Scenes from gay pride celebrations Sunday in Toronto, San Francisco, Bogota, New York, New Delhi, Seattle and Caracas:
An unidentified man pokes at a blowup doll as he marches down Yonge Street in the gay pride parade in Toronto, Sunday, June 29, 2008. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Aaron Harris)
Participants celebrate as they march down Yonge Street during the gay pride parade in Toronto, Canada Sunday, June 29, 2008. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Aaron Harris)
Spectators watch the gay pride parade march down Yonge Street in Toronto, Sunday, June 29, 2008. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Aaron Harris)
Singer Cyndi Lauper waves to the crowd during San Francisco's 38th annual gay pride parade on Sunday, June 29, 2008. (AP Photo/ Tony Avelar)
A dancer performs for spectators during San Francisco's 38th annual gay pride parade on Sunday, June 29, 2008. (AP Photo/ Tony Avelar)
Alex Tsai watches the parade from his rooftop during San Francisco's 38th annual gay pride parade on Sunday, June 29, 2008. (AP Photo/ Tony Avelar)
Spectators fill Market Street during San Francisco's 38th annual gay pride parade on Sunday, June 29, 2008. (AP Photo/ Tony Avelar)
A dancer participates in San Francisco's 38th annual gay pride parade on Sunday, June 29, 2008. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
People wave from a float as they ride in a gay pride parade in Bogota, Sunday, June 29, 2008. Thousands paraded through the streets of Bogota and called for a law granting social security and matrimonial rights for gay couples. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
A gay pride parade participant marches in Bogota, Sunday, June 29, 2008. Thousands paraded through the streets of Bogota and called for a law granting social security and matrimonial rights for gay couples. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Doug Young, left, of Howell, N.J., talks with Edgar Cordova of Old Bridge, N.J. as they participate in the gay pride parade in New York Sunday, June 29, 2008. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
Motorcyclists ride on Eighth Street during the gay pride parade in New York on Sunday, June 29, 2008. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
Marchers carry a rainbow flag at the gay pride parade along Fifth Avenue in New York on Sunday, June 29, 2008. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
Representatives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community participate in the first 'Rainbow Pride Walk' in New Delhi, India, Sunday, June 29, 2008. Men wore sparkling saris, women wore rainbow boas and hundreds of people chanted for gay rights in three Indian cities Sunday in the largest display of gay pride in the deeply conservative country where homosexual acts are illegal. Gay rights supporters took to the streets of Calcutta, Bangalore and New Delhi to call for an end to discrimination and push for acceptance in a society where intolerance is widespread. (AP Photo/ Mustafa Quraishi)
Representatives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community participate in the first 'Rainbow Pride Walk' in New Delhi, India, Sunday, June 29, 2008. Men wore sparkling saris, women wore rainbow boas and hundreds of people chanted for gay rights in three Indian cities Sunday in the largest display of gay pride in the deeply conservative country where homosexual acts are illegal. Gay rights supporters took to the streets of Calcutta, Bangalore and New Delhi to call for an end to discrimination and push for acceptance in a society where intolerance is widespread. (AP Photo/ Mustafa Quraishi)
Representatives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community participate in the first 'Rainbow Pride Walk' in New Delhi, India, Sunday, June 29, 2008. Men wore sparkling saris, women wore rainbow boas and hundreds of people chanted for gay rights in three Indian cities Sunday in the largest display of gay pride in the deeply conservative country where homosexual acts are illegal. Gay rights supporters took to the streets of Calcutta, Bangalore and New Delhi to call for an end to discrimination and push for acceptance in a society where intolerance is widespread. (AP Photo/ Mustafa Quraishi)
Representatives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community participate in the first 'Rainbow Pride Walk' in New Delhi, India, Sunday, June 29, 2008. Men wore sparkling saris, women wore rainbow boas and hundreds of people chanted for gay rights in three Indian cities Sunday in the largest display of gay pride in the deeply conservative country where homosexual acts are illegal. Gay rights supporters took to the streets of Calcutta, Bangalore and New Delhi to call for an end to discrimination and push for acceptance in a society where intolerance is widespread. (AP Photo/ Mustafa Quraishi)
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence participate in the gay pride parade in Seattle on June 29, 2008 in Seattle. (AP Photo/Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Meryl Schenker)
A member of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, known when in costume only by his stage name of Sister Erotica Psychotica, Sunday, June 29, 2008, marches in Seattle at the annual Gay Pride parade. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Denny Way participate in the gay pride parade in Seattle on June 29, 2008 in Seattle. (AP Photo/Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Meryl Schenker)
Venezuelans participate of a march for the Gay Pride on June 29, 2008 in Caracas. (MIGUEL GUTIERREZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Body painted revelers participate of the Gay Pride Parade on June 29, 2008 in Caracas. (MIGUEL GUTIERREZ/AFP/Getty Images)
A reveler poses during the Gay Pride Parade on June 29, 2008 in Caracas. (MIGUEL GUTIERREZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Venezuelans participate of a march for the Gay Pride on June 29, 2008 in Caracas. (MIGUEL GUTIERREZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Why are these Gay Pride parades always freak shows? It really doesn't help them gain acceptance by dressing up like clowns and making spectacles of themselves does it? Look a these images...people dressed like freaks, if they are dressed at all. Is this really the image gays want to portray?
Posted by: Sir Frederick R. Freep | June 30, 2008 at 07:04 PM
Why are the signs all in English?
Posted by: edd | June 30, 2008 at 08:17 PM
The pictures are of those on the 'front floats', and most gay people are just regular people. Those on the front floats want to be the most spectacular, or they wouldn't bother.
The more important issue is 'Why is there no Miami parade supported by the politicians?' Is Miami a hate filled 'backwater' city, or is it a tolerant center of culture? You be the judge.
Posted by: Ger | June 30, 2008 at 08:17 PM
I'm gay and I think anything that promotes gay acceptance is great, but seriously, most of these parades can be borderline strange, if not straight up weird, no offense.
I know it's only a small minority that dress up like this, but it's crazy stuff.
Posted by: nice | June 30, 2008 at 10:36 PM
This is just my personal opinion. But I think that thos homophobes such as Sir Frederick R. Freep...shold be banned immediately. Sure...these genetic misfits...these darwinian award winners...clearly face trials and tribulations. But...and I say ... butt...they do not deserve the attacks that Sir Frederick R. Freep has put upon them.
So Let it be written
So let it be done.
Thank You.
Posted by: Mr. Mensa, Ph.D | July 01, 2008 at 02:17 AM
I would like to take this opportunity...to blame my inadequate and dysfunctional keyboard for my previous misspellings/misquotes.
Posted by: Mr. Mensa, Ph.D | July 01, 2008 at 03:05 AM
First, you must look at those that are dressed in costume just as it is...people dressed in costume. No more no less. It is no different than clowns in a regular parade. They don't expect to be taken seriously no more than a clown does. This isn't a "march" but a parade. There is a difference.
Secondly, the reason you see so many "freaks" as you call them is because it is a way of showing diversity among people and showing that it doesn't matter what one looks like, dresses like, falls in love with- you're accepted. That we even accept the "freaks" of the world.
Pride parades are exactly that- PRIDE PARADES, not marches. They are parades that actually stand for something. They are also a way of showing the world not to take yourself so seriously and have fun with life.
Maybe if half the world wasn't so close minded they might actually enjoy themselves instead of complaining.
Posted by: sobeboy | July 01, 2008 at 05:41 PM
To answer the question why Miami doesn't have a parade..
Cities don't necessarily organize these things. They are usually grass roots efforts. Although Miami Beach will hold their first Pride celebration including a parade next year and it was initiated by the Mayor, it will be a volunteer effort from what I understand.
More updates on the Miami Beach Pride will be on http://www.sobegainfo.com as they become available.
Posted by: sobeboy | July 01, 2008 at 05:50 PM
Great point sobeboy about the difference between marches and parades, but I wonder if the grand majority of ignorant straight people understand that difference. I am not trying to be mean, but lets be real, homosexuals are a minority in America that the majority of Americans do not want to acknowledge even exist... Which is why our civil rights (refering to homosexual marriage) are being voted upon, instead of being protected my the government that was put in place to protect the rights of all American citizens...
Posted by: vacollegeguy | November 18, 2008 at 09:41 PM
For the record I dont hate gays I hate the fact there proud of it.
Posted by: Steve | January 16, 2009 at 02:38 PM
I'd like ule brenner's head in my butt.
Posted by: Mr. Mensa | January 16, 2009 at 02:41 PM
OMG, I love the rainbow drag queens walking in a line like a pride flag. Holy crap they went overboard with costumes there!
Posted by: Adam | August 21, 2009 at 10:43 AM
Is beautiful parade gay new york...
i'm sao paulo - brazil ,the parade in sp too is very very beautiful...
next year i'm going to new york represent brazil in parade...
bye!
Posted by: leandro | November 04, 2009 at 05:26 AM
If gay can be in Guyana that will be so good to guy who want to live there life who they want live it.
Posted by: Banker | March 22, 2010 at 06:23 PM
Oho. it is so beautiful parade gay but i have idea, it is some bad manners in thailand. I am very want going to san francisco.
Posted by: kiwi | August 02, 2013 at 01:54 AM