Pride parade bigger, bolder than ever
Participants celebrate growth of annual event
By BILL POWER Staff Reporter
Sun, Jul 25 - 4:53 AM
Halifax Pride co-organizer Ed Savage remembered his first gay parade Saturday as about 160 different groups marshalled on the waterfront in preparation for a celebration of sexual diversity.
A decade ago "we wove through all the backstreets of Halifax. Now we go through the front door," the co-organizer said in an interview as the massive line of sequins, big hair, satin gowns and blaring music rumbled to life toward the big show on Barrington Street and Spring Garden Road.
It took more than 50 minutes for the colourfully costumed crowd to move through the navy dockyard gates and make its way up to the central business district where sidewalks were thickly lined with supporters, many of them cheering and some dancing.
Pride festival co-organizer Liz McQuaid said it was difficult to estimate the size of the crowd lined up to take in the 23rd edition of the annual event.
"Last year we attracted between 40,000 and 60,000 observers. The pride parade in Halifax is almost as big as the one in Montreal and considering the size of our city . . . this is pretty fantastic," she said.
There was some debate among participants and observers about the possibility that the pride parade was overtaking the Natal Day event, traditionally the city’s largest celebration. Everybody agreed the pride event that brought a weeklong celebration of diversity to a raucous climax is a heck of a lot of fun.
Thousands of observers followed the dazzling display of glitz and good humour up South Park Street and toward the Garrison Grounds. The sunny afternoon party seemed to just keep getting bigger and louder.
A huge number of fans gathering for the Halifax Rocks event on the Halifax Commons added to the massive gathering of people that brought traffic in the business district to a standstill.
"Everybody is here to show their respect and admiration for the gay community," said Mike Schmid, owner of Reflections Cabaret, a popular downtown dance bar.
"The first parade I was in about 10 years ago was about a third the size of this one."
Halifax MP Megan Leslie and a group of young women were all decked out in roller blades and costumes in the style that actress Ellen Page displayed in her hit film Whip It.
"Today, it’s a wonderful celebration but we want people to remember it comes from protest. We want people who are gay, lesbian and transgender to know they are safe in our community," she said.
To suggest the pride parade is good for downtown restaurants and bars would be an understatement.
"Our patio has been packed since morning. I wish there was some way we could double-deck it," said business owner Helen Davenport as costumed super-heroes entertained the crowd outside Gatsby’s Pub and Eatery on Spring Garden Road.
"It’s entertaining and it’s educational," said one observer who did not want to give his name.
There was a post-parade concert at the Garrison Grounds festival site and a week of Halifax Pride events will conclude today with a family picnic at the Dartmouth Common at 1 p.m.
(
bpower@herald.ca)
From the Sunday Chronicle Herald.
I should say; I saw some of the pictures friends and even Councillor Sloane's pictures of the parade and I was amazed at just how many new floats there were from when I marched in the parade.
I remember when I was 17, I stood in the crowds and when a camera came I would hide. Then as I got older; I marched with the GLB youth project and then with friends. Nearly ended up on the HRM float one time (long story). I always thought it was a great time. I'm so wonderful to see the festival getting bigger and bigger and I'd love to see it out do the Natal day parade. Calgary and Edmonton's parades are a joke (maybe 5000 people), but then again you are in conservative land.
But this goes to show just how great these parades are! I'm really glad Ed and the committee did a great job and when I run into him in Edmonton I intend to buy him a drink to congratulate him.