Riding on the Backs of Giants by Sharon Pink
Issue 52 Pride Issue Highlights 🏳️🌈
Out later this week…KHÔRA’s Heat Issue!
Sharon and Shel, Vancouver Pride Parade, digital photograph, 2023. Courtesy of the author.
I wrap my bare arms around Shel’s leather jacket as we flow through the long weekend Sunday stillness and head to the city. The coolness of the air is respite from the extreme heat and forest fire smog. Our thick helmets prevent chatter, allowing our minds to simultaneously wander and be present.
It has been 56 days since Raven died. Disability took her opportunity to ride with Shel, though she did love her slow walk to their motorcycle, admiring its shine. Lighting a cigarette, her cane digging into sidewalk dirt, a smirk reminiscing of faster days past.
Our first stop is the Safeway parking lot to meet up with the Dykes on Bikes crew. Energy buzzes as pride flags are strewn onto handles and tailbars. Outfits affirmed, nods given, water filled, snacks shared.
In perfect formation, our procession begins cruising down the queerest street in the city. Half-awake brunchers raise their overpriced oat-lattes at us. An angry man on Prior Street steps into the road and shakes a golf club at us. We all look back, make sure our group is safe, and continue until we land at our rightful spot at the front of the Pride parade.
We gather our helmets and stuff them into our ally’s ride-along car. Two beloveds pop by to hug and share mutual admiration for our leather. They will lead the parade in vests that read “Bring them back” and “Safe supply now.”
I reapply my lipstick and tuck it back into my bra next to my pink pocket knife.
“DYKES ON BIKES! Let’s gooooooo!”…
Continue Riding on the Backs of Giants.
Sharon Pink (she) is a portuguese / polish leatherFemme writer and witch living her time on Squamish, Musqueam, Tsleil Waututh and Stó꞉lō territories. She has been published in Room Magazine, Feels zine and has 5 self-published zines. Using humour, awe and care, she aspires to be in ways that are anti-white supremacy, fat liberatory, gender affirming, leatherQueer celebratory, Elder & crone-honoring and sex worker positive.
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