GLBT Pride/Twin Cities, as old as I am, is celebrating its 30th anniversary in the year 2002 . TCPrice CEO Daneil P. Damsey said this is the celebration of: "30 years in the struggle for equality with more years of struggle to come, 30 years of legislative/personal victories and defeats, 30 years of coming out, and 30 years of demonstrations and marches turned to festivals and parades." The theme was thus dubbed "30 Years Proud" by TCPride. Dan also shared his personal reflections that though he felt very comfortable being himself here in the Twin Cities, he could still remember: "what it was like growing up in a suburb where Gay people were not discussed in a favorable light." Yet, he said, mostly, that has changed here and in the surrounding suburbs there. As a Thai/Asian gay male in this city, I feel that the Twin Cities--Minneapolis in particular--are very gay-friendly; I've never experienced gay haters or bashing like in many other states in the States. The Midwest people who live in the tundra-like weather possess the amazingly warm, congenial and live-and-let-live kind of attitudes. Luv 'em (and particularly in love with the very one of 'em;-)

The Pride Celebration--commenced at 11 a.m. on Hennepin Ave. from 3rd to Loring Park--was said to be the largest parade of any kind in the five-state area in the Midwest. I say it was grand, colorful and exciting indeed; So was the wind! The day I grabbed my good ol' Olympus D490-Z DigiCam and went out to take pictures was a very windy Sunday, June 30. Hence, I got several of imperfect shots with many marchers trying to hold on their props, hats, heavily perforated placards and whatnot:-( However, those clumsy-looking pictures were thrown away, and all the rest was pretty here. 84 pictures totally, enhanced by Microsoft PhotoDraw 2000 v.2. Have fun;-)

- Click on the thumbnails to see the larger pictures / Mouse over for captions -

Twin Cities Pride Parade 2002 Pictures: Page 2