There is something mythical about the West. I guess because it’s the last frontier. Basically that last bit of land you get before heading out over the Pacific Ocean. It’s also the last place in time. The last place that gets New Years. The end of the world. And so, that is where I found myself, at the end of the world, to celebrate Vancouver Pride 2010.
As a Vancouver virgin I arrived with some stereotypes in mind. I assumed that upon landing I would be handed a joint 
I thought everyone would be wearing plaid and sporing a backpack. But mostly I was under the impression that the landscape was breathtaking. I was wrong on all counts, but the last.
Vancouver must be one of the most picturesque places on Earth. That is, assuming you would enjoy visiting a clean efficient city nestled among majestic mountains, surrounded by water, dense rich foliage, plentiful flowers and trees so tall you wonder how old they must be!
Let’s get to the Pride festival itself. Friday night was the Davie Street party (Davie being the equivalent of Church Street in Toronto). For blocks the street was closed to traffic and stages were set up for the entertainment. My fiance Shaun (Proulx – GGT Publisher) and I took our time getting ready. Nothing worse then showing up and being the first ones at an event, especially in a new city where you don’t know anyone. But as we approached in the cab, even with the windows rolled up, we heard the thumping dance music well in progress and a diva woman wailing. Coloured lights bounced off the surrounding building and people were filing in and out of the event.
Walking up to the entrance I braced myself for long line ups, throngs of tweaked-out queers and their drunken hags. But we walked in quickly and without hassle. Still in shock from the ease of our entry and lack of lineup, we looked around. A small stage was set up with Kim Kuzma belting out her music (she was amazing!) to a small if not enthusiastic crowd. ’The crowd must be in the back somewhere!’ Without pushing, shoving, squeezing and/or hooking myself to the back of Shaun’s pants we easily made our way through the crowd and to the beer tent to buy tickets. Within 30 seconds we had bought the tickets, crossed the party and gotten our drinks!? At other Prides I’ve attended, it takes a good 15 minutes just to buy the tickets, never mind sipping on the beer! As we mingled and chatted with the crowd, including a friend he hadn’t seen in years, I couldn’t get over how friendly people were , come to think of it, no one seemed high at all! After the insanity of the crowds at last month’s Toronto Pride 2010 – heck, any big city Pride celebration – it was a nice change to attend an event that was not quite so overwhelming.
Sunday morning we headed to the Pride parade. After the Friday night party I had no idea what to expect. Arriving early to set up for Shaun’s gig with OUTtv, I scoped out the scene. The parade would run through the city and then along Beach Ave. You heard me right, Beach Ave. Beach. As in sand and water. And that is exactly what Beach Ave. runs alongside. In the distance we heard the growl of the dykes on bikes and knew the parade was underway. Float after float, I could not get over the creativity and passion put into them. The rainbow flag flew in every shop window, was held by countless onlookers, and frankly was a little more rainbow then I needed to see in one place. But the sheer joy of the crowd (many of whom got there very early setting up their folding chairs) sparked a special kind of energy. An energy of hope, an energy of purpose and an energy of community.
But my favourite part had to be the community festival itself. As the parade snaked along Beach Ave. it ended near a park set up with tents across the way from the beach and English Bay. Imagine one minute you’re watching the parade and the next you decide to lie on the grass in the park, or check out the vendors, or lie on the beach or strip down to your undies and head out into the water! It was ALL right there!
I got to the festival early and window shopped from tent to tent checking out their wares. The crowd was minimal and I was enjoying the sun which had decided to burn through the thin veil of clouds. Standing in front of the main stage I flashed back to all the dance events I’ve been to over the years, and a smile stretched across my face, knowing that the hours that followed would bring memories for the new ones ready to dance the day away.
Suddenly, in the distance, a mass of people heading in my direction! My daydreaming time was over. My enjoying what little room I had to move around was done. The parade, now officially over had signaled a mass movement of people from the street and into the park. I had to make my way to the safety of the media tent and to where Shaun was conducting interviews, including a chat with Candis Cayne (the first transsexual woman ever to appear on network T.V., in Dirty Sexy Money)
Exhausted by the day’s events we headed back to the hotel in a cab. As we passed city hall, I looked out my window and noticed the rainbow flag flying high and proud!
Vancouver, thank you for showing this (sometimes) jaded homosexual that Pride can still be something to be proud!
