A little rain didn’t keep costume-clad queers away from the annual Church Street Halloween party.
Early in the evening the crowds were thin and many huddled under umbrellas, moving up and down the street gawking, dancing and taking pictures.
But by 9:30pm the street was packed. Super-storm Sandy be damned.
One of several Lady Gagas, wearing a vintage meat dress, splashed in a puddle and happily posed for pictures with a gathering crowd.
“Fuck the rain! I spent months making this dress,” she shouted before stomping away.
Just outside Church on Church, a group from AIDS Action Now, all dressed as witches, held signs saying, “Stop the Witch-Hunt. People living with HIV are not criminals.” Not far away, a human condom and a helper from the AIDS Committee of Toronto gave out packs of condoms and lube.
“It’s a little wet for an action,” said AIDS Action Now’s Jordan Bond-Gorr. “But we’re in lots of pictures, so that’s good.”
Up the street, The Manor Hair Lounge and Day Spa at 584 Church St turned into a free haunted house that made this reporter scream more than once.
“Some people say we are better than Screemers,” said Vanessa Nash-Gale, hair stylist and crypt keeper.
The staff spent a month putting it all together. Nash-Gale says it’s their first time creating a haunted house and she hopes to make it an annual tradition.
Meanwhile, across the street, members of the Church Wellesley Village BIA picked a winner in the costume contest. First place went to Willy Wonka and second place to Halo. Third place went to the person dressed as a pile of leaves. Best group went to the X-Men.
Check out Xtra’s photo gallery. All shots by Tanja Tiziana.
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