More legitimacy now that business gets openly involved. BP refinery is one of Whatcom County's biggest employers.

Also I saw someone with a sign protesting BP being in the parade. Her sign said Queers Against BP.

I figure as long as people keep driving cars that run on fossil fuel, there will be oil companies. I ride a bike, myself, however.

The parade is getting bigger and more established. Companies and politicians taking notice. The mayor has spoken there and so forth. Some folk, in other cities like Seattle, do complain that their parades are becoming too commercial. Business discovers gay money. Then the parade's get bigger with high fees for entering a float and so forth. Bellingham still has a nice balance. Small enough that basically anyone can still find a place in the parade. The steaks aren't too high.

One friend of mine didn't like Portland, Oregon's festival. He said the whole thing was inside the fence of a beer garden. Felt like a prison. He had friends sneak food in through a hole in the fence as outside food was banned there, I guess. That was Portland.