For 19 years, the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transsexual community has gathered to march and show off their Pride in Victoria, growing from 200 people marching down Government Street to the legislature in 1994 to the week-long celebration it is now.
“You can just be who you are, dress up and have fun. People find that they can be anything or anyone they want on this one day,” said Laurissa Chapple, media and communications co-ordinator for the Victoria Pride Society.
Twenty events — including the annual Drag Ball baseball game — were held last week, with many more in the weeks before.
For community groups, today’s parade offers a chance to battle stigma.
“In Victoria and on Vancouver Island, people who are living with HIV definitely experience social isolation and can experience stigma as a result of their diagnosis,” said Eric Bendt, the communications manager for AIDS Vancouver Island. The group uses the parade to celebrate the gay community and promote safer sex and awareness.
The parade leaves at noon from Government Street and Pandora Avenue. Floats and marchers will go down Government, turning on Menzies Street and Kingston as they make their way toward MacDonald Park on Oswego Street.
The park will host the Pride Festival, with more than 100 vendors, Pride House — hosting 10 LGBTQ support organizations — a kids camp, a beer garden and musical performances.
For more information, go to victoriapridesociety.org.
