The day started off a little rocky - the alarm sounded at 0830 for a run and I finally rolled of bed and into my workout garb at 10am. However, on this run of mine, I found myself in the midst of the downtown farmers's market that they have outside on the street. It was love at first sight and I knew I would be back later that day.
So ShanWow and I met up in the real downtown later that day starting with the Edmonton Pride parade. I wasn't really sure what to expect considering what a circus the Toronto Pride parade was. You know what? It was endearingly small. Not so small that there weren't some fabulous floats with golden peacock drag queens but not so large that families couldn't put their very own car in the parade to proclaim their love for the daughter's wife. What it lacked in size (and music.....come on, EVERY float should have some speakers) it made up for in heart and community spirit. You get the feeling that not too long ago it would have been taboo to attend something like this in Edmonton. This year, for the very first time, the premier of Alberta (a woman, of course :) was involved in Pride and even made the opening remarks. It gives me hope for this somewhat backwards province*.
A large company then handed out rainbow flags and all of the audience joined the parade and marched a few blocks to the party in the city square. Those flags were addictive! Something about a well-designed flag, ShanWow and I just could not stop waving them around. I think ShanWow's was still flying 3 hours later after a trip to the library.
The best part of the whole event was finding people just like me: Atheists! There was a booth at the mid-afternoon after-party hosted by the Edmonton Atheism Society where I had my photo taken with the flying spaghetti monster and was even touched by the noodley appendage.
Sadly I did not get a photo with purple gay Jesus who came complete with a purple crown of thorns and heels. While his message is a bit off-target the costume is bang-on.
And what a better way to continue a great day with a trip to the library, Indian food (with gulab jamun of course aka Indian timbits), a drag performance of "You Can't Stop the Beat" from Hairspray and GAMES NIGHT. A completely fantastic Saturday.
*Does Canada seem to be getting more and more uptight to anyone else? Thank the flying spaghetti monster for Quebec. Now there is a province that tackles real issues, knows more-or-less what socialism is and is not made up of a mass of prudish public. Canada is richer for having Quebec.
So ShanWow and I met up in the real downtown later that day starting with the Edmonton Pride parade. I wasn't really sure what to expect considering what a circus the Toronto Pride parade was. You know what? It was endearingly small. Not so small that there weren't some fabulous floats with golden peacock drag queens but not so large that families couldn't put their very own car in the parade to proclaim their love for the daughter's wife. What it lacked in size (and music.....come on, EVERY float should have some speakers) it made up for in heart and community spirit. You get the feeling that not too long ago it would have been taboo to attend something like this in Edmonton. This year, for the very first time, the premier of Alberta (a woman, of course :) was involved in Pride and even made the opening remarks. It gives me hope for this somewhat backwards province*.
A large company then handed out rainbow flags and all of the audience joined the parade and marched a few blocks to the party in the city square. Those flags were addictive! Something about a well-designed flag, ShanWow and I just could not stop waving them around. I think ShanWow's was still flying 3 hours later after a trip to the library.
The best part of the whole event was finding people just like me: Atheists! There was a booth at the mid-afternoon after-party hosted by the Edmonton Atheism Society where I had my photo taken with the flying spaghetti monster and was even touched by the noodley appendage.
Sadly I did not get a photo with purple gay Jesus who came complete with a purple crown of thorns and heels. While his message is a bit off-target the costume is bang-on.
And what a better way to continue a great day with a trip to the library, Indian food (with gulab jamun of course aka Indian timbits), a drag performance of "You Can't Stop the Beat" from Hairspray and GAMES NIGHT. A completely fantastic Saturday.
*Does Canada seem to be getting more and more uptight to anyone else? Thank the flying spaghetti monster for Quebec. Now there is a province that tackles real issues, knows more-or-less what socialism is and is not made up of a mass of prudish public. Canada is richer for having Quebec.
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