Vancouver Pride 2009
Vancouver Pride Week 2009 is upon us and I almost completely missed the boat. Not because I am not interested, but simply because there are so many events this week (and I’m still recovering from Blogathon) that I really haven’t paid much attention.
Credit:no1nose
Criticisms of the Vancouver Pride Parade 2009 are a dime a dozen, but the truth is that, while everybody is entitled to his/her opinion, this coming Sunday’s Parade begun as (and continues to be) a celebration of the diversity of sexual orientations in our communities.
It’s been a long struggle, one that I’m not sure anybody who has never been subject to discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation would be able to fully understand. I certainly believe that the community I’m immersed in is really understanding.
I am not particularly impressed by some of the displays in the parade, admittedly, but that doesn’t mean that I’m any less supportive of them.
I will be attending the Pride Parade on Sunday (I will be available on my phone or by text but not online) and I will also be at Pride in Fashion. The rest of this Pride weekend may end up being a blur. And my brain is still not working well.
Are you going to Pride? And if so, which events?
Related posts:
- Opening of Pride House Vancouver 2010
- Post-Blogathon tally, Pride and other stuff
- Pride in Fashion (upcoming event, Thurs July 30th, 2009)
- I feel conflicted about Pride Vancouver 2009
- Pride Toronto this week (June 22nd-28th)
I’ll be at the Dyke March, but that’s not directly affiliated with Pride. It’s a bit more chill though, which is definitely my style.
When is the date? Time to pickup the camera and telephoto lens. Vancouver Pride is one of my favorite events, hopefully it will be eve more provocative that previous years, hey why not
Asking for acceptance and respect by dressing up in a thong and feather boa and dancing around on the back of a flatbed truck seems like it might not be the best approach.
The people in your photo look fairly innocuous, though.
@ Garth – while I agree it may not be ideal, I also have to disagree with your point.
Do you think that the people at Mardi Gras and other celebrations are less respectable because they wear thongs and feather boas? Same thing.
I should be respected equally whether I am straight, gay, or whether I wear men’s clothing or women’s or whether I am Hispanic or Caucasian or other, whether I wear a thong or not. It’s a basic principle.
We’ll be watching the Pride Parade and I’ll have camera in hand! Robyn has been wanting to see if for a few years now and each day it has happened, she had to work. This time, she has the day off so that’s what we’re doing!
Rent will be in the Pride Parade…
my biggest complaint is one year I basically saw a man walking with a plastic bag around his crotch and that was it. I just thought, as a heterosexual, what if I ever wanted to bring my kids there as a way of introducing the LGBT lifestyle, in a positive light – how would I be able to explain that to them.
I’m not going to take them to a gay night club, but if Pride wants to bill itself as family friendly as far as the parade goes, I feel the organizers really have to work on entries like that.
I helped sew a float skirt for the truck bed for my moms coworker who will be in the parade. But I’m not able to make it down this year.
I think its neat that you can get away wearing anything at the parade but at the same time I agree with Ryan on the part if this wants to be family friendly then it should be toned down a tad.
@ Kimm and @ Ryan – and @ Garth who mentioned something slightly on the same vein – agreed, it could definitely be toned down a bit. It’s hard for me to find a middle ground. I am not by any means the kind of guy who screams hey here I am! and personally I enjoy more modest manifestations, but heck, that’s just me
From what I saw from today’s parade.. only 2 older men were completely naked. There were a bunch o breasts (not that I am complaining).
I thought it was good. First time I’ve seen the Pride Parade