HFXNews.com – Dean Lisk
The Gay Pride parade is a 19-year tradition
When Halifax held one of its first Pride Week marches in 1988, 75 people took part in the parade ? five wearing brown paper bags over their heads.
It was a different story last year, when thousands of adults, children and grandparents lined the route and marched in the parade ? some wearing just their underwear ? and waved rainbow flags.
?For a person who marches, it is an affirming process,? said Halifax Pride Committee co-chairman Hugo Dann. ?It is them saying, ?This is who I am. I don?t have to hide. I don?t have to feel shame.??
He is expecting around 6,000 people to participate in the parade, and 16,000 to 20,000 more watching from the sidewalk.
Leaving Maitland Street at 1:30 p.m., this year?s parade will follow Brunswick Street to Spring Garden Road. It will skirt the Public Gardens, turning up South Park Street and following Ahern Avenue to Halifax Common.
Dann recently moved back to Halifax after living in Toronto for 25 years. His memories of Pride Week are all from his time living there.
?It was just a hoot, a great time to get together with friends and feel safe. My straight female friends felt the safest and secure they ever felt at the parade. I want people to have fun; I really want people to have a good time.