When we were in Oslo in 2015, we were expecting to see art by Edvard Munch, beautiful Norwegian scenery, and excellent architecture, but never did we ever expect to attend our first Pride parade.
We visited the Munch Museum and after we left, we started noticing that some roads were being closed off. We started seeing people wearing colorful costumes. And there were rainbows everywhere. Eventually, we clued in that something was happening and that it was a Pride parade, so we quickly found good viewing spots along the road.
The whole thing was marvelous. Loud pulsing music. Dancers, singers, acrobats. Costumes, feathers, sparkles, sequins. Rainbow flags galore. Laughter, smiles, joy.
Members of the LGBTQ+ community were expressing themselves freely and openly, unlike so many people in earlier generations. It was beautiful.
The Pride parade ended up becoming the highlight of our time in Oslo. And the same week in the United States, the Supreme Court made marriage equality the law of the land, which we celebrated while we traveled.
Pride.
Visiting Victoria, British Columbia, and enjoying the pride flags here! The visitor centre was so colorful.