Armani Exchange's Spring/Summer 2010 Ad. Being gay is sexy!!!

The fashion industry is global multi-billion dollar business. Strip away the lights, glamour, supermodels, clothes, runway presentations and cameras what do you have? You have a man (though there are women designers as well), who secretly read Vogue, and believed in his vision. At the end of the day he worked hard, had the talent and drive to make his dream come true, but what’s more important: he got the world to believe in his world. Fashion is about fantasy. It’s not about eating disorders, makeup, hair, clothes or even glitter (though there’s lots of that too).

Like many of you I was attracted to boys, told it was wrong, felt out of place and didn’t know where to turn. I came out when I was 16 and yes it was hard, I would never have changed it for the world. Being homosexual rocks and in fact if there was a “heterosexual fairy” and he or she said, “I can make you straight.” I’d say, “f**k off with that.” We as gays, lesbians, bisexual and transgendered people have a unique view of the world. It’s not right or wrong (well usually it’s right) but it just is that, unique. Your voice can change the way people think, dream, love, dress, live, love, even have sex all over the world and now plus throughout history. Homosexuality is NOT abnormal, shameful, bad, or evil. It is just a part of you and as you discover a wonderful part of you.

As I now sit by the runways of the world watching dresses, suits, pants, shirts, and other pieces of clothing presented in creatively wonderful ways, I think to myself how lucky I am. In only the short time I have been with GayGuideToronto.com as their Style blogger I hope I have shown you the power of what one gay man’s vision can do. That man being an openly gay designer who changes the world each season with the power of style and is helping fans and the industry see a different visual aesthetic every season. My love is bringing that to you.

My fashion journalism mentors: Elsa Klench, the late Liz Tibardis, Tim Blanks, Grace Mirabella, David Livingstone, Francis Lear, and Suzie Menkies all taught me one thing. Whether you’re gay or straight, fashion is about allowing people to dream for a single moment and in one simple outfit you can change the way someone sees the world. Fear not gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered youth you are in great company with designers: John Galliano, Karl Lagerfeld, DSquared’s Dean and Dan Caten, Valentino, Giorgio Armani, Dolce and Gabanna, WL&T and many, many more are all openly gay men. Fashion has and always will be a gay man’s playground. From the 16 year old, awkward, pimply faced, 6 foot tall, newly out teenage to the 40-year old multimedia fashion journalist and model I am today, I lift a champagne glass to all of you and proudly say, “IT DOES GET A LOT BETTER!” Never! Never! Never! Put up with being picked on, bullied, being called names, or told you are less than. You are worth far more than that.

A wise man once told me, “Never let anyone’s baggage become yours!” It’s very true and that is what got me to being that Style Guy I am today.

Let’s start with an introduction.  WE are Pride Toronto.

A collection of 26 volunteer committees, a handful of paid staff, a community of appointed Board of Directors, and 30 years of experience, stories and contributions that make Pride Toronto the largest Pride festival in North America, – and one of the largest Pride celebrations in the world.

Over the next few months, Words of Pride – The Official Blog for Pride Toronto, will feature a regular update called “Community of Pride”, in which we will bring GayGuideToronto.com readers around town to meet the individuals and share the stories of those who have been part of the Pride experience over the past 30 years – past, present, and looking towards the future.  From this BLOG as our platform, we will explore the personalities, memories, coming out experiences, and first “Pride” memories of Church and Wellesley, as well as get to know what Pride means around Toronto.  From the Village to King St W, from the surrounding GTA to individuals from other cities around the globe.   Together we share common experiences under an umbrella called Pride.

Together, we are a Community of Pride.

Want to share your own stories about yourself or someone you know ?

We’d love to hear them.   Talk to us about what “30 Years of Pride” has represented.  And help us meet the individuals who have been changed for the better because of their own Pride Experiences.

Send Pride Toronto a direct email to [email protected] — with the SUBJECT “Community of Pride”.

If you submit a story about yourself or someone you know, please also submit a photo or graphic (with permission to post from that individual) and we will consider the posting for an upcoming Community of Pride update.

Start with “My name is ….”

And if possible, share with us which of the LGBTTIQQ2SA* categories your story falls within – as these facets make up our community, and together, create a phenomenal historic relevance.  Community of Pride will explore the individuals that make up our famous acronym.

*Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer, Questioning, 2-Spirited and Allies

Along the way we hope to share few warm laughs, shed a few tears, and commemorate some important milestones along the way.

Oh yea -

And don’t forget to join us in Toronto for Pride Week, June 25 – July 4, 2010!

Yours with Pride,

Pride Toronto

(as written by Michael Ain, Marketing & Communications Manager)

It has been an exciting week for me starting with a Facebook chat with my sister. She said: ‘I have four dreams, do the dreams have to be realistic?” Well yes, they do have to be realistic and achievable, however I did not want limit your creativity and also I did not want you to have a definition of what realistic is, for this could be a matter of perspective.

My Friend and fellow coach Michael Moniz has finished his list of 100 dreams. Way to go Michael! Michael writes a blog for the gay and lesbian community out of Florida in the United States. In it he writes about Living Life Out Loud. Visit his post perhaps find some inspiration from it.

What Do You Really Want? or 100 Dreams

I will be holding off on my next Video post until after I discuss the the “Dream List” with Shaun Proulx  on Proud FM (you can listen at this link) on Monday. In the mean time I’m fulfilling one of my Dreams. I’ll leave you with a little taste Click Here.

Brandon Williams, Life Coach

www.btscoaching.com

What’s the point of starting any journey unless we have an idea of where we are heading? In this episode of Step 2: I celebrate with fellow GGT blogger Eddie Stone and ask you: What do you really want?Please enable Javascript and Flash to view this Blip.tv video.

“Click here to see Eddie’s original post.”