By Brian Webb

Sunshine, blue skies, and rainbows are what organizers ordered, and that’s what was delivered this past weekend for the seventh annual Salt Spring Island Pride.

Salt Spring Island Pride, held from September 7 to 11, is not about the latest fashion, headliner DJs, big-name entertainers, or political leaders. It’s about a community coming together—a true, grass-roots Pride festival. People from all walks of life are proud to come together in a safe environment where they can let loose and express themselves freely.

On Thursday evening (September 8), the organizers hosted a panel discussion on international gay rights, followed by the screening of the documentary Beyond Gay: The Politics of Pride. It was held outdoors at Mistaken Identity Vineyards.

“The Thursday night salon was incredible,” Salt Spring Island Pride chair Amy Phillips said. “It was the setting, the set-up, and the attendance. The panel members were great and they brought such quality to the event.”

Members from every facet of the Salt Spring community came out to Fulford Hall on Friday evening (September 9) for Ze Cabaret. From violins, poetry, and folk music, to salsa dancing, burlesque, and a saw-fiddle performance, the fun evening of eclectic talent from local performers made for an evening the entire room thoroughly enjoyed.

The Friday evening variety show was followed by a dance with music by local DJs who mashed up 1920s flapper music with the likes of Rihanna. It was lively but very homegrown, laid-back fun.

“There were big expectations for both Thursday and Friday night,” Phillips said. “People were glowing with awe and appreciation. Something special happened that [Friday] night. The cabaret event took on a life of its own.”

On Saturday morning (September 10), the men threw on their dresses and wigs, the twentysomethings grabbed whatever they could find with a rainbow on it, and the ladies strapped into their corsets. They gathered at Mahon Hall and all together they marched proudly down the street, proclaiming Pride on Salt Spring Island.

“The parade route was new for 2011,” Phillips explained. The parade halted traffic for an hour along the central street in Ganges village. Hundreds of people lined the streets to see the parade. The parade included support organizations, local politicians (Green Party leader and Saanich-Gulf Islands MLA, Elizabeth May, rode in a horse-drawn carriage!), and members of the LGBT community.

In spite of the crowd, it was a smaller turn-out than usual. “Numbers were down this year,” Phillips said. “Tourism is down on the island in general. Fewer people on the Island turned out for the parade this year.”

Pride in the Park followed the parade. It was an afternoon in the park where family and friends could gather and enjoy the beautiful weather, listen to local music, and hear speakers talk about issues that the trans community still faces.

“Pride in the Park is what kept the events going,” Amy explained. “Folk music and dancing is what people wanted. The trans theme came from a workshop we attended earlier this year. Trans are still not covered under the human rights in Canada.”

On Saturday night, a Pride Dance was held at Barb's Buns. The venue was ideal—a dance floor inside, a set-bar for quick service of refreshments, and an outdoor patio for fresh air and socializing.

It's evident there's interest on Salt Spring Island for more LGBT gatherings throughout the year. Pride weekend felt like the entire community opened a giant bag of happy and they needed to consume it all at once.

Salt Spring Island seems to be a place where people are comfortable with themselves and accept their neighbours for who they are, not what they are.

As much as the organizers believe their event is about raising awareness of human rights, the people of Salt Spring Island were all happy to join in community events that brought them together, leaving them with a feeling of a greater sense of personal well-being, pride, and acceptance.

Brian Webb blogs at myWebbsite.ca.