Jul 31, 2007News: Vancouver Pride Welcomes International Parade Grand Marshalls
By vanrozenheim
(Vancouver, Canada) - The Vancouver Pride Society (VPS) is pleased to announce that Tomasz Baczkowski, one of the international Parade grand marshalls, has arrived safely in Vancouver. Baczkowski is a gay human rights campaigner in Poland and was the lead organizer of the first legal Warsaw Pride held this past May. "There was some concern that Tomasz would perhaps be detained or otherwise as he is one of only a few "out" prominent gay figures in Poland. The government systematically persecutes gays in Poland so we were holding our breath until he landed," stated Ken Coolen, Vancouver Pride Parade organizer.
Dmitri Bartenev, a representative from Moscow Pride, also received a grand marshall invitation from the VPS but was unable to attend due to a medical emergency. Heather Hendelson, co-chair of the New York Pride society titled Heritage of Pride, will replace Bartenev when she arrives in Vancouver on Thursday August 2nd. Mark Tewksbury, a Canadian Olympic gold-medalist and gay human rights defender, and Donna Wilson, former executive director of The Centre complete the roster of four Parade grand marshalls.
"Our approach with the parade marshalls is to represent the past, present and future of Pride," stated John Boychuk, Vancouver Pride Society President, "Heather is a perfect representative of the past as NY Pride is the oldest and largest in North America. Mark Tewksbury represents Canada and the evolving rights and movements that have taken us to the present. Tomasz is representing the future and progression of what we hope will be safe and happy Prides for all, including those abroad."
"I am so pleased to be in a city that allows gays to be open and free of persecution," said Baczkowski, "I am absorbing this experience and hopefully my country will be like this in 10 or 15 years."
The grand marshalls will make their first appearance together at the Official Pride Weekend Launch on Friday August 3rd at Noon outside Vancouver Art Gallery. The Montreal Declaration for LGBT Human Rights will be presented and political officials, including Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan and the Honourable Hedy Fry, will sign and endorse the document.
Vancouver's Pride began 29 years ago as a small march and has grown into a nationally and internationally recognized, parade and festival attracting more than 300,000 people in a day.
