CITY SHOWS ITS PRIDE
Politics take back seat to celebration
Despite gloomy weather, those attending the Lethbridge Pride Festival brought their own rainbows and sunshine with them on Saturday as they celebrated being out and proud with joy, exuberance and festive zeal.
The noon-hour Pride Parade brought hundreds of Lethbridge residents out into the streets to dance, show their colours and welcome all to the party. Tolerance, freedom and passionate expression of personal identity are all hallmarks of the annual parade. Bright colours are the norm of the day. And making a strong statement in defence of LGBTQ Plus rights is the overt public message and intent.
At the Galt Gardens Pride in the Park event following the parade, politics, while present, took a backseat to colourful musical performances, dance, and expressions of joy and love.
A feeling of solidarity took hold of the assembled crowd as they danced and sang together, and waved their rainbowcoloured flags proudly.
“Pride is about courage and bravery,” Lethbridge West MLA Shannon Phillips told onlookers in her speech to festival-goers. “It’s about celebrating diversity, and it is about acknowledging there is more to do.”
One of the performers who helped kick off Pride in the Park, and injected a huge boost of energy, was drag performer Fendi, who danced and lipsang her way into the assembled crowd’s heart.
Fendi has attended every Pride Festival since the event began in Lethbridge.
“It’s always really high energy, and it’s always lots of fun,” she said. “There is always a big turnout. Every year I noticed it has gotten bigger and bigger here at the park, and the parade has gotten bigger. I have found that all ages are coming, from old to young. People just want to have fun.”