So I thought it would be fun to head along to the Pride Parade…..got there with friends about 12:30pm, and the first floats started going past us about 12:45pm. At six pm the parade WAS STILL GOING! We returned at seven pm and watched the final hour…..let’s put that in perspective. At eight hours in duration, the parade went for as long as two performances of Les Miserables performed back to back!

A couple of observations – there was a VERY high level of corporate involvement which I have some concerns with. I mean it’s all well and good that Google, Amazon, JetBlue, United, Delta, etc.. all support the cause – but in 2016 is that really such a surprise? I guess I was a little disappointed that the big companies were taking away some of the focus from the smaller community organisations. Because the parade was so long you had to feel a little sorry for the community groups at the end of the parade who had far fewer people watching than those at the start.

For me the highlights were seeing a lot of black cars rolling by bristling with sensors and then having Secretary Clinton appear – catching everyone by surprise including the parade announcers. See if you can spot her hairdo in the photos I’ve posted.

I also loved the “Gays Against Guns” or GAG. I was a little disappointed they weren’t encouraging the crowd to do anything proactive (e.g. handing out brochures asking people to call their elected representatives, or signing up for mailing lists or donating money for campaigns). It’s all very well to take a stand in a parade – but it should be leading to something greater.

The tributes to those murdered in Orland Pulse Night Club were touching – particularly the group of 49 people dressed in white, including veils, carrying photos of the deceased. A very moving moment. When you see 49 people in front of you, you fully understand the scale of the tragedy.

Other highlights included the Senior smoking the giant joint as part of the effort to legalise weed, the boy in the revealing red jocks sitting on the barricade on the other side of the road, a boy dressed as a dormouse on an Alice in Wonderland float (message me!) and of course some adorable photos of puppies.