Hundreds of thousands flock to Toronto Gay Pride Parade*

Updated Sun. Jun. 24 2007 7:24 PM ET

toronto.ctv.ca

CANADA - Pride Toronto's 27th annual celebration climaxed Sunday with a
vibrant Pride Parade.

Music, marchers and dancers flowed through the crowded downtown core,
embodying the festival's 2007 theme -- "unstoppable"

An estimated 500,000 people spent the day watching a rainbow of 150
floats and bands go by.

The parade, which went from 2 to 6 p.m., was the culmination of a week
honouring diverse sexual and gender identities, histories and cultures.

The celebration draws approximately one million people, and generates
almost $100 million for the region.

Some celebrated the parade sipping beer and cocktails, but for those who
wanted to avoid liquor and drugs there was a designated sober-friendly area.

The Free Zone, on Wellesley between Church and Yonge, attracted
parade-goers who didn't want to be surrounded by alcohol or other substances

Nikki W., a recovering addict, said without the zone, she probably
wouldn't come out to celebrate pride.

"Coming into this site is like an oasis," she said. "I don't drink, and
there are a lot of drinkers around. If I want to hang out and have a
good time I don't necessarily want everyone else spilling all over me."

The area, a parade staple since 1998, also attracted weary parents who
wanted an outdoor alternative to a licensed patio.

"It's awesome--not everybody drinks, I hardly drink, and instead of the
beer gardens we have this," said one parent.

Free Zone offered refreshments, mind, body and soul stations, and
addiction support meetings and resources.

Rosemary Hardwick, co-founder of free zone, said the area provides an
opportunity for people to talk to Alcoholics Anonymous and other
recovery groups in a more laid-back setting.

Hardwick said sexually diverse youth who tend to be more prone to
substance abuse and suicide take advantage of the services.

She explained young people in the gay community often turn to alcohol or
drugs to ease the stress of coming out.

"Suicide is the leading cause of death for youths, and it's 30 to 40 per
cent higher for our rainbow youth," Hardwick said. "It's quite an epidemic."

The Dyke March, the largest women's event of its kind in Canada, also
took over the streets on Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m.

The city's 12th annual march of women and transsexual people was a
political demonstration, set apart from the parade to highlight the
dominance of males as symbols of the gay community.

Pride Toronto's staff, board, volunteers and supporters raised the over
$1.4 million to put Pride Toronto on.

Approximately 20 per cent of the funding for the 2007 festival came from
government grants, 32 per cent came from corporate sponsorship, and 49
per cent came from fundraising.

With reports from CTV's Janice Golding and Roger Petersen