They all met at a designated spot at the foot of Norman Jewison Parkette.
When the parade began, they were joined on Church just south of Bloor by Diane of QAIA, who very animatedly played crossing guard for them as they awaited their chance to turn onto Bloor. Diane was wearing an official Pride t-shirt designating her as an “Ambassador.”
(Around that moment, two gay men behind me tsked disapprovingly, “THEY aren’t supposed to be here!”)
In other words, Pride knows full well that one of their top level volunteers is a member of a group that is banned from participation in the Parade, but evidently don’t care. She’s allowed to wear their official clothing and act in an official capacity in public.
And the group marching yesterday was carrying a banner used by QAIA in an earlier demonstration.
Nice try, guys.
The good news is, we saw on “Dykes on Bikes” parade leader with Israeli flags on her hog. And ran into Kulanu (below).
(PS: can someone please buy the Jewish lesbian in the wheelchair a longer mast for her flag, and a contraptionto attach it to her chair. She actually told me she was going to hold it up like that for the duration of the parade.)
