Opposition to pride parade dwindles
Sun, July 27, 2008
By CHIP MARTIN , SUN MEDIA
Londoners Grace and Neal Vangalen stood in silent witness as a parade of tattooed and tarted-up humanity passed by them on Dundas Street today.
The noise, the colourful rainbow hue of balloons and the joy of participants in the Pride London Festival parade were in stark contrast to the mood of the Vangalens and about 10 others from the faith-based community holding signs denouncing the celebration outside London police headquarters.
Among the thousands who sporadically lined the downtown parade route, the Vangalens stood stoically, both with large signs, Neal’s reading: “Homosexuality is sin,” an excerpt from the Bible’s book of Corinthians.
It was the couple’s fifth appearance at the parade and Neal, in his 80s, said they’d be back again next year, “Lord willing.”
He and Grace said participants were generally well behaved and the Vangalens didn’t seem to mind when a male marcher performed an impromptu belly-dance inches from Neal.
“The Bible condemns this,” he said later.
The parade had about 400 registered participants, three floats and 35 vehicles.
For Grace, the growing number of politicians and corporate sponsors of Pride events is rather troubling.
“I realize the tide is running against us,” she said, but she holds out hope gays and lesbians will see the error of their ways and repent. So she and Neal will keep their faith and continue to make their feelings known.
They were both particularly troubled that some churches took part in the parade to show their support.
Parade organizers said the dozen or so protesters marked was a drop from recent years and the hour-long parade along Dundas Street was without incident.
Eugene Dustin, president of the 10-day Pride London Festival that concluded yesterday, said politicians especially have accepted the gay and lesbian community. It’s a far cry from the day when mayor Dianne Haskett was fined for refusing to proclaim a Pride Weekend a decade ago.
“Each year it seems we get a little more support,” he said. “But since the last city election a lot more support has come our way.”
A glossy magazine featuring events in the Pride Festival contains paid ads from city councillors Cheryl Miller, Bernie MacDonald, Judy Bryant, Roger Caranci, Stephen Orser and a letter of support from Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco-Best.
London MPs Glen Pearson and Sue Barnes and Liberal candidate Jacquie Gauthier also had ads along with NDP MP Irene Mathyssen. London MPPs Chris Bentley and Deb Matthews also placed advertisements supporting the festival.