Pride 2012: I’m not really a dancing organic baker, I just play one in parades

This past Sunday, I shook my groove thang for over a million people in little more than red hot pants and a baker’s toque (Yes, Toque. I just Googled this extensively.)

I also wore a bathing suit top, much to the chagrin of my mom.

“I’m glad you had a good time at the Pride Parade, but WHAT were you WEARING dear child? Is that underwear”

Imagine if I’d been on the float in front of us! Thatshcray.

image via raymitheminx.com

That wouldn’t have happened though because… well, for so many reasons.

I DID manage to land myself a dancing spot on the (award winning, TYVM) ShaSha Bread company float in Toronto’s 2012 Pride parade, though, thanks to my girl Rayyyymboooo.

It was ridiculously fun, save for the parts where I got water-gunned in the face by parade watchers, bwahaha.

I don’t think I’ve danced in front of so many people before in my life! The crowds had us all flying high.

The water he’s spraying is infused with vanilla and the people loved it. It made the parade smell like cookies!

That’s ShaSha (THE ShaSha), by they way. He’s hilarious and kind and very, very cool. He gave us so many yummy things.

The other blog-dancers were April Wozny, Barbora Simek Raymi and Rebecca.

All cool as heck and a blast to hang out with — even if their dope dancing made me look derpish.

Jul 1, 2012 | Dude, @BarboraWrites is putting Lady Gaga to shame right now. #PrideTo @Shashabreadco by laurenonizzle on Keek.com

So, why did Canada’s leading organic artisan bakery have a massive float in the pride parade? I don’t know. I didn’t ask.

Why did Canada’s leading organic artisan tofu microwaver dance on a float in the pride parade? That, that I do know. And it all comes down to this:

a) Parades are awesome.
b) Pride is awesome.
c) Toronto’s Pride Parade is one of the largest (AND BEST) of its kind anywhere in the world.
d) I haven’t been in a parade since highschool – and even then, I was merely crammed into the back of a wagon with every other niner on the RedFeather spirit committee who had spent hours blowing up a bunch of yellow & blue balloons the night before that all ended up popping in the heat anyway. *sharp inhale*
e) PARADES ARE AWESOME

I’ve always really liked Toronto’s Pride celebrations — especially the parade. This is my 4th year attending.

It’s all so colourful and happy and wild. Like a massive outdoor daytime rave with a myriad of political undertones.

This little girl wins at life.

Pride always reminds me of how lucky I am to live in a country that grants equal rights to all adults, no matter who they love.

MOST importantly, Pride reminds us that it wasn’t always this way. Many have fought long, hard battles to secure the rights of people my age, LGBT Straight or otherwise inclined.

Furthermore, people still struggle both in our own country and abroad due to the unwarranted hate of others.

When gay seems so normal that you don’t even think about it anymore, these issues become easy to forget. But they’re important to remember. You know?

Shade break

So, when Raymi asked if I wanted to be in this year’s parade with her I said yes. Yes, of course. Because Pride is awesome. Pride is important. And also, YOLO.

You can find more photos from our adventure in this Flickr set, on ShaSha’s Facebook Page and on Raymi’s blog. There are tons out there.

An American couple actually got MARRIED on a float during the parade this year and the University of Toronto cranked out a freaking NYAN CAT FLOAT! How could anybody not love this shizz, seriously?