Unified: Toronto Pride March 2008

The noise has come and gone but I'm still feeling the crazy vibe of last Pride's celebrations. In the previous years, I was one of thousands outside the barricades who waited for hours, burnt their skins, and developed stiff necks just to see what the annual Pride festivity was all about.


I am adamant about blind sloganeering. It's like a Jew singing Christmas carols or a diabetic on a diet of Krispy Kremes. The Pride parade is more than just people running around to get noticed. A grand sloganeering march as it may seem, but it's the kind where you really feel that the cause is genuine even when it's bundled with a technicolor dreamcoat. I was fortunate enough to witness this year's parade on a more intimate level. I was running around taking shots of the "flambiest" of the flamboyants but I truly felt the difference in going out and giving support to the "fabulous" community. Yes, anti-homophobia laws are present in Canada. But the struggle for equality doesn't stop there and all these festivities will not reach fruition if the courage to be seen and heard dies down after all the cheers.


I believe that within the gay community itself, a common goal is still wanting. The "Unified" theme this year absolutely captured what people should bear in mind; that a flock of flamencos can trample a giant boar only if they dance to the same tune.



For the complete 2008 Sunday Pride March gallery, CLICK HERE.

GTGL8RZ!

Toronto Dyke March

I just finished uploading the last batch of pics for last weekend's Pride celebrations. It took me a week to sort everything out and do some basic postprocessing. Sometimes I wish I'm doing this full time, instead of my day job. But then again, the day job pays the bills, so I can't complain, at least for now.

This particular SET was taken last Saturday, June 28. I've never actually attended the Dyke March since I moved here in Toronto so it's something new to me, plus the blaring boobies were a little too much to handle. Weather forecast was not so good for that day, but, fortunately, not a drop of sky juice trickled to dampen the excited crowd and marchers. The organizers probably were too concerned about the no-show precipitation that the whole march was actually done in about 40 minutes or less. Barricades were not completely set-up so it's pretty much a free-for-all, feel like a paparazzi, and a crazy click-happy day for everyone. 'Twas generally fun but I found it too quick; almost like sniffing old poppers at a friend's house party.

[Image also appears on NowPublic]



Click HERE for the complete Dyke March gallery.


GTGL8RZ!