Gay

  • Pride Parade (Toronto)

    I went to Pride Parade last Sunday for the first time on a whim.  The following Monday was a holiday and I was able to put off my chores and work stuff for another day. 
    The Pride Parade always seemed to be delivering a mixed message to me.  On one hand, it’s the celebration & assertion of gay rights; the recognition of the struggle for freedom and equality and also of the contributions and breadth of the LGBT community.  One the other hand there’s the overt, in your face, sexually charged aspect that attracts most of the attention.  In the past few years, there’s also been a heavier corporate hand making it feel more commercial.   

    This year’s Pride Parade seemed less corporate.  There were corporate signs but it wasn’t overpowering.  There was some nudity (none in the pictures here) and the usual scantily dressed men and women.  There were quite a few eye candies.  I saw church groups, the military, the first respondents, groups different cultures and school groups.  I left early as I had to meet up with my dad & sis for our weekly dinner.  I know I missed the guys in leather (but I’m not into leather).  The one group that really puzzled me was a handful of folks walking with signs proudly announcing they were asexual.  It was tame for the most part and I liked seeing the broad spectrum of the community and its supporters.  I don’t think the debate about whether or not pride is good for the cause and representative of our community will ever be settled.  But it was good for me to see the LGBT community. 

    Here are some of the pictures I took.

    The co-Grand Marshals of the parade, the Provincial Education Minister Laurel Broten (on the left) and Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Cheri DiNovo). 

    Toronto Gay Gamers – I read that this is the first time they are in the parade.

    These guys looked good together.

    From our military (the Navy), they were playing Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline when they marched past me.  They had the crowd singing along.

    Someone from the Navy with a nice smile. 

    I don’t know if he was winking intentionally when he saluted.

    He wasn’t smiling. But then again, it must have been a long walk for him.  He just had this determined look in his face.

    I didn’t see what group they belonged to.

    Rev. Brent Hawkes who has been active in the gay community for a long time.

    More of the parade participants:

     

     

    Comedian Rick Mercer and Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager Brian Burke.  This is the 3rd year Mr. Burke has marched in the parade in memory of his son.

    I like the flag on his cheek.

     

    One of the guys from MTV Canada’s 1 Girl 5 Gays (I think he is one of the high school students that was in a special edition of that show)

    I liked their sign.  (Free Hugs from a PFLAG Mom / Dad)

    Despite the crowd, the heat, getting sprayed on and getting bumped all the time, I probably would go back again.

     

  • A minority within a minority

    I prefer to do my shopping at night at the local Asian supermarket.  I avoid the crowds and get in and out without wasting my time.  When I got there a couple of weeks ago, it must have been hairy Asian night.  The Asian guys with hairy arms, hairy legs & facial hair outnumbered the smooth skin Asians guys. While I don’t look like a werewolf, I don’t belong with the smooth skinned tribe.  So it was nice to see my brothers out with me.

    When I got to the meat section, I asked for 7 chicken thighs in Cantonese.  The guy behind the counter responded in Mandarin.  I figured he was asking how many.  I had to count quietly from 1 to 7 in Mandarin (eee, err, sam, siii, wu, lieu …) and then my mind went blank.  He stood there while I gave him my famous dumb look.  I resorted to my fingers instead.  He nodded and said “chee” to confirm?  I think he is just tormenting me.  

    Is chee = 7?  My Mandarin teacher would have whacked me for not remembering this.  I smiled and nodded back.  I figured if chee meant 17, I would just freeze what I didn’t need.  Such is the fate of jook sings.  When I got to the checkout counter, the cashier and the young man who was bagging the groceries were bantering in Mandarin.  I was next.  After she scanned everything, the cashier looked at me and just gave me the total in English.  I get this all the time.  Even when I used to buy Chinese newspapers for my mom.  I figured that would fool them.  Sometimes it did.   They would say something in Chinese and I would give them the dumb look.   The cashiers can pretty well know when a jook sing is in front of them.  When J goes to the cashiers, they just start talking to him in Chinese.  When I go up, 90% of the time they will speak English to me first.

    I need to find a tribe to belong to.  Is there a tribe for scruffy, gay, jook-sings?  A minority within a minority – that’s how I feel.