CALGARY- It used to be somewhat under the radar, a place where people hid their faces.
Now, Calgary’s gay pride parade is the place to be seen, and even politicians are clamouring to be a part of the colourful festivities.
“I was in the very first gay pride parade,” says Calgary’s Bill Taylor. “When that first one took place 20 years ago, Calgary was much more homophobic than today.”
Just a couple of decades ago, the celebration attracted nearly as many protestors as participants.
“They were wearing paper bags so they wouldn’t be recognized by coworkers, because they could lose their jobs,” he remembers. “It has come a long way, but it has been a slow growth.”
There is now a movement underway to encourage a better embrace of the LGBT community.
“In Calgary, it’s unheard of to be transgender,” says Stephen Wright from Pride Calgary. “We need a support group. They’re not as well developed. If you compare Calgary to Toronto, we’re 20 years behind—there’s a lot of catching up to do.”
The gay pride parade caps off Pride Week. This year’s participants will include Premier Alison Redford along with police, firefighters and members of the Canadian Armed Forces.
The march will be on September 1, along Stephen Avenue.
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