BY ROB SALERNO – Despite the rather disappointing Church St non-fetish Village Fair (whose website is still confusingly located at churchstreetfetishfair.com), weary Canadians longing for bold street activism had many examples to choose from overseas this weekend.
Despite all the drama that preceded Prague’s first-ever Pride parade, the march went off without major calamity, according to the BBC. “Dozens” of far-right extremist protesters showed up to shout abusive slogans, but they were effectively held back by riot police who were cooperating with the marchers.
Meanwhile, in the Nepali city of Narayanghat, queer activists held their first gay pride demonstration, outside the capital city of Kathmandu. An estimated 500 people demonstrated for sexual minority rights, including a hoped-for provision to protect gay rights in the country’s new constitution, which is currently under debate.
And in Mannheim, a group of US soldiers stationed in Europe defied the country’s still-in-effect-until-Sept-20 Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell law by marching in the CSD Mannheim 2011 parade. Servicemembers United and the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network have both marched in gay pride celebrations around the US before, but active-duty soldiers are becoming more bold as the end of DADT looms.
And in unrelated news, Jean-Claude Van Damme says he loves being a gay icon, because “most gay people are very tasty people.” Make of that what you will.
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