OMG, I love being gay. This time of year always amplifies the feeling. I love that I can wear shorts above the knee — even way above the knee — without a second thought. I can sport a mesh tank top and it doesn’t faze a soul. Most straight men (though this summer shows promise with all the colourful shorts, boys!) wouldn’t dare take things so far. I can listen to as much cheesy pop music as possible, yet also appreciate all that weird indie stuff, hip hop, country and utterly depressing dark genres, too. Robyn one minute and Portishead the next? Many heteros can’t handle the girth of such polar opposites. I can spank friends’ butts, kiss girls on the mouth, drink anything from a vodka cooler to a jug of beer, never have to think about getting someone pregnant and dance without an inch of embarrassment.
I love this world: where bathhouses exist and bars crawling with gorgeous men looking to laugh or have a good time are easy to find. I can stare at a guy in public because I think he has amazing shoes.  I work in an office covered in penis art, with gay pornstar drop-ins and absolutely no dress code.

I don’t have to secretly watch any TV shows — nothing is too shameful! I can get pedicures and manicures just because I want to. I can buy European fashion magazines and trashy gossip stuff from the corner store and read it openly. Holy hell, it’s great to be gay.

I revel in the stereotypes often associated with us for better or for worse, mostly because I don’t see anything wrong with them. Yes, some gays love fashion and music and dancing and sexing and staring, and screw you if you think that’s lame. Some gays loathe all these things, and that’s also brilliant. In fact, we need this balance of utterly gay habits mixed with not-so-typical practices to keep us ahead of the game (as we so often are).

I adore having the option of blending right in with the rest of the herd if I want or standing out like the only gay in the village if I’m so inclined. We’re very special that way.

Flipping through our Pride issue not only reminds me how keen I am on being queer, but — and forgive the cliché — it makes me proud. There are so many different types of parties, events, plays and happenings that my heart swells. Whatever type of gay you fancy yourself to be, or not to be, if you’re in the city, prepare yourself, because you’re going to have a lot of fun being gay.