June 25th was among the most colorful days on Dublin streets – it was the Dublin Gay Pride 2011.

I have to be honest, having lived in Dublin for 4 years, this was the first time that I made an effort to watch the parade, the equivalent of participation per my books. The only reason that prevented me previously was the fact that I found it hard to wake up at a weekend and get myself in time at 2pm to watch the Parade. Usually, I am found sleeping off an evening of intense socializing on a given Saturday afternoon – but this year I’m glad it changed.

We managed to wake up at a good hour for a weekend, have fresh coffee and sandwiches, and walked our way to the city centre to witness all the glitz. The atmosphere was one of anticipation, I could see people supporting the cause with messages on their t-shirts trying to find a good spot to cheer on the crowd.

The parade was great fun! You could see thoughtful messages, professional dancers, entertainers, elaborate costumes, divas, drag hotties, bad wigs, terrible style quotients, gym-fit bodies, glamour kittens, cool dudes, attractive queens – you name it, they had it. Of course, there was the Google contingent as well – promoting Android.

I enjoyed watching the spectacle of people celebrating diversity but more importantly themselves. It was heart warming to see old parents and family marching the Parade with their gay sons and daughters. It was the acceptance of love. Coming from a country and now living in one where homosexuality is still wrapped up in labels and assumptions, it is satisfying to acknowledge that it isn’t always about white and black, we all have our grays and guess what – it’s OK!

I know I’ll be watching it all over again in 2012, until then, I hope you enjoy these shots.