pride parade pics
Look, here, photos from yesterday's parade! I did not take any of them - they're all by my teammate Chris, with her super-awesome camera - but she gave me permission to share them with you.
Peter and I before our part of the parade began. The parade itself actually began at 1pm, but our contingent, towards the end, didn't launch until after 5. It was a long, long parade. There were over 12,000 marchers! (Note: a video begins playing when that page loads.) So, we waited quite a while to begin walking.
While waiting, I discovered that the sign I was to be holding made an excellent sunshade. I look displeased here; I think it was because Chris was pointing a camera at me, and it was either this or a goofy grin.
And we're off! One of the reasons why it took so long is because they were interspersing the walkers with the floats. The floats were waiting down another street, but once our group made it past the intersection, float in front of us and another one somewhere behind us, we walked along at a pretty steady clip. Also, at least Peter and I were stand-ins for the Proud Anglican crowd. I don't know if anyone else was, but we all made a nice little crowd of grinning folks.
Andrea, one of the priests of our acquaintance, asperges-ing the crowd. Basically hurling holy water at them. It was great to watch people's reactions. Some shoved their way to the front and threw out their arms, some grinned joyfully, some just got excited about having water thrown at them, because it was very very hot yesterday, and some shielded themselves with their placards and rainbow flags. I am glad there weren't any demons in the crowd; spontaneous combustion would've been a little awkward to explain.
Maggie, gleefully asperges-ing the other side. These are, for the record, the selfsame priests who bike-locked themselves to a bulldozer last December, to protest a bitumen (tar sands) pipeline that will be running through northern Toronto. They're pretty great.
A look at the crowd. And the rainbow umbrella, which one of the bishops in attendance was carrying.
There were people everywhere, including on the rooftops. And everyone seemed so happy! I mean, literally: every person I saw just seemed exultant. I've never marched in a parade like this before - one this size, or one for Pride - but I was continually struck by the joy abounding everywhere I looked. Explain to me why people get upset over Pride parades? Because I don't understand.
Peter and I near the parade's end. Looking rather exhausted. Accurate. But still happy! Really, I'm so glad I went. I really can't see something like this happening in the US - maybe? maybe! - and it was awesome to see and experience it here.
If you want to see some more pictures, you can check out the St Stephen-in-the-Fields Facebook page - Chris took a bunch, and I didn't post 'em all here.
Yay Pride!
Peter and I before our part of the parade began. The parade itself actually began at 1pm, but our contingent, towards the end, didn't launch until after 5. It was a long, long parade. There were over 12,000 marchers! (Note: a video begins playing when that page loads.) So, we waited quite a while to begin walking.
While waiting, I discovered that the sign I was to be holding made an excellent sunshade. I look displeased here; I think it was because Chris was pointing a camera at me, and it was either this or a goofy grin.
And we're off! One of the reasons why it took so long is because they were interspersing the walkers with the floats. The floats were waiting down another street, but once our group made it past the intersection, float in front of us and another one somewhere behind us, we walked along at a pretty steady clip. Also, at least Peter and I were stand-ins for the Proud Anglican crowd. I don't know if anyone else was, but we all made a nice little crowd of grinning folks.
Andrea, one of the priests of our acquaintance, asperges-ing the crowd. Basically hurling holy water at them. It was great to watch people's reactions. Some shoved their way to the front and threw out their arms, some grinned joyfully, some just got excited about having water thrown at them, because it was very very hot yesterday, and some shielded themselves with their placards and rainbow flags. I am glad there weren't any demons in the crowd; spontaneous combustion would've been a little awkward to explain.
Maggie, gleefully asperges-ing the other side. These are, for the record, the selfsame priests who bike-locked themselves to a bulldozer last December, to protest a bitumen (tar sands) pipeline that will be running through northern Toronto. They're pretty great.
A look at the crowd. And the rainbow umbrella, which one of the bishops in attendance was carrying.
There were people everywhere, including on the rooftops. And everyone seemed so happy! I mean, literally: every person I saw just seemed exultant. I've never marched in a parade like this before - one this size, or one for Pride - but I was continually struck by the joy abounding everywhere I looked. Explain to me why people get upset over Pride parades? Because I don't understand.
Peter and I near the parade's end. Looking rather exhausted. Accurate. But still happy! Really, I'm so glad I went. I really can't see something like this happening in the US - maybe? maybe! - and it was awesome to see and experience it here.
If you want to see some more pictures, you can check out the St Stephen-in-the-Fields Facebook page - Chris took a bunch, and I didn't post 'em all here.
Yay Pride!