Montreal's Gay Pride Parade -- Défilé de la fierté gai in French -- is fun, flamboyant, and everyone is invited to a LGBTA tradition going strong since it was rooted in 1979, when a group of 200 people commemorated New York City's 1969 Stonewall Riots with "Gairilla," a precursor to Montreal's gay pride parade celebrations. A show of the community's solidarity, strength and demand for the same respect, dignity and basic rights as those granted to heterosexuals, find out how the parade evolved over the years by consulting the Montreal Pride Celebrations website.
Pride Montreal Parade 2013: When
The parade is generally held every mid-August. The 2013 Montréal LGBTA Parade is being held Sunday, August 18, starting at 1 p.m. at the corner of Guy and René-Lévesque, moving east on René-Lévesque (map). Expect the parade to last two to three hours.
Pride Montreal Parade: Where
In 2009, the parade started at the corner of De Lorimier and René-Lévesque, proceeding west along René-Lévesque but that route was scrapped in 2010. In 2013, as with the 2012, 2011 and 2010 editions, the Montreal Gay Pride Parade will strut from Guy and René-Lévesque, moving east on René-Lévesque until it reaches Sanguinet. The crowd is then instructed to march to the corner of Berri and Ste. Catherine, at Place Émilie-Gamelin where festivities will continue with an outdoor dance event: the MEGA T-DANCE. Here's a map of the Montreal Gay Pride Parade route.
Is the Parade Suitable for Kids?
Some parents might find some of the floats a little too wild for children, others may feel the parade is no big deal. Here's some footage of a prior Pride Montreal parade to help you decide for yourself.
