Brooklyn Pride!!

Saturday, 14 June was the Brooklyn Pride parade, going down the 7th Avenue strip in Park Slope. It would have been even better than the fun parade it already was if it hadn't kept raining and raining on the....well, parade. And of course, sometimes I can be a little obtuse--I thought I had missed the parade from earlier in the day and was a bit bummed about it. However, thank god I carry my camera with me everywhere as I was able to squeeze off a few snaps as I realised that the parade had started to happen and also before my battery went dead!! Yet another misfortune that could have put a cloud over the celebration, but I was gratetful for the few pictures I got to post here, as well as for the fact that they were throwing favors off the floats Mardi Gras style. I am like a kid all over again when I get fun glowy necklaces, rainbow colored spongy balls, T-shirts and other fun stuff!! I nabbed two glowy necklaces. Well anyway, here are the pictures I got....

This was an awesome marching band that was playing the festive happy marching music of any parade Americana. I loved it. They played so well!!

Here is another group who marched together, but they weren't playing any instruments. Still they marched and were smiling and festive so I snapped them.

This picture pretty much explains itself.

This is my favorite. This lively character was twirling a glowy baton and doing it exceptionally well. I was amazed!! I haven't seen baton twirling for a while and I happen to be a fan of the talent. It was really amazing how he twirled and even cooler is the exact moment I caught him in this pose, almost like he knew exactly when to throw up his hand, flash his pearly whites and pose so dramatically for my camera eye. I wish I had gotten a chance to speak with him.

Now here is another great picture with a drag queen and I also happen to be a great big fan of drag queens too!! There were really not enough in the parade. I like drag queens because they have so much creative energy to put together so many awesome outfits. Not to mention the kick ass make-up. This particular queen actually started to do a high-pitched scream and ran right up to me hoping to scare or rattle me. But I didn't even blink. He said he was amazed that I didn't even flinch. Then I gave him a hug and he ran off. I wanted to talk to him too....

Here is one of the the last big floats that pretty much rounded up the parade. I was sad to see it end so quickly, as I am used to the Manhattan parade which goes on and on and has so many great floats. But I am not going to complain. Brooklyn will get bigger and bigger and then we will one day rival the Manhattan parade.

HAPPY PRIDE EVERYONE!!!