Rainbow flags waved alongside the Canadian flag at the corner of Davie and Denman.
On what would usually otherwise be a sleepy Sunday in August, the downtown buses are packed with people of all ages and ethnicities, dressed up and speaking excitedly in languages ranging from English to Mandarin to Spanish. Where could all of these people be headed on a long weekend in the middle of summer? They’re on their way to the Pride Parade, Vancouver’s annual celebration of diversity and acceptance across cultures, genders, and sexual orientations.
When the weather is beautiful, it doesn’t take too much coaxing to get Vancouverites out on the streets, but it’s still somewhat surprising to see the legions of people—both from the city and visiting—flock to the Pride Parade every year with water bottles and rainbow flags in tow. This past Sunday marked the 36th Annual Pride Parade, hosted by the Vancouver PRIDE Society.
The crowd lined several rows back along Denman Street.
More than half a million people came to see the Parade, lining the streets of Robson and Denman and cheering for the multitudes of colourful floats that passed. Participants in the Parade ranged from community organizations like Qmunity and Pinoy Pride to large companies like Telus and Trojan. Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson and Liberal leader Justin Trudeau also made appearances.
Gregor Robertson greets some Vikings on the Parade route.
I asked Caryl Dolinko, Communications Coordinator at the Vancouver PRIDE Society, to give me some insight into the celebration of Pride in Vancouver and its significance.
“Pride is incredibly important because it puts diversity, visibility, and equality on the street,” says Dolinko.
“There are many places in world were this is not allowed. There are close to 80 countries in the world where homosexuality is still illegal, 7 countries where it is punishable by death. Vancouver is a haven; Canada is a haven. So it’s very important that we are out there and have a face and are visible.”
“My favourite part about Pride is that there’s so much diversity and so much acceptance”.
Evolution of Pride
Pride in Vancouver has seen many incarnations over the years, evolving from early iterations hosted by the Gay Alliance Toward Equality (GATE) a grassroots organization dedicated to improving the rights of LGBTTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, two-spirited and queer) individuals. Though the Pride Parade draws the biggest audience, the Vancouver PRIDE Society holds several other community events including Aging with Pride, the Vancouver Dyke March, a Pride Burlesque Revue, and a Trans Youth Night at the Rio Theatre.
“I love Pride because there’s so much positivity. It’s the only holiday that I can look forward to every year that’s solid. And I love all the women!”
“The work
“We’ve had some phenomenal leaders and [Vancouver PRIDE Society] has really come out of its adolescence and has grown up. I think the attendance is the most visible way in which you could see the change and what Pride has become. When I first got involved, there were only a couple of events and the festival, and now we have a lot more: Aging with Pride, youth nights, and the Society has become expert event organizers.”
A gigantic rainbow flag takes up the entire street.
Embracing Pride
The Pride Society itself isn’t the only thing that has changed over the year. Vancouverites have increasingly become more supportive of their events.
“In 2005 there were about 100 000 people attending Pride,” explains Dolinko.
“This year we’re expecting over 700 000! So the city embraces it. And like I said we’re living in an amazing city: the Mayor marches in the parade, we’ve seen councillors come out; businesses have included LGBTTQ individuals. It’s been a phenomenal time watching the world change, at least in our part of the world.”
“Happy Pride! I made this mask myself.”
And it seems like the city really does embrace Pride. As I walk down Denman Street to Sunset Beach there is a palpable sense of friendship, celebration, and acceptance in the air. And make no mistake, viewers of the Parade aren’t mere observers: from rainbow socks and flags to elaborate DIY costumes and platform shoes, everyone is excited to participate in the day’s festivities.
And as to how Caryl Dolinko became involved?
“I showed up to volunteer at one meeting and it built and built and so now it’s not just a job, it’s a passion. Equality is something I am passionate about. Working at PRIDE has changed my entire view of international human rights. It brought my attention to inequalities we’re facing around the world. It’s changed my life.”
