All posts tagged with: liberate

Over 640,000 flocked to downtown Vancouver on Sunday, August 1 to watch the 32nd Annual Vancouver Pride Parade. This year’s theme, “Liberate” was very apparent in many of the over 125 parade entries.

Participants of all ages, sexualities, beliefs and genders came out to celebrate diversity in the community. It was an afternoon of fabulous costumes, spectacular people and beautiful weather. By all accounts, the parade was very successful and people enjoyed themselves.

Here’s a look at some of the great parade entries, costumes and people from the Vancouver Pride Parade.

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This year’s theme for the Vancouver Pride is “Liberate”. The theme is part of a larger theme,  from 2009 – 2011, of ‘Educate, Liberate, Celebrate’. The theme was selected by the Vancouver Pride Society (VPS), the organizers of the Vancouver Pride Parade, Festival  and celebrations.

Over the last number of years, Canadians have received many new rights, including gay marriage. The theme, ‘Liberate’, carries the message of unity, diversity and acceptance for the LGBT community. In recent months and years there have been alleged hate crimes against homosexuals in Vancouver and across Canada. The Vancouver Pride Society hopes to bring additional attention to the importance of this year’s theme to help raise awareness.

According to the Vancouver Pride Society there are almost 80 countries where homosexuality is still illegal and punishable by death in seven of those countries. The VPS is committed to supporting human rights and equality for LGTB people around the world. In fact, the Pride Parade Grand Marshall is Nikolai Alekseev, a Russian LGBT activist, lawyer, journalist and founder of Moscow Pride.

This weekend, show your support of LGBT rights and come join over 630,000 people* at Vancouver Pride!

For more information please visit the official Vancouver Pride Society website.

*2009 estimated Pride Parade attendees

This week kicks off Vancouver Pride 2010. Pride means different things to different people. It’s an opportunity to raise awareness, make a political stand, gather and celebrate diversity with friend and family, and to have a hot summer party!

This year’s Vancouver Pride theme is “liberate”. The Vancouver Pride Society says,

“The Vancouver Pride Society adopted a three-year theme of Educate, Liberate, Celebrate focusing on one of the three elements each year. In 2010, we focus on Liberate and what it means to be free.”

This year there are 10 official events taking place including the TELUS Davie Street Dance Party, the Sunset Beach Pride Festival and of course the Pride Parade.

There are also a number of other non-sanctioned events that happen all over the city. New this year is the Sunday afternoon pool party at the Westin and the Rainbow Party at 560 Night Club on Seymour Street. Celebrities again this year is offering VIP passes for all five days for $70. Many of the other bars, pubs, restaurants and shops are offering spectacular Pride Week specials.

If you haven’t figured out your Vancouver Pride 2010 plans yet, find out more about the official and unofficial calendar of events at: www.vancouverpride.ca.

I want to hear from you. Take this quick poll now on what events you plan to attend: