Last thursday May 8th during the benefit gala for A.C.E.S
(amigos contra el sida) the canarian friends agianst aids
organization.
Local artists and a couple of guest artist
performed during this gala. The theme was musicals and all
known musicals passed by, 'phantom of the opera', Grease
Dreamgirls and many many more famous songs. During the gala
candles were sold for the reminding of friends and people
we know that we have lost to AIDS and the effects of it.
A.C.E.S. is already over 10 years working on prevention
and help for the people that are suffering of this disease,
hoping to deliver an as good as possible service to the
residents and the thousands of tourists that are yearly
coming on a holiday to enjoy the canarian sun.
The weather is great during gay pride week,
around the 30 degrees in the daytime. Is giving everyone
a happy feeling and that positive feeling you can notice
in the yumbo. The evening ends in a party, dancing people
loads of drinks, but most of all a day everyone enjoyed
Artist from all around Europe are perfoming these coming
days like Hannah Jones, a wellknown gay pride artist that
made a big success in the States were she dominated the
'dance charts' with her nr 1 hit, also she provided the
title song for the famous 'queer as folk's. After the charity
gala she was planned to have a marvelous performence in
Bar Junior. 'The small bar with the big impact' like they
say overhere. And indeed itwas again,the street was overcrowded
with guys that wanted to hear and see Hannah. With her powervoice
she got all the attention and so Junior bar was for that
moment the small bar with the biggest voice'
The gay pride week had a lot of pool parties,
no wonder that with the weater overhere it was a huge success.
On friday may 9th another gala (variety) show was organized,
local artists from different show bars, national and international
artists let the people break of the roof (does yumbo has
a roof??). In front of the stage were only dancing laughing
people, Hannah Jones, Angie brown, Toya wilcox were the
cream on the cake as they know how to entertain ! After
the show the bars got fuller and fuller and only happy people.
It is great to see that specially during gay pride the positive
energy is almost visible! Ofcourse the temperature, palm
trees, dunes and sea are helping as well but the main reason
for coming to gran canaria durting this week was GAY PRIDE!!
It is not like gay prides in big city were you can drive
to and see what happens, for gay pride Maspalomas you need
to book a holiday, so you really must want to be here. maybe
that is why the vibes are always that fantastic. And i my
opinion the best gay pride of europe (not the biggest)
And then the Saturday, everyone participated
in the parade, we were a bit nervious when we woke up. clouds
, 'o no not today' but most of the time the sun broke through,
the cars and trucks were full and we all were ready to start.
Beautifully (over)dressed drag queens, hunks with just enough
on (almost nothing). First the attempt to break a world
record 'drag queen chorus line'. and yes we broke the world
record from 75 to 87 !!! And so we all know what we have
to bring in our suite case next year (3-10 may 2010)
The during the 2,5 / 3 hours parade there
were 60.000 people watching (according official autorities).
Great to hear that especially when you only hear negative
things in the media cause of the crisis. It was a day to
forget your worries and enjoy the parade, the sun, the drinks,
great music and lovely bodies. Harmony in a world that still
is discriminating and still is homophobic. I know from own
experience that life as a gay here on the island is a good
life, i do not feel that homophobia is big here, althrough
it might be not that easy for some religions to tollerate/accept
gays, but here in gran canaria the bridge between 'them
and us' is getting smaller and smaller.
Today i had a televsion interview about
the island, and reminded myself again that acceptation is
where the Prides are for, and when a Pride becomes a Party
it means that we are doing very well here in Maspalomas
Gay Pride Maspalomas was a success, like
the years before and just so you know next year Gay Pride
will be from may 3rd till may 10th 2010
