A Million People & England’s Queen Crowd Toronto’s Gay Pride

July 4, 2010 Posted by GorgeousBoys in Celebrations

More than a million people crowded Toronto on Sunday, decked out in fanciful costumes and hoisting rainbow flags as they celebrated thirty years of Pride in sweltering heat. In three decades, the parade for gay and lesbian rights has morphed into a place for politics and a place to party, as people on the streets sang, danced and cheered.

“It's the biggest party in the world, man,” said one person attending pride. “I've heard that it's better than San Francisco Pride, but I've never been,”

As the parade winded its way through city streets, people cheered, confetti was thrown and volunteers sprayed the sweaty masses with water guns as the crowd watched the parade.

It felt somehow fitting that Queen Elizabeth II spent her first full day in Toronto, on the same day as a million queens celebrated gay pride. Everybody in town was in a mood for a party.
Lady Gaga music blared over speakers strapped to trucks as people yelled out “Happy Pride.” The parade also featured drag queens dressed in heavy purple and pink taffeta dresses, carrying parasols.
Police also rode through the parade route, waving at people to show support. In the parade on Sunday, many people held signs that said “My Pride includes free speech.”