Vancouver Pride Parade - August 3, 2008

In all the years I've lived in Vancouver and Burnaby I've never made it down to the annual Pride Parade. The reason being I've never gotten up in time. But this year a co-worker was going and when I found out she was going by herself I said that I would meet her down there. Knowing that I was meeting someone gave me the motivation to go and more importantly get up in time. Also, C had just come back from his trip to France on Friday. E was working and since C had also never been to the parade in all the years he lived here he decided to go too. I actually didn't have trouble waking up on Sunday as with the past 4 days or so my arthritis was bothering me so I had difficulty going back to sleep after waking up to go to the bathroom.

We bumped into my co-worker L on Davie so didn't have to meet at the meeting place after all. Maybe it would've been better if we did as the spot we watched the parade from was not ideal. We were at the beach side of Jervis and Beach and we didn't know until well into the parade how jostled we would get from people crossing the street. C and I brought folding portable stools so stayed seated as long as we could have a small window of vision of the parade. Once that was gone we had to stand and I was able to get the odd photo of the floats between people in front of us. Closer to the end of the parade some people in front of us left so I had a better view.

After the parade C and I wandered around Sunset Beach looking at the various tents and vendors then went to get something to eat.

I'm glad that times are changing and more people are able to be "out". Besides Wreck Beach, the parade floats were the first time I have seen totally naked men and topless women. C said that he saw topless women walking on Davie, and on that day it just seemed normal. It must be liberating for women who want to go topless in a world where men go topless all the time and it's not a big deal. Too bad on any other day the women would be looked upon in a sexual manner.

I've posted some photos from the parade.