Pride 2006

[vaneramos]

Marian and I went to Pride today, just the two of us for the first time. We had barely stepped out of Wellesley station when we met Dan, his partner, and a friend of theirs. Dan and Marian had not seen each other since she was seven, and didn't recognize one another at first. Other than that we saw surprisingly few friends, hardly any from Toronto. Actually, from year to year the event is growing less and less queer as the crowd becomes deluged with sightseers. We each received a fair share of admiration from complete strangers, though.

Meanwhile the parade seems overrun with political, commercial and religious interests asserting one version of the truth, or another. Notably, Jack Layton rode a tandem bicycle with his wife, Olivia Chow, which probably marks the first time a federal party leader has joined the parade. The ranks of city police driving and marching with their partners were also considerably larger than last year. A pair of newly-married Mounties walked arm in arm. All of these participants have their place.

I wish more would march merely for joy. My favourites are The Righteously Outrageous Twirling Corps and Church Street Pipe Band, along with many others who succeed at being silly, fabulous, brilliant or bizarre. Marian is remarkably astute about where all the nonsense comes from, without taking it or herself too seriously. I thoroughly enjoyed her company today.