Politicians, Police Proudly Mix with Gay Vancouver in Gay Pride Day Parade

by Linda Solomon with photos by Brian Powell
A police motorcycle brigade kicked off the Gay Pride Parade in Vancouver today, followed by dykes on bikes and a host of colourful, flamboyant floats.   Crowds on Robson yelped with pleasure as officers in full uniform did figure eights with their motorcycles and wove around each other's machines, smiling and waving. "Boys with toys," one man commented, "but you gotta love 'em." 

"They look almost friendly," someone else said. 

Love was in the air up and down Robson and as the parade turned up Denman Street, punctuated by bikini-clad queens with perfect bodies, a VanCity float with speakers that blared out !!"Voulez-vous couchez avec moi ce soir,"!! and buff male dancers, and homespun displays by groups like "Sing with Your Family" whose members carried a banner and walked up the street, chorusing in harmony:  "Keep on loving boldly."

Read the rest of this story and see great photos of the Gay Pride Vancouver Parade on The Vancouver Observer.

Photo of Gregor Robertson, Vancouver Vision Vancouver mayoral candidate, as he roller-blades up Denman, during Gay Pride Parade by Brian Powell