You’ve read Tommy D’s account of the rally. Now check out a few other cast member’s views and account on what they experienced during Sunday’s rally. Click here to view pictures from the rally on Sunday.

** Click the ‘HQ’ button below to view the video in higher quality **

Homorazzi Cast Member – Patrick

“While I did not get to participate in the rally because I was working, I did have the opportunity to view all the footage and put together the video for this post. I must say, of all the videos I have created for homorazzi so far, this one was the most difficult for me to make. Not because of the technical side of things, but because it was rather emotional. I admit I take the freedom to be who I am for granted at times, and seeing this reminds me that there is still so much to be done. So many people fought for my rights before me, and now the torch is passed onto us. We must continue the fight for equality. Seeing all of those people marching to the inspirational words sung by the Vancouver Men’s Chorus brought tears to my eyes. Thinking of the people that have been injured or killed as a result of crimes of hate breaks my heart and I want to make sure I do my part in preventing this from happening in the future.”

 

Homorazzi Cast Member – Donovan

“I’ve never been an overly political oriented individual. Even during the time when my mother ran for federal election a few years back, I just went through the motions. Not that I don’t have strong beliefs and convictions, it’s just that I’m an overly shy person – believe it or not. I’ve just been the type of person who just quietly does things in the background. Sunday’s march was the first one I’ve ever been involved in even though I’ve been the target of a hate-based attack. During high school, I was walking down the streets late one night and was attacked by a group of skinheads because of the color of my skin. I was punched, kicked and hit with a bat. Fast forward a few years to when I finally admitted to myself my sexual orientation. I was very nervous about being a double minority. Unlike the other coming out stories you’ve heard from the cast members, my coming out story is still unfolding. WHAT?!?!? How can that be? I’ll explain that in an upcoming post. So the march was a very big step for me. To walk down with my friends and other members of the gay community that openly and proud was such a liberating experience and at moments I was overcome with emotion. I understand people’s concern about the effectiveness of the rally and how it can truly affect change. It can. Trust someone who’s sat in the background for years. Even if the march affected one person to change their viewpoints, isn’t that worth it? Any fight worth winning, takes time and doesn’t happen overnight. I’m in this fight for the long haul and will no longer sit in the background.”

 

Homorazzi Cast Member – Rich

“Years ago, my ex-boyfriend and I were walking home from the gay bar in Victoria holding hands when three young drunk guys called us faggots. Maybe I should have said nothing and kept on walking, but I didn’t. I turned around and told them off. One of them then jumped up and ran at us throwing punches. He was a little puke and I managed to pull him into a headlock with my giant wingspan. But, then my ex got jumped by the second guy and third guy came at me connecting with an uppercut to the chin. When all was said and done, we actually ended up “winning” the fight… if you call being the least hurt winning. We went home and I crashed on my kitchen floor. I was so angry and upset. But, I didn’t do anything. I don’t know why. It was Victoria. There was no West Enders Against Violence Everywhere group. I didn’t think of it as a hate crime. Because we ended up winning? Maybe. Because I didn’t know what a hate crime was? Yes. Would I do it all differently if it happens to me again? Absolutely.If there was one message I heard louder than any other at the rally on Sunday, it was that we all need to take a stand against hate crimes. Hate crimes against us or any one else. We’re gay, but we’re not the only ones who face violence because of who they are. We need to take it seriously anytime it happens to anyone or we won’t get anywhere.”

 

Homorazzi Cast Member – Redd

“I was there in the beginning to show support but just after an hour I had left….I was happy to see that people were out there but at the end of the day, we can march all we want but if, like Tommy pointed out, there is no direction then our march would have all been just for show. What we need is better policing in these areas. A friend was attacked on the corner of Granville and Davie (where the straights cross paths with the gays) for pizza and poutine and there were no police around. I think another thing that needs to be enforced is telling straight guys at the door of gay bars that it is in fact a gay bar. Simply put if they don’t wanna see gays they shouldn’t be in gay bars or in the gay village.”

 

Homorazzi Cast Member – Kevin

“Yesterday, I was able to participate in a march down Davie Street, walking side-by-side with friends and strangers alike, bound together with a common purpose and message: This must stop! The entire experience was uplifting, positive and strengthening and I am so greatful that I was able to participate.

One of my biggest complaints (for lack of a better word) about Vancouver over the last 4 years has been that the gay community didn’t really seem like much of a “community” at all. They no longer had to fight for basic equality and there were no longer any roadblocks to being able to fall in love, get married and live your life however you chose to, which, in my opinion, made the community perhaps a little complacent. There was less intensity, less banding together and less cooperation amongst the various gay sub-communities to achieve something for the greater good. But, yesterday changed all of that for me. Yesterday’s march allowed me to see the Vancouver community in a whole new light and to really appreciate the strength, diversity and intensity present within it.

Even more importantly, instead of seeing anger and lashing out in reaction to the terrible events that led up to the march (which would have been all to easy to do), we saw reaching out. We saw positive actions being taken, dialogues being opened, communities reaching out to each other and showing their support… and it’s that which truly sets us apart.

In addition to being able to march in the rally, I am also part of the Vancouver Men’s Chorus who was asked to lead the march and sing. Here are the words that were sung continuously as we marched down Davie:

We’re gonna keep on marching forward…
Keep on marching forward,
Keep on marching forward.
Never turning back, never turning back.

We’re gonna keep on loving boldly…
Keep on loving boldly,
Keep on loving boldly.
Never turning back, never turning back.

We’re gonna make this change together…
Make this change together,
Make this change together.
Never turning back, never turning back.

The entire experience left me feeling positive, energized and ready to get involved in affecting change. I love that I was able to spend an afternoon with thousands of people, united in purpose and committed to bringing something positive out of a horrible situation and I think that Richard Dowrey would be pleased. Something else fantastic is that I picked up the paper this morning and read that Mr. Dowrey has woken from his coma! The level of his recovery is still unclear and he may never completely recover… but we’ll take the baby steps and be happy that he’s awake!”

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