In Memoriam - Purple in our Pride Flag

The subject of youth suicide in the GLBT Community has been a quiet but important voice in our community. Themes of pressure to belong, to be part of a community experience, and to learn what is the "Homo-sensational Experience" --- often one's own -- can be a lot to handle. And often, youth suicide is faceless.

But in December, Montreal lost one of the key members of it's community. With his camera at each and every of Montreal's hottest events, Bobby "Jens Brady" Drake was someone at the epicentre of Montreal's GLBT tourist, events and late-night scene.

And he will be missed by many.

Montreal's next generation shared the knowledge that they were part of something much larger the moment they found themselves tagged in one of Bobby Drake's photo albums on Facebook. From Montreal's best Friday and Saturday events, to the Priape and Fetish Community, the talented drag community of Mado Lamotte, Fierté Montreal Pride and the Just for Laughs Festival; Bobby Drake's Facebook became the place to be seen in Montreal. A"Village A-List" like none other.

Wearing his signature shade of mauve, Bobby put the Purple in our Pride Flags. He will be remembered by all of us who knew him, and missed by us all.

~"Bobby Drake" - aka Jens Brady~1986-2009

Eulogy and images provided by Michael Ain