Since I FINALLY got internet back a couple hours ago, I thought I'd write a blog about the day, since it was definitely a fantastic last weekend in Brussels. I want to say that this will not be a long post at all, as most of the events and stories are censored in some way, either not fit for a public blog, or are not my stories to tell, but knowing me it probably still will be. But suffice to say, that with a day of 45 000 LGBT all together, it was madness. Fantastical madness.
The parade that was absolutely massive compared to other gay pride parades I've seen, started at 2 with a minute of silence for those around the world that do not have the freedom to express themselves as here, and continued to slowly parade throughout the centre for the better part of 4 hours. All kinds of floats, each with their own, as Paul would say, thumpa thumpa music going on.
There was people absolutely everywhere, all kinds of stands, bars and drinks, and 3 different stages. The mainstage events started at 7, with the fabulous LaDiva hosting, and amazing dancers, a male stripper, incredible costume change dancer, performers, singers, and Betty as the main act. Yes Betty. For those of you who don't know them, or have never heard of a little show called The L Word that they created the theme song and much of the music for, they're fantastic. After all of this, the real party started. There was a DJ at the mainstage, and 3 official parties with many other unofficial ones all lasting until early (and not so early) morning. For those of you who don't know what your average Gay Pride looks like, check out these pictures taken of Brussels Gay Pride.
Tom, Chavdar and I left our apartment (Tom stayed over from the gathering we had the night before) with full intentions of seeing the parade, then Chavdar was meeting up with friends and Tom and I were going to work. Yeah... Well we left the apartment at 1pm, and Chavdar didn't get home until 3am, me 4-5am, and Tom 9am. Chavdar did go to meet up with friends, but rejoined Tom and I at the celebrations around 10pm. Tom and I on the other hand, ended up buying some cheap tops (to better fit in, obviously) and spending the day at the celebrations. It was amazing. We met soo many people and had so many wonderful drinks. The American Dutch girl from Oregon, her Dutch friend, the Nederlands hot very straight looking guy Lars, his Chinese friend, hot male bartender from Club who gave Tom his number, girls that tried to blow my hair out of the way to see my neck tattoo, guy I got in to an argument about appropriateness with that turned in to a nice conversation once he found out I was Canadian, random lesbian that led us very lost people to the afterparty we were looking for, and that is not including all the creepy straight men that tried hitting on me that day, and all the people we met at the club. Also not including the very drunk homeless guy fight that broke out during Betty, and slowly turned in to a dance they were so drunk.
But yes, by 10pm, once all the main festivities were over near Bourse, and the DJ started playing, Lars suggested we go to this lesbian party that his cousin (no idea) was going to. I declined, but Tom said yes. So off to the lesbian party we went. Chavdar was also joined us at 10, and said Why Not? to the lesbian party too. So we started our at least 1 hour adventure to the party. Why did it take us over an hour to get to a party that was minutes away? Well because the 2 drunk and high people and the out of towner were leading the way. Not one of them, as it turns out, actually knowing exactly where we were going. We finally ran in to this woman to ask directions, and turned out she was going there too! However, she was also drunk, and we got lost with her as well. We finally got to the club after 11. It was fantastic. Free cover in celebration of Pride, amazing club with a balcony upstairs with chairs and swings, all mostly used by people making out, DJ on the stage with hot nurse dancers on either side. And along with all gay clubs, the music was amazing. But this is where the story ends ;) Suffice to say that Chavdar and I lost the other very drunk people, had a blast dancing the night away, and met a lot of other fabulous people, Noëllie included, who ended up sleeping at my place and hanging out with us most of Sunday as she lives in Namur and the first train wasn't leaving until 7am.
With the complete and total freedom of expression and freedom to love, the amazing music and amazing people, that can even turn Brussels in to a fabulous party, I wish it was gay pride every day.
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