Prides of the past: 2002
25 Jun 2020. -

In 2002, Pride was peaking. The attendance figures were growing every year, and the world was starting to notice. Floats were massive, so they assembled along Bloor east of Yonge Street, then made their way south along Yonge. Media had a huge presence, and the excitement was palpable.

The theme was “Uncensored!” and thank God, because it was impossible not to notice the Totally Naked Toronto contingent, marching proudly with cocks flapping in the wind. Unfortunately, most of them were guys you don’t want to see naked. To compensate, MAC cosmetics, then flourishing, had a massive float adorned with many anatomically-perfect glitter-painted hunks, along with a second group circling the flatbed on roller blades.

The Grand Marshals were JP Hornick and Rachel Aitchison of the Toronto Women’s Bathhouse Committee, which is odd, as no women’s bathhouse ever existed in Toronto or anywhere else on earth. True, a lesbian sex party held at Club Toronto, which was called Pussy Palace, was ruined by stupid cops two years earlier. I guess that explains it. Glad Day Bookshop was the Honoured Group. The Pride Committee’s website declares, “Come on out, and help us make her/history.” Isn’t that just her/hysterical?

I particularly liked The Fraternity’s group, dressed in white cotton shirts and ties, knee-high dress socks and shoes and briefcases. Everything but pants. So cute. My friend, who had a sock fetish, was out of his mind with pleasure. PFLAG marched, so dignified, and many young lesbians showed their tits. In terms of public nudity, 2002 was a banner year. 

There was one thing that really impressed me. Three guys went to a dollar store and bought hundreds of plastic flowers of all different colours, then they glue-gunned those flowers on some cheap Value Village suits. They also created huge magnificent flower crowns. The total effect was stunning, and to this day, those three flower suits hold the record for Best Costume Ever. Sometimes, gay men are just the most ingenious of people.