Behind the scenes at the Parade

Tremont Street was abuzz on the morning of the Boston Pride Parade, as marching contingents spent the hours prior to the big kickoff putting the finishing touches on their costumes and floats, preening for photographers and practicing their marching routines.

The South End thoroughfare served as the staging area for the parade's more than 130 marching groups; that's where Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, a fixture at Pride, offered his tips for making it up the stretch of Beacon Street that forms Pride's own "Heartbreak Hill" toward the end of the lengthy parade route.

"I just do it. Just do it," said Menino, in between chatting with members of his parade contingent in the center of Tremont Street. "It's an expression of your beliefs. You do it because you want to send a message that Boston is an open city and we welcome everyone."

Further down Tremont toward East Berkeley Street, members of the Moving Violations Motorcycle Club, which annually holds pride of place at the front of the parade, parked their bikes curbside in the shade. Woody Woodward, one of the founders of the club, was amongst the bikes, sporting her trademark rainbow Mohawk. Woodward takes her Pride 'do seriously, using permanent hair dyes to achieve her signature coif.

"To put the colors in it takes about an hour, which I have to instruct someone to do," said Woodward. She'll keep the colors for when she rides in New York Pride later this month, and hopes they hold up for a tentative trip to Amsterdam Pride in August.

Another familiar face in the Moving Violations contingent was Kim Airs, former owner of the late Grand Opening sex boutique and now a Los Angeles transplant. Airs, sporting a T-shirt that said, "I'm not afraid of a little power between my legs," said she flew back to Boston to join her former cycling compatriots in the parade. She said the Moving Violations riders were excited about a new city regulation that waives the motorcycle helmet law for bikers taking part in a registered parade.

"We're really happy because we don't need to wear helmets," said Airs, who had donned a celebratory shiny top hat for the occasion.

Robin Longo, a Moving Violations rider from Western Mass., said that while riding in the parade is exciting, there are some hazards.

"It's always a little dangerous because people try to get on the back of your bike," said Longo. She said thus far no unwanted passengers have succeeded in jumping on her bike.

One of the contingents that attracted the most attention along Tremont Street prior to the parade was the older gay men's group Boston Prime Timers, which took home the prize for best float this year for the third year in a row. This year's creation was a tribute to La Cage aux Folles, which saw several Prime Timers decked out in over-the-top frocks and wigs that would make RuPaul bare his claws. As several of the Prime Timers relaxed on the steps of a local bowfront, decked out in full drag, a handful of amateur and professional photographers coaxed them into doing an impromptu photo session on the steps. They were only too happy to strike a pose.

Dave Stanford, dressed as the show's Zaza in a blond wig, rainbow sequined dress, flowing purple boa and rainbow sequined shoes, said many of the costumes came from his personal collection, accumulated from his years as an actor on Broadway. The Prime Timers' show-stopping floats, he said, send a message to attendees about the active lives of older gay men.

Further down Tremont a group of burly men wearing printed shirts marched back and forth through the street practicing a complicated drill routine using folding lawn chairs in place of batons. The group, which calls themselves the Lawn Chair Bears, was making their second appearance at Boston Pride, strategically placed behind the Ramrod float. While marching through Boston while swinging a lawn chair over one's head might seem tiring, Chair Bear Russell Ormiston of Lynn, said the energy of the crowd keeps them going.

"You get so much excitement and adrenaline in you," said Ormiston.

The Liquid Assets gay and lesbian swim team was waiting for the start of the parade decked out in summer clothes and carrying pool toys, but this year they opted against wearing the breakaway pants that have titillated parade watchers in the past as they tore them off at regular intervals along the route to reveal their Speedos.

Team member Kevin McGowan said that at the risk of becoming predictable, the group decided to give the pants a rest this year.

But his teammate, Marc Mansour, said that the team is not above showing a little skin to beat the heat.

"We handle the heat by disrobing," he said.