Thousands attended Halifax’s 23rd annual Pride parade today. Check out a few pics by Xtra freelancer Shannon Webb-Campbell:
This year’s grand marshal has a long history of gay activism — read about Robin Metcalfe in this piece by Xtra freelancer Simon Thibault:
In 1975, while standing on the steps of the Peace Tower in Ottawa, Robin Metcalfe was handed a megaphone.
AdvertisementSince then, he’s never stopped talking about queer rights.
This year, Metcalfe is the grand marshal for Halifax Pride, now in its
23rd year. Born in Chester, a small community outside of Halifax,
Metcalfe was brought up in a military family and grew up all over the
country. In 1975, he came back to the east coast, attending the Nova
Scotia College of Art & Design. Taking on the edict that the
personal was political, Metcalfe joined the Gay Alliance for Equality
(GAE), a local gay rights group, and became active at demonstrations
and public meetings. The first time he spoke publicly about gay rights
was at a parlimentary hearing on Canada’s ban on gay immigrants. (read Xtra’s full piece on Robin Metcalfe here)
>> Check out Xtra’s list Pride events across Canada in 2010