Pride 2011

political, Queer stuff, Toronto, You Magnificent Bastard 4 Replies

SharkBoy and I had a very nice Pride, thankyouverymuch! Quiet and low keyed, we wandered, we chatted and we took some pictures! The tone this year was more political than corporate, despite TD still having the same old muscle marys hanging around their booth making phototime with straight girls from the 905. No, this year had a tension to it, most likely from a missing asshole mayor. Noticed that not one Conservative political representative was on hand (unless you count some creepy city councilor skulking with a video camera during the Dyke March) and that would probably be a good thing, considering they’re kicking a hornet’s nest of prejudice and ignorance with their opposition to Pride.

Look at me getting all serious!

Here are some pictures that go bigger when click-oed! Remember to check out my Flickr account over the next few days for updates

Keep Feeling Fascination!

Without Da

Personal Bits 3 Replies

Missing my Dad this year, at Pride

Many Pride celebrations I would get frustrated with trying to organize friends, wrangling them like a sack of wet cats. But there was one person I didn’t have to call or text or pre-plan where to meet: my Da.

In fact whenever Church Street closed for whatever reason, I would always come across Da in the crowd. Halloween, Pride, Fetish Fair: when he would emerge through the crowd our greeting was as if we had not seen each other in years. We would make all around know we were gay father and gay son, meeting as accepted equals.

This year it was hard to look into the crowd, knowing he wouldn’t emerge. I miss him every day, but today was a bit rough.

The lesson you should take away from this? Take a moment and love the fuck out of whatever you love. Seriously, life is pretty tenuous and should not be taken for granted.