I couldn’t dress my dog fast enough
We were talking the other day about how it seems “fashionable” to be out and proud. In the old days there were the unspoken signs such as the Lacoste shirts, the 501 jeans, the haircut, the clean nails — you could often just tell who was gay and who wasn’t.
When I look around the streets of Vancouver today, I wouldn’t bet you a quarter whether or not someone is gay or not. And you know, I like that we’ve evolved here to this point where what you look like doesn’t define your sexuality.
Like a bunch of old coots, we sat around and recalled the old days when being out was less than cool.
In fact, when we were in our twenties, being gay was illegal. Some people lost jobs because they were gay. The Vancouver Pride Parade was a rag-tag group of activists who used bullhorns to declare, “we’re here; we’re queer; get used to it.”
I used to cringe at the word queer thinking it was too vulgar. I’ve changed my mind about the word — not enough to put it in my vocabulary though.
Here it is 2005 and the Vancouver Pride Parade is just a few days away. Optimistic estimates put the crowd at 150,000 lining the parade route. The Dykes on Bikes traditionally lead the parade. The drag queens, who start to melt if the weather is too warm, will sit upon the floats, wave and blow kisses.
Twenty five years ago, we walked alongside the six block parade route. I haven’t gone to the Pride Parade for a few years. I don’t know yet if I’ll fight he crowds this year.
Now here’s the segue to this entry. Here’s where you get the chance to dress your gay dog.
Corey, the wheaten terrier we dog-sit, has his own bar of “Doggles” — Harley Davidson goggles made especially for our canine pals.
He gets infected eyes when he rides in the back of my convertible when the top is down. The doggles protect him from getting wind in his eyes. Some people dress their dogs up and bring them to the Pride Parade.
I don’t think I’d ever go that far but in case you have the urge you can go to this site and try to beat the clock as you dress your dog as gay as you can.
I couldn’t get past the third outfit before I was barked into oblivion. Link from Not Safe For Children