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In Photos: Toronto Pride Parade 2009

Posted by Jerrold Litwinenko / June 28, 2009

21 Comments

toronto pride parade 2009The 2009 Toronto Pride Parade started out pretty wet. But worries about umbrellas lining the front row of the route, obscuring good view (and photos!) of the passing floats and marchers, quickly dissipated as the rain stopped pretty much just after the parade started.

Much like last year, the parade was diverse, fun, colourful, political, commercial, and religious; but most importantly it was LOUD and it was PROUD!

pride toronto parade 2009

toronto pride parade 2009

pride toronto parade 2009

Check out the embedded slideshow below, or view it full-screen here.

Photography by Photosapience.

Discussion

21 Comments

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Randy / June 28, 2009 at 11:10 pm
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The Bears in the suds make me giggle.
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Wes Kibble / June 29, 2009 at 08:16 am
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I think one of the funniest moments was when the CAW and other unions that had signs supporting city workers went by. The crowd went from very noisy to completely silent.
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David / June 29, 2009 at 09:09 am
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It was also, of course, very commercial. More and more, we're seeing vehicles / people in the Pride parade that don't seem to be so much celebrating diversity as advertising their own services / products / corporations. It's a little bit disheartening among all of the truly beautiful and affirming groups to see some focused less on the gay community's pride and more on their spending power.
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Hamish Grant / June 29, 2009 at 10:23 am
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Another way to look at the 'commercial' aspect is to see the marketing as a gesture of support from the business community. 20 or 30 years ago do you think businesses would have been so eager to support Pride? It means further acceptance of gay culture into the mainstream. I kind of thought that was the point, no?
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jameasmallon / June 29, 2009 at 10:41 am
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Only saw a bit of the parade, but I saw the firetruck and the army jeep in the parade. That picture encapsulates why we are much cooler than the US.
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Tim / June 29, 2009 at 11:32 am
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I found it interesting that the Conservative party wasn't present at all.

I guess an event where ~ 1 Million people show up is a special interest group?

Hmmm.
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badbhoy replying to a comment from Tim / June 29, 2009 at 02:38 pm
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Correct me if I'm wrong but I think they were there with an albeit small group. They marched ahead of the Liberals and NDP with largest contingent.
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Tim replying to a comment from badbhoy / June 29, 2009 at 03:16 pm
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If so, then my apologies. I didn't notice them there - but I might be mistaken.
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Not Dimitri / June 29, 2009 at 04:26 pm
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I'm surprised this photo of Dimitri The Lover at pride wasn't included:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lauriemcgregor/3669975263
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Natalie / June 29, 2009 at 09:19 pm
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DISAPPOINTMENT!

I cannot believe not one photo taken of the military contingent.
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Max / June 29, 2009 at 10:39 pm
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I am proud to live in a city where we can celebrate PRIDE. Where we let one another love and be loved in which ever manner they choose.
Toronto is one great city.
(Unions aside.)
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Paul / June 29, 2009 at 11:55 pm
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The parade was so much fun. It was my first parade and I actually felt like i could be myself. I also saw a boy I completely fell in love with. He was right beside me. Love at first sight. My friend kept telling me to talk to him but I just couldn't do it. I am truly in love with that boy for some reason. Pride rocks. Some things might be a bit overdone but everyone should be proud to be what they are.
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Steve replying to a comment from badbhoy / June 30, 2009 at 08:41 am
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I'd say the Greens had quite a showing for a party with no seats.

And the Liberals... correct me if I'm wrong but neither Bob Rae nor George Smitherman showed up to appear beside their faces?


Also: Atheists representing! Only four of us, but we were there! Let's get the Pastafarianism out there next year.
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Anne Blanchard / July 2, 2010 at 05:44 pm
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I grew up in Toronto and left headed west, in those days people were most ignortant afraid of losing who knows what.

I am not gay however I been looking at the gay pride parade and I loved the costumes, the people having a great time.

Have a super day 4 all.
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Melissa / July 4, 2010 at 01:42 pm
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I think the parade is mostly great but I think people walking around naked is going too far. If anyone walked down a street naked any other time, they would be arrested. It's a shame as I would like to take my children to the parade and show them the importance of tolerance and how it can bring communities together. Unfortunatly it is far too X-rated. I guess I just don't understand how public displays of nudity and such, illegal on any other day, can possibly encourage tolerance.
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JMS / July 6, 2010 at 05:37 pm
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@Melissa: Why is nudity "X rated"? Were these people having sex in the street? What does their nudity have to do with attending Pride with children? There are thousands of youngsters at Pride and they are just fine. Children don't care about public nudity, only certain adults like you do. It is a shame that your fear of nudity (even in all shapes & sizes in the context of celebration and community) diminishes (for you) the most beautiful and magical annual event in Canada. Too bad you can't grow up and get over seeing a naked bit here and there considering no one is hurt by it and the entire event is open, friendly and violence free. I personally can't think of a better environment for children to see how all people should be treated and to witness the confidence and joy, without body image issues, that people can have and aspire to.
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Melissa / July 7, 2010 at 04:40 pm
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I see your point. Although if walking around naked is so okay, why is it not done everyday? Why is it illigal if people are so okay with it? And although there are no actual people having sex on the street, even you must agree it gets pretty close. I do not want to explain to my kids why a naked man would be led around wearing a dog collar by another naked man. I could understand the nudity as self expression, if not for the sexual connotations that accompany many of the participants. But to each there own. I thank you for expressing yours.
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JMS replying to a comment from Melissa / July 7, 2010 at 06:23 pm
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@Melissa: I've never seen a bottomless woman at pride and it is perfectly legal for any woman to be topless in Ontario anywhere and any time she chooses (as of 1996). Since men can also be shirtless and even wear tiny thong speedos in public, what you are really talking about isn't nudity at all. You're problem is with penises. It is sad that you are so narrow minded. I don't really care what you do or do not, but I feel sorry for your kids who will miss out on an amazing, positive experience because of your own prejudices and inability (or unwillingness) to talk to them. That is a real shame.
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Melissa / July 12, 2010 at 05:34 pm
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I asked random parents at our local park if they were going to the parade, and if they were taking their kids. Every person I have spoken too so far has said "no". I am going to continue asking random parents until I get a yes. It seems that the majority of parents feel the some way. There is a reason nudity in movies is deemed inappropriate for children. There is a reason people don't walk around naked everyday. I agree otherwise it would be a positive experience. If the people were clothed (even a g-string) and the sexual overtone were brought down a bit. My children understand that anyone can fall in love with, and marry anyone. That everyone is different. It's not about that, the issue is the nudity and the sexual overtones. It goes way overboard. Of course this is only my opinion:)
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Mike W replying to a comment from Not Dimitri / July 12, 2010 at 05:42 pm
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That's from last year and both commenters joined flickr just to make one comment without any photos to their name.
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Onslow / June 27, 2011 at 10:15 am
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this is not "pride" this is pornographic and a lot of those pictures should not be on the internet.

also mayor ford should not be faulted for not going to the parade. granted he is the mayor but he is also a person, a huoman being and should not be pushed or shamed into doing something that goes against his nature and his upbringing and his religion possibly as well. I would not spend hours with thousands of prople I did not respect (for their lifestyle or the things they did) when I would not spend five minutes with one or two of them unless it was "mayoral" business and I was required to be there to discuss something with them and other reprresentatives.
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