ipI recently attended the InterPride Conference in St. Petersburg, Florida, as a delegate representing the Vancouver Pride Society. This conference brings together LGBT Pride organizations from around the world to share experiences and learn from each other.

Here are a few of the highlights:

  1. The wonderful, amazing, courageous people I met and connected with, who have inspired me to take risks in my life and really start to pursue my dreams.
  2. Sharing lessons I have learned with smaller Prides, especially those who are either just starting up or struggling to continue.
  3. Receiving valuable information and inspiring ideas from larger (and smaller) Prides.
  4. Making connections with people I would absolutely love to work with in the (very near) future.
  5. The opportunity to cast a vote for such an important, meaningful event as WorldPride. Congratulations to Toronto; WorldPride 2014 is going to be incredible!
  6. The soft white sand between my toes.
  7. Dancing the nights away, after very long days at the conference!
  8. Watching Deborah Cox perform 5 feet away from me, in a room of 100. Hers was the first album I ever owned; it was a gift from my sisters, but it was fabulous.

This was my first InterPride, and you can bet it won’t be my last. It was more inspiring, education and fabulous than I ever imagined it would be. Thank you to everyone who made it so special for me!