City
Photos of the 2011 Toronto Pride Parade
The 2011 Pride Parade in Toronto transformed Yonge into a rainbow-coloured street party as members and supporters of Toronto's queer community marched, danced, and showered onlookers with whistles, condoms, tote bags, and Mardi Gras beads.
This year's celebrations began at Bloor and Church, winding down Yonge and finishing at Gerrard and Church. Participants included student and business groups as well as a cast of lively LGBTTIQQ2SA performers and community members.
Marching bands and drummer groups produced lively music throughout. Pop songs (a common favourite being Lady Gaga's Born This Way) boomed from giant stereos as performers danced atop them. Cheers and whistles arose from the crowd as floats became more colourful and wild.
As having over a million attendees would suggest, Yonge's sidewalks were soon crammed so full of parade-watchers that people going about their usual business could only walk in single file on each side. The predicted 30-degree high felt like at least 10 higher when onlookers stood sandwiched amongst themselves.
Unsurprisingly, the spotlight did turn to the Mayor Rob Ford now and again: some participants wore (fairly creepy) cut-out masks of Ford's face as they marched down the street. One pickup truck even read, "We found Waldo...but where's Rob Ford?"
Instead, former mayor David Miller was the media darling of the day, sporting a rainbow tie and taking the hits from trigger-happy kids with Super Soakers in stride.
It remains to be seen whether or not our current mayor's decision to skip Pride will have long-term political consequences, but it's clear that his absence didn't dampen the collective spirit at the parade. If anything, his snub buoyed those in attendance, and served as a timely reminder of Pride's origins and why it remains such a crucial event in this city.
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Photo by Mauricio Calero
Photo by asianz
Photo by Richard Gottardo
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Sexuality isn't evil.
Would it really be better for Rob Ford to show up, and everyone know he is faking wanting to be there? Or worse, NOT faking he wants to be there and just being grumpy? I think it's best that he didn't go, but rather stayed away and let Pride be Pride uninterrupted.
Does an almost naked body make you uncomfortable? And if so why?
here's my take:
ford could have attended any small festivity in the week leading up to pride and this would have all blown over - it would have been good politics - but, he didn't.
Why? because, i think the evidence shows, he fundamentally disagrees with homosexuality and all its trimmings. He's too much of a coward to admit to these beliefs (when sober) so he has hidden his head under the covers like a child for the last week hoping all the fabulous bogeymen would just go away.
The thing to know about ford is that he basically is a child - he is stubborn, prone to tantrums when he doesn't get his way, resorts to lying through his teeth to get out of hot water when confronted and he runs away and avoids his problems or has somebody else (mommy, big brother) deal with them for him.
oh, and he's dumb as %$#* - like a child, but at least children are still developing - rob stopped developing a LONG time ago.
how much will the *ahem* erection of your massive flag pole in north york cost/bring in?
@ s, are you sure you aren't just a ford nation troll trying to discredit actual arguments against ford?
After all the negative comments made so publicly about his body if I were him I wouldn't want to come to this event either. Half the people are mostly undressed, and a lot of them look pretty damn good. I'd be ashamed and afraid of what people would say about me.
And after some of the signs about his weight that were it wouldn't convince me to go next year either.
You actually made a less than flattering comment about him yourself, comparing the "pretty damn good" looking people to Ford. And that he should feel shame. Shame on you.
There are idiots in ever batch. Try not to lump everyone in together k?
I saw one chubby woman with cones on her breasts, wrapped up in crime scene tape. I don't think Ford would have anything to worry about.
The reactions people did give to Ford during the parade come from his chosen absence -- it wouldn't have been that way if he had attended.
But of course this is Ford being calculating about his politics. He figures if he ignores the parade it doesn't hurt his chances downtown in the next election (people downtown didn't vote for him) and instead he looks good in the suburbs, where his support lies.
It is highly unlikely, actually would never happen, that any kind of progress to equal rights would be given if you sit back and not make yourself heard.
No one is going to suddenly say look at all those nice homosexuals lets grant them the same freedoms I have and make them an equal part of society. If that could happen it would have happen decades before and pride would not be as big and important event around the world.
Besides who's asking for your acceptance, I do not give a f* if you accept me. I want the same rights and privileges afforded everyone. I want the freedom to be able to safely walk down street.
People beating the pus out of each other in octagons and on the ice == family-friendly fun, bring the kids!
...but seriously, I was happy to see the number of families that attended. We celebrate violence too often, love too little. These kids will likely have fewer prejudices and bigotry toward non-heteronormative, non-cisgendered people in the future. Start sweating bigots, your time is running out!
Re: Ford's weight... fat people take more than enough crap for stupid reasons. Ford's consistently poor judgement is worthier of criticism.
Kind of sad to live believing in guilty until proven innocent, and guilty by association
I suppose it's possible (though not likely) that up to a million people attended all of Pride festivities over a week. But for there to be a million people attending the parade, they'd have to be crammed 125 deep on each side of the street, with 2 people per each 1 metre frontage. That's impossible.
Smitherman,Burke, Layton, others ? pls add.
Smitherman,Burke, Layton, others ? pls add.
Maybe you should actually GO to a Pride first before you judge it. There are placards EVERYWHERE.
Processions/Marches - What the hell do you think the parade is?
Just because it's not a solemn event, doesn't mean it's not political. You have no idea what you're talking about cause you just look at the pictures on the Globe site and pass judgement w/o attending. Your comments are so full of judgement and self-panic it's hilarious.
http://seclusion.quaintous.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/H5I7427-1024x659.jpg
Am I a hateful homophobe if I object to things like this a a publicly funded parade?
Bless all who came and those who couldn't.
Ah heck, bless those who didn't want to come; the party was better without you!
We were noticing how women were using baby strollers as weapons at Ontario Place, and along the Lakeshore against the Canada Day crowds and sure enough one FINALLY got busted on the subway today. We're new to Toronto and we were shocked by it, among other angry and violent people. (I could write an article on my upsetting experiences on that day).
In contrast, pink hair, water guns, Lady Gaga, and a safe, fun environment sound promising to me. I don't even care about any of these political issues. I just want to go to a fun party. Boobies and leather weiners don't scare me. haha
If I threw a party and a public leader declined my invitation I wouldn't bitch and moan about it. The parade and surrounding events have been a huge success this year, without our mayor being there. Maybe we can focus on real issues affecting the gay community, instead of crucifying someone who we already knew was a bit of a troglodyte.
If you are offended that he didn't come to party with you, you can vote for someone else next time around. In the interim, focus your energy on something important.
'It is known fact that homosexuality and lesbianism are very destructive to most who practice it'
Did a web search found no valid information to support that claim. Please inform me were you got that information from
Since the pride crowd was overwhelming not from the LGBT community, would be easy to say only 30% were. SO then everyone with a lifestyle has their own opnion of themselves to promote. is that not called society?
We practice it? It's destructive? Interesting, I'd put my properity, both economically and socially, up againt yours any day tracy.
I'm not really asure what planet you're on, but it's bizarre and quite possibly a rehash of our world circa 1500's. How did you build your time machine, and where is it now?
the parade needs to be cancelled
what a bunch of trash
i am ashamed to be a torontonian
and canadian
even the parade is lousy
rather watch gillian's island or littlest hobo
please all of you move to another planet
he really was at the cottage with us
he really was at the cottage with us
You nailed it on the head, completely.
@rob ford's mother: Stop mollycoddling your son, please, and make him grow up to face his responsibilities of running this city.
The mess you see downtown is in no way a reflection of the majority of gays who live in Ontario.
The people you saw at the parade are on drugs 365 days a year. They all smoke pot and some do harder stuff.
Mayor of TO. How come he won the government position if he's anti-gay in the first place. I thought TO was one of the cities that has biggest gay population in the world and the mayor is anti-gay? Whatta shame.