Chicago, IL -
Marriage was a common theme in gay pride celebrations in San Diego, Montreal, and Vancouver this weekend.
In San Diego, Pride organizers estimate 185,000 people took part in weekend festivities. Crowds along University Avenue in the Hillcrest area cheered as the 30th annual Pride Parade rolled by. (ChicagoPride.com was in San Diego and photos will post soon.)
Many of the floats bore signs saying "We all deserve the freedom to marry" and "Human Rights, Love, Freedom, Marriage."
On one float, Elvis performed a wedding of three same-sex couples.
The weekend pride festival wrapped up with a mass commitment ceremony and party at Marston Point in Balboa Park.
In Vancouver, where gay marriage has been legal for a year, about 150,000 watched as recently married couples waved the the crowd.
But, among the wedding gowns and tuxes there were plenty of leather daddies and drag queens.
A group of Japanese seniors shading themselves with sun umbrellas watched in awe as one queen fanned her massive peacock feather tail.
Jess Taylor stopped so her baby could pet the elaborate costume that must have seemed like a giant bird.
"I want her to experience all aspects of life as she grows up. This is a wonderful community where people really try to understand and love each other,'' said Taylor.
The parade also drew the federal leader of the New Democratic Party, Jack Layton, who also marched in Toronto's Pride Parade earlier this summer.
In Montreal, where gays also are allowed to marry, the parade featured Michael Hendricks and his spouse, Rene Leboeuf, Quebec's first same-sex couple to marry last April.
``This is the first time we've every been here as a family and we're with the rest of them,'' Hendricks said as a disco beat sounded from a nearby float.
``For the first time, homosexuals can constitute real social unions and we're recognized as families.''
The couple has been together for 31 years. But Hendricks said marriage has given him peace of mind that Leboeuf, 49, won't face problems when the 65-year-old dies.
©365Gay.com® 2004
In San Diego, Pride organizers estimate 185,000 people took part in weekend festivities. Crowds along University Avenue in the Hillcrest area cheered as the 30th annual Pride Parade rolled by. (ChicagoPride.com was in San Diego and photos will post soon.)
Many of the floats bore signs saying "We all deserve the freedom to marry" and "Human Rights, Love, Freedom, Marriage."
On one float, Elvis performed a wedding of three same-sex couples.
The weekend pride festival wrapped up with a mass commitment ceremony and party at Marston Point in Balboa Park.
In Vancouver, where gay marriage has been legal for a year, about 150,000 watched as recently married couples waved the the crowd.
But, among the wedding gowns and tuxes there were plenty of leather daddies and drag queens.
A group of Japanese seniors shading themselves with sun umbrellas watched in awe as one queen fanned her massive peacock feather tail.
Jess Taylor stopped so her baby could pet the elaborate costume that must have seemed like a giant bird.
"I want her to experience all aspects of life as she grows up. This is a wonderful community where people really try to understand and love each other,'' said Taylor.
The parade also drew the federal leader of the New Democratic Party, Jack Layton, who also marched in Toronto's Pride Parade earlier this summer.
In Montreal, where gays also are allowed to marry, the parade featured Michael Hendricks and his spouse, Rene Leboeuf, Quebec's first same-sex couple to marry last April.
``This is the first time we've every been here as a family and we're with the rest of them,'' Hendricks said as a disco beat sounded from a nearby float.
``For the first time, homosexuals can constitute real social unions and we're recognized as families.''
The couple has been together for 31 years. But Hendricks said marriage has given him peace of mind that Leboeuf, 49, won't face problems when the 65-year-old dies.
©365Gay.com® 2004
This article originally appeared on 365gay.com. Republished with permission.
