perenial favourite of mine is the Gay Geeks. With slogans like "Librarians are HOT!" and "I love the CBC" how can you go wrong? These are truly my people.

Alas this is the 5th pride I haven't joined the gay geeks for marching. I keep meaning too. I'm sure they have email....

Queer Rights Everywhere

Queer Rights Everywhere, originally uploaded by nfotxn.

The best part about the pride parade this year is that it was lead by a very loud and agitated protest for the rights of queers around the world. This protest I think really set a nice perspective for the rest of the parade. It made me feel as if the countless corporate floats were more legitimate.

It's easy to forget that while we celebrate diversity here in other places people are tortured and killed for even appearing to have same-sex attractions. We get so enamoured with our own civil rights as queers that we forget about the human rights of others.

This is a matter of priorities.

Toronto is Fearless

Fearless!, originally uploaded by nfotxn.

I left the Toronto Pride Parade this year feeling particularly great. It wasn't just the copious alcohol because this joy lingered beyond my light dusting of hang-over. It was something more substantial

What blows me over is that Pride manages to be everything to everyone. The circuit things can do their drugs and be retarded. Families can build sand castles with their children. People with disabilities have full access to most major events and venues. Bears can gaggle together, rub eachothers bellies and eat pasteries outside Timothy's. Hipsters, riot dykes, queer punks and freaks in general can protest Corporate Pride at the Alternaqueer stage. And all the while, to borrow a djmrswhite-ism, the "entitlement queens" can bitch about having to wait in line to get back into the club at 2:34AM on a Sunday night.

Particularly interesting to me this year was the charging of fees for groups to march in the parade. This was met with the predictable outrage but I think there was more foresight here than most were willing to put forth. Because the parade was specifically depending on those marching to fund it the end result was a far less corporate parade. Not to say that the booze, condom, drug, car, bank and insurance companies weren't in full force but the effect was subdued. As somebody who has only been to pride parades in the 00s I felt an extremely heightened sense of community amongst those marching. There was significant support from the religious community including the United Church of Canada, Metropolitan Community Church, Pagans, Unitarians and Anglicans. The United Church and Anglicans were there in huge numbers. Those marching for HIV/AIDS were marching for pointed causes like South Asia, Africa, research or hospice. Having the entire parade spearheaded by those raising awareness of the rights of queers in less fortunate countries was truly progressive, fearless even.

All things being said and done the effect was just right. I left feeling pride, a sort of thankfulness that makes me feel fortunate and proud to live where I am when I am.

Toronto, you are fierce and fearless.