This was my first participation in a real pride parade.

I had attended the Trans March in Toronto, which preceded the city’s mammoth pride parade, but never the main event.

The parade of which I am speaking was held in Calgary, Alberta, which is the gateway to Canada’s most beautiful national parks of Banff and Jasper, and a major oil center.

However, Calgary is a small fraction of the size of Toronto in population, and probably several years behind in terms of tolerance.  However, it is not the redneck backwater smug urbanites from Canada’s largest city think it is.

Calgary has been moving in the right direction for years and has closed the gap considerably with Toronto and Vancouver.

And I will also note the significant trans contingent in this parade.  There were groups marching and plenty of us on the road, clapping and cheering too.  And others – gay and straight – supporting us.

Of course, not everyone was pleased with the affair. Witness the fellow with the scowl on his face, at right.  But at least Calgary has a much more multicultural mix of anti-GLBT people than it used to…

Oh well…

To see an event of this size surprised me, quite frankly.  Being part of it was great fun, and allowed me to catch up with my dear friends who live so far away.

(note: click on any photo to enlarge)