World PRIDE!

 Toronto is the first ever to host WorldPride and it's happening this week!

Hey world! We’re waiting for you.
Join us in Toronto in 2014 for WorldPride!

WorldPride 2014 Toronto (WP14TO), presented by Pride Toronto, is shaping up to be one of the biggest international events of our times. These ten days of queer celebration will turn streets into parades, parks into parties and strangers into friends. Come out and meet the people from around the world expected to gather downtown and in neighbourhoods right across the city.

 This will be an international celebration incorporating activism, education, and the history and culture of global LGBTTIQQ2SA* communities. Highlighting Canada’s continued progress in human rights, WP14TO also celebrates the diversity and dynamism of Toronto, one of the world’s most progressive and liveable cities.

Toronto will be the first WorldPride celebration ever held in North America, and the 4th such festival in the world. WorldPride brings people together from around the world to honour our past, celebrate the present, and inspire a better future for LGBTTIQQ2SA* communities everywhere.

Deborah Cox, Martha Wash and DJ’s David Morales and Quentin Harris are the first in a list of premiere international artists to perform at the world’s largest global LGBTQ celebration taking place in Toronto this summer.

A wide variety of musical genres will be presented live on the 10 open-air stages of the festival from rock, pop, dance, hip hop, R&B, country, traditional, folk, retro, disco. We're looking forward to presenting a number of international performers for WorldPride as well. The application process is underway, the deadline for applications is January 31, 2014.

 

There are also a variety of artistic genres represented in programs like Alterna-Queer (Punk, homo-core, experimental, rock), and Blockorama (house, roots reggae, R&B, Hip Hop, Dancehall).

Official Events
Opening Ceremony – June 20
WorldPride Gala and Awards – June 25
WorldPride Human Rights Conference – June 25-27
IGM Human Rights Reception – June 26
Trans March – June 27
Dyke March – June 28
WorldPride Parade – June 29
Streetfair and Arts & Culture Festival – June 27-29
Closing Ceremony – June 29

Other WorldPride 2014 Programming highlights include:
Major events in partnership with world-class cultural institutions , including art galleries and museums. Films, photography, video art, ceramics, paintings
Drag artists, burlesque, and dance are featured at Village Stage in the heart of the Church-Wellesley Village.

Our youth programs Fruit Loopz and Black Queer Youth (in partnership with Sherbourne Health Centre's Supporting Our youth, SOY, program) are once again returning to the festival with fresh ideas for WorldPride.

You will find singer-songwriters, spoken word, youth showcases, traditional, folk, dance and plenty of activities programmed in Clean Sober & Proud place in Paul Kane Parkette. This substance-free (drug and alcohol free) zone also offers regular 12-Step meetings throughout the festival weekend.
Family Pride features children's performers, activities and more in a family-friendly zone at The Church Street Public School at Church and Alexander Streets.
 

Taking place June 25—27, 2014 in the heart of downtown Toronto, Canada (University College, University of Toronto (15 King College Circle) the WorldPride Human Rights Conference 2014 (WPHRC14) is an exciting gathering of activists, artists, educators, journalists, policymakers, students, and others engaged in LGBTI human rights around the world. The conference provides a unique opportunity for a global dialogue about LGBTI human rights, ranging from performances to presentations, politics to policies, and activists to academics.

 

 

No matter where you are, enjoy PRIDE

Be who you want to be

Love who and how you want to love

Stay strong and be Proud!

A Very Geeky Christmas, One And All

Well, it's that time of year again. The snow is softly falling... well, almost... it actually looks like we're going to have another green Christmas here in Toronto, but who knows. But this season isn't really about the snow, is it?

I came across this note that I had written a few years ago about why I love Christmas, and I thought, dear readers, that I would share it with you now.

I've been asked over and over as of late why it is that I'm so excited for Christmas, well I'll tell you.
Christmas to me isn't about presents. It's not about getting all worked up and angry at trying to maneuver through crowded stores.
To me it's still about good will and peace towards all men. It's about seeing people smile when they hear their favorite Christmas carol or find the perfect gift for the one they love. It's about cookies and pies and sharing the joy of making them with someone special. It's about putting up the tree and looking at all the ornaments, the old, the new, the badly made ones from when we were children or from when we first moved out and couldn't afford any. It's about spending time with the people I love and remembering all the Christmas's prior when we sat around on the kitchen floor and drank hot chocolate. It's about watching our favorite Christmas movies that make you feel good about the world and getting the songs stuck in your head for days. It's about seeing the first snowfall as it covers and ground and makes the whole world look as if it's perfectly untouched. Throwing snowballs and making snowangels.
It's about family and knowing that even though we might not always see eye to eye, that we love each other with all of our hearts and we look forward to spending the holiday together.

So to all of you out there, whether you be friend or family, adoptive family, casual acquaintance or co-worker, enjoy the season of hope and wonder and I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas from the very bottom of my heart!

Now, of course, this goes out to all you wonderful geek readers out there too!

I just wanted to take the opportunity to thank all of you for all your love and support. I may not blog as often as I want to, but I truly do love it.

So, as a little holiday thanks, here are as many geeky Christmas pictures as I've been able to find over the years! Enjoy!

You said it Supes... you said it.

And remember this Holiday Season; Talk Star Wars to someone... you never know what kinds of friendships can be made ;)

Why I Wish I Was At Celebration V

Man, sometimes being broke in Canada is no fun. Now don't get me wrong, I love Canada and really wouldn't want to live anywhere else, but sometimes I think it would be nice if we had more of the things I love, like Disney World. I've always wished that they would put a Disney Canada right outside of Toronto. I would totally live there if I could. Not to mention that maybe once a year we would have something as awesome as the Star Wars Celebrations. I mean, come on, Disney AND Star Wars, can you think of a more amazing combination? This geek girl can't.

This year in Orlando (not Canada) they will be having this wonderful event. Celebration V starts in a few days and I am TOTALLY jealous of anyone who's going. I wish I was going, but alas I don't make enough money to save up for flights, tickets, hotels, food and all that stuff (at least not yet).

If you're like me and can't make it, here are some of the cool things that we will be missing;

THE MAIN EVENT

The hotly anticipated, hour-long interview between comedian Jon Stewart and Star Wars creator George Lucas will happen on Saturday, August 14 on the Celebration Main Stage. The event is currently scheduled for 11:00 AM. Because we want as many fans as possible to enjoy The Main Event as it happens, we have created a wrist band entry system.

Star Wars Celebration V is proud to present The Main Event — a live, on-stage interview with Saga creator George Lucas hosted by The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart. The hour-long, candid conversation will spark a discourse sure to shed light on the storied history of the Star Wars Saga — from its past to its future, with insider insights about the many steps along the way. A self-proclaimed lover of Lucas’ “galaxy far, far away,” Stewart brings a fan sensibility to the interview, aiming to focus on areas of interest to the many diverse and devoted groups that have helped Star Wars endure for more than thirty years. In addition to the dialogue between Lucas and Stewart, fan questions can be submitted, too!

The Bearded One, The Flanneled One, Mr. George Lucas Himself!

This would be totally worth seeing, you know, if I were going. I do think it's neat that you can submit questions as well. I thought about submitting a question, but how would I ever know if it got answered?

Plus, check out who'll also be there; Carrie Fisher (YAY), Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, Ray Park, Warwick Davis, Tim Rose (Ackbar), Caroline Blakiston (Mon Mothma), Paul Blake (Greedo), Jake Lloyd (young Anakin Skywalker), and numerous other supporting cast members from the six feature films will be there signing autographs.

Oh I want to go!!!

THE ART SHOW

Star Wars artists of extraordinary vision will be exhibiting and selling their original prints at Celebration V. Each of the artists listed here will have a limited number of prints available, created exclusively for the show, for sale August 12-15 as part of the Celebration Art Show.

Artists such as Jerry Vanderstelt, Chris Trevas, Cat Staggs, Kevin Graham, Ben Curtis Jones, Joe Corroney, Russell Walks, and two of my favorite artists Grant Gould and Katie Cook (who you've probably heard me talk about a few times before) and many more.

This is the type of art you would get to see! (By Russel Walks)

STAR WARS INKFUSION TATTOO FESTIVAL

The Star Wars tattoo program returns to Celebration V, but this time with a new twist. Not just displaying works of Star Wars art adorning flesh, bold fans will be able to get tattooed live at the show! What better place to get a permanent memento of Star Wars fandom than at the biggest Star Wars Party this side of the Galaxy? Artist Marc Draven is heading up the Celebration live tattooing area, and Shane Turgeon, author of The Force in the Flesh, is returning to Celebration to coordinate another fantastic Star Wars tattoo art show.

Damn, this would've been the best place for me to get my Princess Leia tattoo and then go show Katie Cook! Sigh....

FASHION SHOWS

Its time to experience the stylish side of the galaxy far, far away with the first ever Celebration Fashion Show! Hosted by Ashley Eckstein, voice of Ahsoka Tano from The Clone Wars, fans will have a chance to check out the latest and greatest fashions from Lucasfilm’s leading licensees. Models will strut their stuff on the convention floor in a Kids show at 1pm and an Adult show at 4pm both Friday and Saturday. Don’t miss the fun - you may even see a surprise guest model or two!

Being the big HER UNIVERSE fan, I would totally head on over to see this show and see if I could meet Ashley in person. She's so hands on and personable with her site, I feel like I actually know her. As for surprise guests, I hear Katie Cook is going to be one of the models, probably modeling her shirt "Daddy's Little Girl". (Am I beginning to sound obsessed? I don't mean to be, I would just love to meet her.) and possibly Cat Staggs will be modeling "I Know" as well. (I really want both shirts)

Plus, I would love to pick up the Exclusive Empire Strikes Back necklace that will be there and not available online :(

STAR WARS SPEED DATING

30 Dates in Less Than a Parsec!

Looking for love in all the wrong Cantinas? Come join us for Star Wars Speed Dating, filled with good music, great company, and the thrilling potential to meet your own Angel of Iego, or Han Solo! The blind dates last three minutes, but if sparks fly, you're set for a lifetime of love. Two sessions will be held, one on Thursday, August 12th and the other on Saturday, August 14th. Sessions are free for CV attendees, and attendees can register on-site, but to guarantee a place, please sign up online by August 1. At both sessions, host Gi-Ganakin and his intergalactic crew will take you through the easy process of finding your ideal mate at CV. Music will be spun by DJ MadKidJedi, with ice-breaking assistance from TB-2709, otherwise known as the Scout Trooper of Love! (Note: This event is for only for Celebration V attendees 18 and over. All information you submit below will be kept confidential by the Celebration V team.)

Now I know I'm not into speed dating, plus I'm in a committed relationship with the nerd of my dreams, but a few years ago I would've given my right arm to do this. This just sounds like too much fun! Star Wars fans meeting Star Wars fans, just think of the matches that could be made here.

And who knows, if all goes well...

COMMITMENT CHAPEL

Commit Yourself to the Force...of Love!

For generations, Star Wars has brought people together in friendship, camaraderie, and even romance. Are you an arrogant young Jedi who—secretly—has a forbidden love for a beautiful Senator? Maybe you’re a Princess trying to choose between a scoundrel and a nice guy…who turns out to be your long-lost brother. If so, the Celebration V Commitment Chapel may be just the place for you!

No matter what side you’re on, express your allegiance through a fun, one-of-a-kind ceremony tailored to the “Light Side” or the “Dark Side” of the Force. Join the Rebellion or express your devotion to the Empire: This is your destiny!

Commitment ceremony includes:

Star Wars officiant – based on allegiance

Custom ceremony and vows in central event location

Official Star Wars Commitment Certificate with custom keepsake holder by Hallmark Cards

Post-ceremony commitment photo (also displayed publicly throughout Celebration V and on www.starwars.com)

Custom button to symbolize your union.

Gift bag filled with celebratory gifts from Hallmark

Hallmark Star Wars gift basket including this year's line of Keepsake Ornaments to be raffled, post-Celebration

All ceremonies are public, so invite family, fans, friends and enemies to celebrate the love!

Please note: These ceremonies are non-binding and will not be recognized under Florida State Law.

I almost wish that this was actually binding. This would be a BLAST! $75 is totally worth it as far as I'm concerned. Maybe I can talk Ron into going with me another year... hint, hint...

Plus, wouldn't it be fun to watch other people pledge themselves SW style? Maybe I'm just a hopeless romantic.

CELEBRATION STORE

You’ll notice a new look to the Celebration V Store and a new emphasis on products and designs conceived and illustrated by fans for fans. We hope that you’ll enjoy your shopping experience! Please note that all items have been produced in limited quantities and we apologize if an item you want has sold out.

I've been browsing through the store and I want to buy sooo much stuff! (This is the other reason I can't afford to go, merchandise!)
Check out some of the AWESOME stuff that they will be carrying that we can't get because it's exclusive;

T-shirts

Other Awesome Stuff

If anyone who's reading this is actually going to Celebration V, please know that I don't mean any of the things I'm saying about you behind your back, and please have a wonderful time and pick me up some souvenirs, any of the above will do ;)