Every year, on Canada day, Victoria kicks off the Pride week's festivities with the Annual Marcus Tipton Memorial Drag Ball Game.  It's a great way for us queer folk to celebrate all that we have to be proud of and let down our hair, ... or slick it back or put it up in curlers, whichever the case maybe.

Rules are meant to be broken at this event. Men dress up as women, women dress up as men, and for those who feel that their gender identity lay somewhere in between, they just come as they are and enjoy the freedom of expressing themselves. The rules of the ball game are loosely adhered to as well; no one ever remembers the score, bases are occasionally awarded when someone breaks a heel, loses their hat, or breaks a nail, and the bases themselves are not always where you'd normally expect them to be.  It's common to see more than one player on a base at one time, after all, it is a social event, and the kings will often exercise they're chivalry by escorting or carrying queens to the next base.

Everyone has a great time; there's more than enough laughter and community spirit to go around, for straight and queer alike. Theres food, there's music and there's dancing, and there isn't a better way, in my opinion to celebrate Canada day or Gay Pride.

Happy Pride everyone, whoever you are!