Ottawa Capital Pride parade will take to the streets on Sunday 26 August. | Photo: Ottawa Capital Pride/Facebook
Ottawa is in full Pride mode for this week’s celebration of the LGBTI community, culminating in the annual march on 26 August.
The Canadian capital will also host several events throughout the week. While the rainbow flag was officially raised yesterday (20 August) in a solemn ceremony, there is still plenty of workshops and parties to attend.
Very proud to work @ExportDevCanada where today we once again raised the Pride flag in hour of Pride Week in Ottawa. #Pride2018 pic.twitter.com/FK8PMVBmeT
— lynncote (@lynncote) August 20, 2018
Queer movies, astrology sessions, and an oral sex workshop
The 2018 Ottawa Capital Pride (Fierté dans la Capitale in French) festival includes several movie nights. Attendees can watch A Fantastic Woman and Love, Simon, together with other LGBTI favorites.
All screenings will be free to attend.
There will also be a session on oral sex, breaking the secrets of fellatio and cunnilingus to those in attendance on 21 August.
On 23 August, local drag performers will compete in the 2018 Pride Pageant, electing Ms., Mr. and Mx. Capital Pride.
Furthermore, there will be a night of queer astrology and a lipsync battle on 22 August.
Read the full list of events here.
Spill the tea with Shea Coulée and spot The Vixen
The Vixen. | Photo: thevixensworld / Instagram
RuPaul Drag’s Race season 9’s finalist Shea Coulée will headline a fun evening at The 27 Club talking about party etiquette on 23 August.
RPDR season 10’s The Vixen will perform alongside other drag queens at the Drag Show Extravaganza on Saturday 25 August. The full lineup will include:
- Kimmy Dymond
- Kiki Coe
- Misty Mac
- Capital Kings
- Dixie Landers
- Jade London
- Adrianna Exposée
- Icesis Couture
Ottawa Capital Pride parade
Stormtroopers came out to march for LGBTI equality last year. | Photo: Ottawa Capital Pride/Facebook
The capital will be home to several marches to protest for LGBTI inequality and celebrate the community.
The Odawa Two-Spirit, Trans, & Gender Diverse March on 24 August recognizes the pride, strength, and resilience of the Two-Spirit, trans and nonbinary community.
Moreover, there will be the annual Dyke March on 25 August, followed by a picnic.
Finally, sober and all-ages events will make sure everyone in the community feels at ease.
The big parade will take place on 26 August. This year’s grand marshals are drag queen China Doll and Bruce Richman, the executive director of the Prevention Access Campaign, advocating for equal access to HIV prevention medications.
Starting at 1:30pm, marchers and floats will take to the streets of the capital for two hours of fun. The parade starts at Bank and Gladstone, heads north on Kent before returning to Bank Street ending at Bank and Somerset St. There will also be an accessible viewing area at Bank and Laurier.
Read more about Prides:
Former NHL enforcer Georges Laraque lip-synced for his life at Montreal Pride
Russian local authorities approve Pride march, then ban it less than 24 hours later
