The 34th annual Pride Parade kicked off shortly after noon Sunday amidst a throng of colourful onlookers, flamboyant floats and proud marchers.
To the strains of Lady Gaga and Rihanna, a cavalcade of participants danced and strutted west along Robson Street, from Trojan with its legion of brawny, plume-helmetted centurions to the Lighthouse of the Christian Fellowship holding signs reading, “We’re sorry for the hurt the Church has caused your community.”
Transgender beauty queen and parade grand marshal Jenna Talackova rolled through shortly behind Dyles on Bikes, each to enthusiastic cheers from the festive crowd.
One onlooker sported spangled briefs and Tinkerbell wings. Another wearing leather chaps and green sunglasses swayed to the rhythms of Madonna’s “Like a Virgin.”
Vancouver Canucks player Manny Malhotra walked side by side with team representatives, the first Canucks player to march in the parade. On his wing were a fleet of photographers, as well as members of the You Can Play organization, founded by Patrick Burke in honour of his late son Brendan.
Nearing it’s second hour, the Vancouver Pride Parade was still in full swing.
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Paramedics and RCMP in complete dress regalia marched through the unofficial gates at Bute Street and Robson Street. Behind them strode men in fishnet stockings and pink stilettos, capped off by blue wigs and “It’s Raining Men.”
A bicyclist in purple fun-fur chaps, a headdress and pantihoes weaved in and out of the floats.
Backed by the distant blare of the Shao Lin Hung Bar’s snare drums and cymbals, WorkSafe BC helped cap off the parade’s rear guard. Their float was accompanied by a unicycling construction worker and featured giant, mechanical stuffed animals with helmets, gloves and regulation-approved work gear — more overdressed than fully nude man crossing the street earlier in the afternoon.
Tiffany Lee watched the parade unfold with her three-year-old niece, Jade. “It’s really good, I think people really enjoyed the whole thing,” she said.
“There could have been more crowd control, though,” she added, pointing to the crush of onlookers sandwiched between the blue metal fencing and storefronts along Robson.
As for whether the sexually oriented spectacle was family friendly: “Yes,” mother Becky Lee said, “except for the naked guy.”
The week leading up was not without controversy. The Canadian Foreskin Awareness Project, today floating their first appearance in the parade, staged what they called the city’s first anti-circumcision march Saturday at the Vancouver Art Gallery.
Vancouver joins Amsterdam in hosting its annual celebration of LGBTQ identity this weekend.
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