Who went to Pride and how was it?

[tymejumper]

My partner and I just went to the Grand Rapids Pride at John Ball Park. I was so happy because my 15 year old asked to come also. She wore her "straight, not narrow" shirt. She saw the mayor and also a protester. She got really mad and told him "my God is about love, I don't know what yours is about". She also snapped a few pics of him and took alot of pics of the festival.

She also saw a few friends of hers from high school there. She introduced her Mom and Mom. Actually, alot of kids have come out to her this year after they saw my partner and myself at her music concerts and theatre performance.

It was very hot and an Ozone Action day so we only stayed a few hours, also the beer tent opened so we did not want her to be exposed to all the drinking going on. She said it was one of the best times she has had! I am so proud of her for going also.

Peace Out,
Rebekah:p

[Gregory_de_Bois]

I was with some friends in the park when the parade passed by. It was really long. I was proud of them.

[progressive4christ]

I was all set up ready to go and my mother in law decided to visit a week earlier then planned. I love her and family first, but I was so upset. I was suppose to join my United Methodist church in being in the parade. I did thoe get to see some you tube of it.

[Gennee]

I attended Brooklyn Pride and enjoyed myself. It was my second pride event and I felt much more comfortable this time around.

Gennee

:)

[BenL]

Charley and I went to Boston Pride on June 9. The forecast said rain all day, which happened inland but miraculously was just overcast in Boston. Charley spoke at Lessons and Carols for the Struggle, an interfaith service at St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral, after the parade. His remarks are on the TransEpiscopal blog (http://transepiscopal.blogspot.com/).

[keltic63]

Scott and I spent the day in Pittsburgh at their Pride events. We had a great time. There was a parade, a festival at the end of the parade, and later that evening, Pittsburgh had it's first really big celebration, Pride in the Street. Liberty avenue was blocked off for dancing and drinking; Bruce Vilanch was the emcee, Tiffany came and sang some new songs as well as "I Think We're Alone Now". They brought in a couple of awesome dj's from NYC too. Midnite, I was dancing on Liberty Ave; of course, Sunday morning, I was sitting at the piano at church, wishing I hadn't stayed out so late.....

http://www.prideinthestreet.org/image001.jpg


of course, you know that Liberty Avenue is the setting for Queer as Folk. (too bad they shot it in Toronto) Pittsburgh's Liberty Avenue is a bit grittier. :agree:

[pnggrad79]

Keltic,
Glad ya'll had a good time in Pittsburgh!

TymeJumper: My 19 and 16 year old went to Pride with me and my wife last year and they told me it was one of the best times they had ever had. We were busy with the set up of the float and having a cookout on the bumper of my truck which was pulling the float, so I let them hang out with some guy friends (gay, too) and they all went around the festival checking out the other guys.

A friend of mine said one time that he wished his daughter would grow up to be a lesbian. I said why would you want that? Why would you wish a lifetime of inequality, ostracism, rejection and closet mentality on your daughter? He said that he would never do that to his daughter, he just thought it would be fun to sit in the mall and look at the girls. I never thought of it that way. Later, I told him that he would be a cool dad if that ever happened.:)

[keltic63]

oh, I should add that while the street was blocked, one sidewalk had to remain open so that pedestrians could walk through. There are a couple of large hotels nearby, so people would stop and watch the party. One particular straight couple was standing outside the fence watching, (with mouths agape :eek: ) Scott pointed them out to me, so I ran over to the fence and invited them in! "the gays have all the fun! come on in, it's only a $15 cover!" :rofl::rofl::rofl:

at another point, some breeders were staring, so Scott and I went over to the fence and planted a great big wet kiss on each other right in front of them!

[u-dog]

oh, I should add that while the street was blocked, one sidewalk had to remain open so that pedestrians could walk through. There are a couple of large hotels nearby, so people would stop and watch the party. One particular straight couple was standing outside the fence watching, (with mouths agape :eek: ) Scott pointed them out to me, so I ran over to the fence and invited them in! "the gays have all the fun! come on in, it's only a $15 cover!" :rofl::rofl::rofl:

at another point, some breeders were staring, so Scott and I went over to the fence and planted a great big wet kiss on each other right in front of them!


Steven... I mean no offense here ... but...TECHNICALLY? You are a breeder. Sorry. but only your true friends will tell you.:love:

[keltic63]

Steven... I mean no offense here ... but...TECHNICALLY? You are a breeder. Sorry. but only your true friends will tell you.:love:


LOL!!!! I shoulda used a thesaurus (btw, what is another word for "thesaurus"?)

perhaps I should have said "Ro's"

[pnggrad79]

Keltic, what is a Ro? Anyway, I guess I am a breeder, too, but I am so happy to be a lesbian mom and proud of it. I think what you did was hilarious! Were their mouths still open when you invited them in What did they say to you? The kiss was very appropriate. I hope it was a good, wet one with lots of tongue action!!!

We're Here, we're QUEER, get used to it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Zerbie]

Hey, let's not call straight people names. :( I'm in love with one.

So, did those people take you up on the invite? Did they laugh? Or were they scared off?

I miss Pride. I was overwhelmed and exhausted when it came round this April, plus I had no one local to go with, so I stayed home and cleaned house.

Now I want to go to a Pride parade!!!

:rainbow::rainbow::rainbow::rainbow::rainbow::rain bow::rainbow:

[Britt.]

I couldn't really see the parade too well from the information tent, but once I was done there, I hung out for quite a while for the rest of it. The crowd was much bigger this year. They had a dog show. One tent gave staff free food, even when we were done working. I ran into my friend Shari, who I have a lot of history w/, but hadn't seen for a couple years (in part, because I left for a while, & didn't really make it a point to tell everyone). Now we're back in touch.

[keltic63]

So, did those people take you up on the invite? Did they laugh? Or were they scared off?


:rainbow::rainbow::rainbow::rainbow::rainbow::rain bow::rainbow:

they laughed, and they were scared! they didn't come in!

png: 'Ro's are hetero's like homo's can be called mo's

[BruceChris]

And my radio is a SuperHet? :confused:

P&L, BC

[BrentRichards]

Back to our language tangent ... since it's not the straight people we have a problem with, it's the gaping, good-lord-its-one-of-THEM types ... how about instead of Ro's, we go with Phobes?

"I don't mind if people are homophobic, as long as they do it behind closed doors and don't push it on anyone." Eddie Izzard (paraphrased ... couldn't be bothered to look it up)

[BrentRichards]

Oh, yeah ... Harrisburg doesn't have Pride until late July ... which is symbolic of how far behind everyone else we are anyway ... I'm supposed to be working that day, as usual, but I may call in queer.

[Zerbie]

Oh, yeah ... Harrisburg doesn't have Pride until late July ... which is symbolic of how far behind everyone else we are anyway ... I'm supposed to be working that day, as usual, but I may call in queer.

:D:lol: I love it!

Well, hey, just to illustrate how far AHEAD we are in Phoenix, our Pride was in April. So, there! :p

[progressive4christ]

they laughed, and they were scared! they didn't come in!

png: 'Ro's are hetero's like homo's can be called mo's

so are bi's called romos' or moro's?:o:o:o:confused:

[keltic63]

Oh, yeah ... Harrisburg doesn't have Pride until late July ... which is symbolic of how far behind everyone else we are anyway ... I'm supposed to be working that day, as usual, but I may call in queer.

when is it? maybe we'll drive over and celebrate!

[pnggrad79]

Well, thanks for the info Keltic. I hadn't heard that one. :p

Zerbie: When straight people stop calling us names and being hateful to us, then I will stop calling them names. You may be in love with one, and I applaud you for being bi and married straight, but most straight people I know, would just as soon throw me out on the street for being lesbian, as well as exclude me from church and ban me from getting married. I am happy that you found a straight guy who is comfortable with who you are, but he is a rare breed. Sorry.

[Zerbie]

Well, thanks for the info Keltic. I hadn't heard that one. :p

Zerbie: When straight people stop calling us names and being hateful to us, then I will stop calling them names. You may be in love with one, and I applaud you for being bi and married straight, but most straight people I know, would just as soon throw me out on the street for being lesbian, as well as exclude me from church and ban me from getting married. I am happy that you found a straight guy who is comfortable with who you are, but he is a rare breed. Sorry.

:'( Oh PNG - I'm so sorry! :love::'(:love::'(:love::love:

I totally understand where the anger comes from and it's justified. The things some people think are okay to do to gay folk are horrific. I've done my share of angry railing against them. There were some episodes of "straight bashing" some nights during our campaign against the marriage amendment. I spoke up about it once when I thought it had gone too far. Another time, it didn't seem too much so I didn't say anything, but someone who knew I was married spoke up in MY defense as a straight person. "Hey stop that - Zerbie's straight!!" So I said, "Bi!" And she said, "What? You're leaving already?" :lol:

Vent away. Venting has to happen so that then we can get back to work actually *solving the problem* insofar as we are able. On the whole though, reversing the paradigm isn't going to solve the problem. The problem is not "straight" people, the problem is *ignorant* people. Remember the gay homophobes. :( It doesn't get much more heartbreaking than that.

Is my sweetie really that rare in this respect? Almost every straight person I have dealings with is so open, respectful, and. . . well, just beyond rejection and exclusion. That may say a lot more about the environment I've gravitated to over the years than it does about society at large, though. I mean, seriously. Theater people. :agree: On the whole, we're a very open bunch and in some ways ahead of our times. To my experience, my husband represents the majority of straight people on this issue. But, my experience is limited to those I associate with.

[tdogg]

Back to our language tangent ... since it's not the straight people we have a problem with, it's the gaping, good-lord-its-one-of-THEM types ... how about instead of Ro's, we go with Phobes?


So if we are Mo's, and straight people are Ro's, maybe homophobes are Pho's?? Bi's are called 'lucky', they have a whole world of choice!

I'm with Zerbie, most straights I know are accepting and not freaked. Especially friends and family, tho I have some that are horrid to me. Those who are freaked out or scared give their looks and play the avoidance game. We have this one retired dude who lives on the street we live off of, he's like a meercat always standing in front of his house looking around the neighborhood. He has always struck me as someone who probably isn't too fond of gays, not sure why??? Anyway, lately I've started waving to him whenever we drive by and he's out. He just glares, avoids eye contact and has yet to return any sort of wave.

But wait, this thread is all about PRIDE! So yes, Saturday my partner and I checked out Sac pride, although we missed the parade. It was bigger than most years. They charge $10 now, it seems to keep most of the protesters away (guess not many will actually pay to protest). So, we were checking out all the booths, and came across the Sacramento True Colors Women's Choir, and they successfully attemped to recruit me. I should be receiving phone calls any minute now, as my partner has informed them of my lovely singing ability (ok, so it's just in her mind, but what the heck!). Anyway, thought I might check them out on Monday evenings... :eek::lol::p

[BrianB]

Dayton pride was very enjoyable with one exception. The hard-core homophobes were across the street shouting insults at us through bullhorns. That was the first time they got off of their lazy butts to protest our pride so we are making progress.

I wore my Soulforce T-shirt and talked to several leaders from open churches about a local Soulforce chapter. There was a mass commitment ceremony for several dozen couples. My friend from my apartment building is a big black drag queen and we hung out together most of the day. She is outrageous and lots of fun.

[BrentRichards]

when is it? maybe we'll drive over and celebrate!

July 28, 12-7, City Island in H-burg. www.harrisburgpride.org

[keltic63]

July 28, 12-7, City Island in H-burg. www.harrisburgpride.org (http://www.harrisburgpride.org)

Rats! we're obligated to a wedding that day! :mad:

[pnggrad79]

Zerbie- I am glad you are supported by a lot of straight people who accept you and the glbt community.

My experience has been this- most of my friends are very accepting, and gracious to me and my wife. However, the condemnation and rejection I have received from my own family was caustic. And if straight people are so accepting, then they wouldn't show up at the polls voting to protect their marriages or the institution of it, because they would know that extending the right to marry to gay people would in no way affect their marriages or their blessed institutions.

Where are the straight people who accept gay people on election day? Why do they continue to vote or just abstain on issues that are important to gay people?

It is as if they say, "Oh we don't mind if you are gay, but please don't ask us to let you get married, or have any kind of equal rights! Just keep on designing our houses, fixing our hair and adding color to our lives, but please don't ever think you will ever be quite as right as straight people" That kind of condescending crap is what I can't stand. :mad:


I love you Zerbie, I really do. I just wish the rest of the world would wake up and just live and let live!

[tymejumper]

Scott and I spent the day in Pittsburgh at their Pride events. We had a great time. There was a parade, a festival at the end of the parade, and later that evening, Pittsburgh had it's first really big celebration, Pride in the Street. Liberty avenue was blocked off for dancing and drinking; Bruce Vilanch was the emcee, Tiffany came and sang some new songs as well as "I Think We're Alone Now". They brought in a couple of awesome dj's from NYC too. Midnite, I was dancing on Liberty Ave; of course, Sunday morning, I was sitting at the piano at church, wishing I hadn't stayed out so late.....

http://www.prideinthestreet.org/image001.jpg


of course, you know that Liberty Avenue is the setting for Queer as Folk. (too bad they shot it in Toronto) Pittsburgh's Liberty Avenue is a bit grittier. :agree:

Thought that the name sounded familiar. They would never let a show like QAF be shot in America! LOL I have all the seasons and that is how I actually came out to a friend. I said "you remember that Queer as Folk?......"

[tymejumper]

:'( Oh PNG - I'm so sorry! :love::'(:love::'(:love::love:

I totally understand where the anger comes from and it's justified. The things some people think are okay to do to gay folk are horrific. I've done my share of angry railing against them. There were some episodes of "straight bashing" some nights during our campaign against the marriage amendment. I spoke up about it once when I thought it had gone too far. Another time, it didn't seem too much so I didn't say anything, but someone who knew I was married spoke up in MY defense as a straight person. "Hey stop that - Zerbie's straight!!" So I said, "Bi!" And she said, "What? You're leaving already?" :lol:

Vent away. Venting has to happen so that then we can get back to work actually *solving the problem* insofar as we are able. On the whole though, reversing the paradigm isn't going to solve the problem. The problem is not "straight" people, the problem is *ignorant* people. Remember the gay homophobes. :( It doesn't get much more heartbreaking than that.

Is my sweetie really that rare in this respect? Almost every straight person I have dealings with is so open, respectful, and. . . well, just beyond rejection and exclusion. That may say a lot more about the environment I've gravitated to over the years than it does about society at large, though. I mean, seriously. Theater people. :agree: On the whole, we're a very open bunch and in some ways ahead of our times. To my experience, my husband represents the majority of straight people on this issue. But, my experience is limited to those I associate with.

I have not been bashed by many people either. The actual person who caused the trouble was my ex husband, who is a TG but in the closet. I helped him dress and use makeup so he would look nice. So it was a fellow gay who outted me and caused trouble. The neighbors, all of them have been great,(straight too) but we have a diverse neighborhood and 2 other lesbian couples here. The first person I came out to was straight and my Best friend. She was like "um, I have known since highschool and wondered why you were marrying a guy. So you're actually telling me now?" follwed by a ton of laughter. I find that most people really don't mind but don't want to watch you makeout or feel each other up, but they dont' want to see straights doing it also. People sometimes act nervous and uncomfortable, but it stops once you show you are confident in who you are. It puts them at ease. Also, if people get to know you first and like you, they are pretty much ok with it. My co-worker is STRICT Roman Catholic and I thought for sure that he would have a hairy fit once he knew but he and I have been friends for 4 years first, and is staunchly in my corner and very protective around others about me and my partner. I agree it is ignorance and not just being straight that causes the problem.

I am glad your marriage is a happy one!

[Zerbie]

Zerbie- I am glad you are supported by a lot of straight people who accept you and the glbt community.

My experience has been this- most of my friends are very accepting, and gracious to me and my wife. However, the condemnation and rejection I have received from my own family was caustic. And if straight people are so accepting, then they wouldn't show up at the polls voting to protect their marriages or the institution of it, because they would know that extending the right to marry to gay people would in no way affect their marriages or their blessed institutions.

Where are the straight people who accept gay people on election day? Why do they continue to vote or just abstain on issues that are important to gay people?

It is as if they say, "Oh we don't mind if you are gay, but please don't ask us to let you get married, or have any kind of equal rights! Just keep on designing our houses, fixing our hair and adding color to our lives, but please don't ever think you will ever be quite as right as straight people" That kind of condescending crap is what I can't stand. :mad:


I love you Zerbie, I really do. I just wish the rest of the world would wake up and just live and let live!

I know you do. ;) :love:

Sometimes I wonder if I'm living in a little bubble. Every so often something breaks it, and the kind of condescension you describe above hits me. It sure hit like a ton of bricks during the marriage amendment campaign, but then - my feelings about people generally took a huge swing towards the positive when my local community turned out and voted it down in FLAMES! We expected a very close battle, but the more ballots were counted, the greater the lead we took. Understand that, that too is coloring my perception, along with the happy theater bubble, and the happy heterosexual marriage privilege bubble.

In a lot of ways we are having the exact opposite experience. It's really true that there are both kinds of straight people out there - from allies who go all the way, not only with their vote, but who will get out and preach in their churches or speak supportively in public forum, to those who adamantly oppose even the most basic human rights.

I too am terribly bothered by that middle ground person: the one with gay "friends," but who votes against their friends' interests. After the marraige amendment failed to pass, I thanked everyone I knew who voted NO. I thanked one man who is friends with a gay couple we all know and have socialized with, and his reply to my thank you was, "Well of course I voted NO. It would have affected NORMAL couples, too." Another friend, straight chick, was telling me what a great time she had at a gay male friend's party the other night, and then launched suddenly into telling me how "disgusting" it is that he has sex with his partner.

Those are the sorts of things that shock me most, because I am deceived into thinking that they really "get it" and really support their gay friends, but then these bombs drop unexpectedly.

We're gonna sift through these bunches o' folks and find the ones whose hearts are with us, and shine a little light for those who are only part way with us. A lot of the LGBT-loving straight folks I know aren't even AWARE of the issues that affect the gay community or how they do. I'm taking responsibility from now on for telling them. One friend who I know cherishes her gay friends had NO IDEA there was even a marriage amendment at stake or what it would do to domestic partnerships until I told her, and she said "Oh, thank GOD you told me!!! This is terrible!! I will definitely vote against it?!. . . wait, what's it called again?"

One dear friend remarks from time to time how her heart breaks about the way people treat gay persons, so she was among those I approached to lobby for a state ENDA (which didn't even make it to a committee hearing) this winter: and she had NO IDEA that gays could be fired for their sexual orientation. We're up against well meaning folks without the information, as well as folks who smile to your face and sell you down river when your back is turned.

Well, let's wake 'em up, PNG. Let's do it.
:love::love:

[pnggrad79]

Thanks Zerb, I appreciate it.

I was talking to my insurance agent around the time that the Texas was going to vote on the ban on gay marriage, and she, too, had no idea what was at stake for me and my wife. I wrote my check out to her and she asked me what exactly would gay marriage afford me and I told her, and she said, "Well, I am going to vote against it. That is awful." Then I asked her how many gay people she knew and she smiled and said, "Just you."

After the vote, which we lost, I went back in to pay my insurance and asked her if she voted, she said that she didn't have time, and that she was too busy preparing for her wedding.....Ironic, don't you think?

[Vanessa White]

In only 3 days, I will be in NYC to attend my FIRST EVER pride event. I am SOOOOOOO excited!! Going along with Mia and her partner, and we are staying overnight to check out some sights, and be there for the parade on Sunday. We hope to meet up with Daniel in the city as well!!! I can't wait to take it all in.......

Keltic, I have a friend who works for FritoLay, and she was in charge of setting up the float/truck for the Pride parade last weekend. She and her partner walked it and had a great time. Sounds like the party was on in Pittsburgh last weekend!!! I hope that the weather holds out for this weekend. I will return with a report post-Pride! And, if I encounter any people with their homophobic attitudes showing, I might have to use some of my new SF skills to defuse. I also have a SF shirt to wear, which it will either be that or my FAMILY tee shirt in rainbow letters. Anyway, back with an update soon!! :love::love::love::)

[Zerbie]

After the vote, which we lost, I went back in to pay my insurance and asked her if she voted, she said that she didn't have time, and that she was too busy preparing for her wedding.....Ironic, don't you think?

:(

Oh how sad!! If everyone who supports us thought that way. . . . We need to remind all our friends that those on the offensive to deny civil rights to selected groups do NOT think that way, and that they are going out to vote. So we need to as well.

[Zerbie]

In only 3 days, I will be in NYC to attend my FIRST EVER pride event. I am SOOOOOOO excited!! Going along with Mia and her partner, and we are staying overnight to check out some sights, and be there for the parade on Sunday. We hope to meet up with Daniel in the city as well!!! I can't wait to take it all in.......

rainbow letters. Anyway, back with an update soon!! :love::love::love::)

I'm so jealous!!!! :D:D:D:D

This is your first Pride? I thought you went last year - maybe that was Mia.

Wow, so NYC is your first Pride Parade? Boy, are you gonna be spoiled!! :D
That was my first Pride as well, and after that, all the others seemed so small.

Say, what SF shirt do you have? I have one that Nate designed - are there others?

Big hugs Vanessa!! :love::love::love::love::love:

[keltic63]

Keltic, I have a friend who works for FritoLay, and she was in charge of setting up the float/truck for the Pride parade last weekend. She and her partner walked it and had a great time. Sounds like the party was on in Pittsburgh last weekend!!!

I was sooooo happy to get those SunChips from the FritoLay truck as it passed by!!!!! I was starving and I knew it would be a while before I could get something to eat. and since FritoLay was in the parade, I'll feel even better about buying their products!

[Vanessa White]

Sun chips are awesome!!! Frito Lay is extremely supportive of LGBT persons, has domestic partner benefits, and has my friend heading up a diversity task force/committee to address needs/issues for LGBT persons. They send her on conferences and everything. I love that, so I will eat Fritos and Sunchips eagerly!!! :lol:

Zerb: That was definitely Mia last year. Nope, first time for sure for me. I have a Soulforce tee that I got at the auction earlier this year, from the thousand watt march last year. It is something like XXL, which is bigger than what I need, but I will tie it on the side and wear it proudly. It is bright orange. I will think of you and thanks for the hugs, right back at ya!!!!!:love::love::love::love::love::love:

[tymejumper]

:(

Oh how sad!! If everyone who supports us thought that way. . . . We need to remind all our friends that those on the offensive to deny civil rights to selected groups do NOT think that way, and that they are going out to vote. So we need to as well.

I feel sorry for people that are that way because it is only a matter of time before some of their rights are taken and they wont know what to do, after all, if she cant expend the energy to protect anothers rights with a quick vote, then she may find she has no one to help her in a time of need.

[pnggrad79]

Pride Houston was yesterday and last night with the Parade. It was the first time in 3 years that my wife and I got to see all the floats and watch. The first two years, we were in a float with our now no more church. It seemed to be smaller, but then again I didn't see the whole thing last year to compare it to.

I am too short to see much when I have throngs of people in front of me, so my wife, who is significantly taller than me, caught most of the beads thrown at her and she gave them to me.

We had a good time, but were afraid that it would rain. We have had monsoon season this June here in Houston. The rain stayed away from the Parade, however, but it rained all day...

[Daniel]

The Soulforce forum gang was at NYC Pride today! I met up with Bridget, Mia and Vanessa at 6th Avenue and 8th Street around 2:30. We watched the parade for about 3 hours, then went to a West Village Cafe and rested our tired feet and chowed down. We talked about more of us meeting up someday. That would be really wonderful.

Here's just a smattering of what we saw. There were lots of churches, spiritual groups and synagogues that marched along with the Big Apple Marching Band, Google and the Altoid company which had hunky boys tossing tasty mints. Everthing and everyone was represented. A veritable kaleidoscope of humanity. The policeman watching over things loved the bunnies.

Know what got the biggest applause, hoots and hollars?

The fireman, police and the police band- just like in any town across the country. But then, I missed the Dykes on Bikes. I bet they had a big roar from the crowd too.

It was great! And a joy to meet friends that had been only words on the page. What wonderful friends!

1 Buddha
2 Actup
3 Altoids Boys
4 Bunnies
5 Bridget, Mia, Daniel, Vanessa

[Vanessa White]

And I was counting my blessings for that on Sunday in NYC!!!!!!!!! What fun was had by all, my first pride celebration, and I had so much fun and the energy was amazing! We had a telephone glitch in trying to connect with Daniel, but luckily, he called me and we did connect. And, that was just a great experience, getting to meet one of my beloved friends here in 3D! And, just being around so many LGBT persons, allies, families, was exciting, energizing, and emotionally moving for me. I loved the party atmosphere and fanfare of pride, but even more, the sense of community, love, connection- for such a huge crowd, there was order. And, the police were just great, and Daniel is right- the loudest cheers were for NYPD and FDNY, and the band. We did get to see Dykes on Bikes, and they got some screaming yells from our section as well. I have such a sore throat today from all of the yelling!!!! All worth it. I love NY!!!! :love::love::)

[Daniel]

The headline is correct. When I got to the parade, but not before I got my camera out, I notice that religious leaders were heading things off- though I did snag the Buddha placard!

That's a first as far as I remember for NYC- religious leaders being out in front of the politico's.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20070624/gay-pride/


Religious Groups Take Lead for Gay Pride

KAREN MATTHEWS | June 24, 2007 11:15 PM EST |


NEW YORK — Religious groups led the city's gay pride parade on Sunday, lending gravity to an often outrageous event that also featured a jumble of drag queens in feather boas, marching bands, motorcycle-riding lesbians, rugby players and samba dancers.

"We stand for a progressive religious voice," said Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum of New York City's Congregation Beth Simchat Torah. "Those who use religion to advocate an anti-gay agenda, I believe, are blaspheming God's name."

The annual parade, one of dozens around the world, commemorates the 1969 Stonewall riots in which patrons at a Greenwich Village gay bar fought back against a police raid.

At San Francisco's festival, the wife of Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards marked the occasion by splitting with her husband over support for legalized gay marriage.

"I don't know why someone else's marriage has anything to do with me," Elizabeth Edwards said at a news conference before the parade. "I'm completely comfortable with gay marriage."

Kleinbaum, who heads the world's largest predominantly gay synagogue, and the Rev. Troy Perry, founder of the Metropolitan Community Church, were the New York parade's grand marshals, waving from hers-and-his convertibles.

The march took place days after the New York State Assembly passed a bill legalizing same-sex marriage, which Gov. Eliot Spitzer supports. Although the bill is unlikely to pass the Republican-controlled state Senate anytime soon, parade-goers said they were cheered by the Assembly's action.

"This is one very important step toward full equality for all New Yorkers," Kleinbaum said.

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, one of the nation's most prominent openly gay elected officials, said she could not predict when the Senate might approve same-sex marriage.

"All conventional wisdom in New York state on gay marriage is out the window," she said. "I think we are really doing better than anyone would ever have thought we could be doing on this."

As in past years, exhibitionists were also on display as the parade inched down Fifth Avenue and into Greenwich Village. Some revelers gyrated in bikini briefs and pranced in spike heels.

But the placement of the Christian, Jewish and Buddhist religious organizations near the head of the march _ ahead of AIDS service groups and political advocacy groups _ gave them unaccustomed prominence.

A Buddhist group carried signs that said "Construct Dignity in Your Heart" and "Don't Block Your Buddha."

"We're all Buddhas," said Hortense De Castro, a teacher from Manhattan. "It's just a matter of letting it come out."

The gay Catholic group Dignity had a float and a giant rainbow flag. Jeff Stone, secretary of the New York chapter, said he was hopeful the church would someday change its stance opposing homosexuality.

"We see that the opinion of ordinary Catholics is changing," he said. "Eventually what happens at the grass roots percolates up in the church."

Mayor Michael Bloomberg marched with Quinn and other elected officials, including Lt. Gov. David Paterson.

Toni Cinanni of Perth, Australia, said she was surprised at the prominence of the church groups.

"I thought the religious groups had hijacked the parade," she said. "I couldn't put it together, religion and sexuality."

New York's parade featured contingents of gay police officers and firefighters, as well as ethnic gay groups including South Asians, Haitians and American Indians. An Argentinian and Uruguayan group featured an Eva Peron impersonator in a flowing gown.

Tens of thousands of people attended the march. Spectators lining Fifth Avenue included gay people sporting rainbow flags and curious tourists.

Andrew Stanley of Shrewsbury, England, said the march was "very colorful."

"I've never seen one before," he said, "but I think it's a good idea."

___

Associated Press writer Paul Elias in San Francisco contributed to this report.

[Vanessa White]

That is definitely accurate as to the presence in the parade, agreed. One of the parts of the parade that moved me emotionally the most, was the religious presence, and so many floats with groups of people singing in unison, it was just so Christ like and beautiful. I felt fully loved and embraced. One of the other representations that overwhelmed me was the representation by PFLAG, several chapters in all. Mia kept yelling "Thank you!" I was in tears. :love::'(:love::love:

[pnggrad79]

Man I wish I could have been there. Houston Pride didn't have Dykes on Bikes and I was disappointed. We did have Bunnies on the Bayou, South Beach, and the Brazos River Bottom (gay nite clubs) that always have spectacular floats. Our parade was 9:00 p.m. I guess the Texas heat is too much in June for a day time parade.

Glad ya'll got to go the NYC parade and got to hang out. Wish I could have been there.

Vanessa, which one is you in the picture?

[Vanessa White]

Hey png: I wish you had been able to be there as well. It would be so great to shoot for a pride event that several of us could meet up and celebrate together!!!! I am the die-hard Boston Red Sox fan on the right- Daniel is sooooo tall! Larger than life- I am in awe......

A nighttime parade like the one you are describing would be such a different experience, I imagine. It was estimated that there would be a million viewers there in person- I believe that after seeing the crowds, and we stayed off Christopher Street for the most part for that reason. A couple other highlights about the weekend itself I forgot to tell about:

Mia, Bridget (Mia's girlfriend) and I were supposed to have several friends attending pride with us. All of them pretty much could not go at the last minute for various reasons. So, it was to be just the three of us sharing the hotel room, which was tight on our budgets, but not impossible. We ended up going to the Stonewall Inn on Saturday afternoon, shooting some pics outside, and debating out front about going in for a drink. It was my first time at the Stonewall, even though I have been to NYC before, so I was really excited to see the structure, and be in it, the place where it all began. We looked around inside a bit, wandered out, took some photos, and after discussing it, went back in to have a drink before travelling on. There had been a couple of other women kind of hanging around outside of the bar also when we were there that we kinda noticed. We go in, find five stools (we only needed three at the time), and sat down. One of the women who we had seen outside, and had since come in and sat at the bar, came over to us, and told us her name, and asked if she and her friend could come sit with us, that a guy at the bar was being a pain and they wanted to get away. Sure, we said. The two women came over, sat on the other two stools, and we started talking. They told us they had taken a bus, that day, from DC, to be there for the festivities on Saturday night. However, a couple of plans of places to stay fell through, and they had not been able to find a hotel anywhere. Needless to say, it took about ten seconds for Mia and I to invite them to stay with us. Although it felt a little weird and potential scary for a moment, I thought of how much SF has helped me to keep my faith in humanity, and I really believed that it was safe to trust these women. As it turns out, we were right. They helped us out with the cost of the room, they had a place to sleep besides the park (or, they were going to stay up all night, and take a bus back Sunday even before the parade!) and instead, they got to see the first three hours of it, and a night on the town Saturday, and we all made some great new friends. That is another part of pride that feels so human-like- making friends and being kind to one another. At least our experience was that way........ :love::love::love::love::)

[tdogg]

Daniel, Vanessa, Mia & Bridget

AWESOME!!

:D:rainbow::love:

[BenL]

3 Altoids Boys

OMG, I never knew that Altoids could do that! I'll have switch my brand of mints. :rofl: :applause:

Great to the see the pic of Souforcers, too! :D :rainbow:

[BruceChris]

And Ben, and Daniel, that's spelled DELTOIDS. Honestly, you guys are gonna give us a reputation.

Minneapolis Pride:

It was wonderful. I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. I was responsible for dragging all of the stuff in, and setting up our church's booth, but that was a small price to pay. 400,000+ people attended, they say. I ate lunch with PFLAG, got to see all of the dragqueens, and butch lesbians, and guys wearing not much more than a jock strap. All of the venders, and people selling overpriced food, and all of the churchs. The floats in the parade, and all of the marching bands. Soulforce had a booth, and I got to stop and have a chat with Haven Herrin. The biggest trouble with Gay Pride is, I don't want to just visit there, I want to LIVE there. :agree: :aparty: :weee: :wave:

Oh Well, Peace and Love, Bruce Chris
__________________

[BrianB]

Here is a link from Dayton Pride pictures if anyone is interested in seeing them. http://www.gaydayton.org/picture_gallery.htm There are several wedding/commitment shots. My friend is in the wheelchair on the float wearing the bluish wig.

[~Becca~]

Hi all, this is my first post on this message board :)

I was lucky enough to meet some of the nicest people at the NYC pride parade this Sunday including Vanessa, Mia and Briget.

Thanks for the link to this website, everyone seems very warm and friendly here!!

:flower:

[pnggrad79]

Vanessa,

Pride is pretty cool isn't it? I am so jealous that I didn't get to go to NYC. Houston's was ok, but a little disappointing. There has been some noises made about moving it out of the Westheimer/ Montrose area, the heart of gay Houston, to surrounding areas, and I think that put a damper on things this year.

Nonetheless, I am


PROUD

To Be

QUEER!!!!!

[Zerbie]

I'm so jealous of all of ya who got to go to Pride in NYC!!! That's the best - and the best part is, ya'll got to meet each other. Someday I wish we could all have a massive SF get-together in 3 D.

Pictures are great!

And I would like to live in a gay pride festival too, though my hubby would be a bit out of place. :p

[edgelessdepths]

I went to my first pride last weekend in the Twin Cities and it was awesome !

I went with a whole bunch of my college pride group and we all piled into a friend's apartment. It was crowded but so much fun. It's a great feeling being surrounded by so many people like me.

My fav part was the beginning of the parade: dykes on bikes.

I can't wait till next year. :D

[ladyinred]

tymejumper;My partner and I just went to the Grand Rapids Pride at John Ball Park. I was so happy because my 15 year old asked to come also. She wore her "straight, not narrow" shirt. She saw the mayor and also a protester. She got really mad and told him "my God is about love, I don't know what yours is about". She also snapped a few pics of him and took alot of pics of the festival.


Thye worship a mean ol' tribal god who doen't exist:lol::lol::lol:

[tymejumper]

I'm so jealous of all of ya who got to go to Pride in NYC!!! That's the best - and the best part is, ya'll got to meet each other. Someday I wish we could all have a massive SF get-together in 3 D.

Pictures are great!

And I would like to live in a gay pride festival too, though my hubby would be a bit out of place. :p

Some day, over the rainbow, we'll make it to a bigger better PRIDE. We want to go to NYC and also Chicago, eard it rocks there!

[tdogg]

I would love to go to Chicago pride! We were actually contemplating going this year, but finances kept us home.

Sac Pride was small, but it's getting bigger. My first, so i was in heaven. Only bigger and better prides in my future!!!

[BrentRichards]

Thye worship a mean ol' tribal god who doen't exist:lol::lol::lol:

Excellent point ... it is reminiscent of the people standing on the edge of a volcano preparing to toss a human sacrifice into the "mouth of the god" isn't it? ... ala the Irish sit-com Father Ted ... Ted has a nightmare about being a missionary to a primitive tribe, who are about to toss him into a volcano, to "Appease the volcano god." He says, "Volcano god, what kind of nonsense is that? Are you sure you won't give Catholicism a try?" and the leader replies "It wouldn't catch on here. Sure we don't agree with the Pope's view on contraception ... it's the 90's, man!" [Chucking Ted into the volcano]

[Sherrie Z]

Hi all, this is my first post on this message board :)

I was lucky enough to meet some of the nicest people at the NYC pride parade this Sunday including Vanessa, Mia and Briget.

Thanks for the link to this website, everyone seems very warm and friendly here!!

:flower:


Welcome, Becca! How nice to have you join us!

Maybe you could tell us more about yourself if you'd like to ... either here, or in the "Hello My Name Is ..." section, so your intro won't get lost in the midst of a longer thread. At any rate, it's great that you got to meet some Soulforce people in person ... and it's great to have you join the forum too! : )

[Sherrie Z]

Since this has been brought up here ... I used to live in Chicago ... and I can vouch for their quite fabulous Pride! It was many years ago, but I had such a great time marching in, or riding in, or watching many of the parades there ... and it went by right near where I lived ... sooo much fun!

One of the best times was when a cab driver drove up to the MCC contingent as we were getting organized for the parade, and spontaneously joined us ... so we had a yellow cab with us as part of our group ... he even let some of us ride through the parade on the top of his cab ... wheeeeeee! : )

This year I wasn't able to go (sigh), but I saw the San Francisco parade on TV. Of course it's always such a great event here! Yay, Pride!!!

[Sherrie Z]

Back to our language tangent ... since it's not the straight people we have a problem with, it's the gaping, good-lord-its-one-of-THEM types ... how about instead of Ro's, we go with Phobes?

"I don't mind if people are homophobic, as long as they do it behind closed doors and don't push it on anyone." Eddie Izzard (paraphrased ... couldn't be bothered to look it up)


Thank you for bringing up Eddie Izzard ... I love Eddie!!! Here are some Eddie quotes, just for fun ... : )


Eddie Izzard quotes ... found on the internet ... therefore not necessarily confirmed as exact quotes (also very slightly edited for typos or format).


From Eddie Izzard's comedy show "Unrepeatable" (1994)

"I have no problem with homophobia. As long as they do it behind closed doors."


Another website had this version:

"It’s okay, if they wanna be homophobic, that’s all right; as long as they’re homophobic behind closed doors and don’t touch anyone, I’m fine with it! I know a few people like that … So that’s what I say."



From Eddie Izzard's comedy show "Dress to Kill" (1999)

"I like my coffee hot and strong, like I like my women, hot and strong ... with a spoon in them."


Craig Kilborn interviewing cross-dressing comedian Eddie Izzard (Late Late Show in 2000):

Eddie: "Are you gay, or are you just British?"
Eddie: "I'm a male lesbian."
Craig: "And you wear women's clothes?"
Eddie: "They're not women's clothes. They're my clothes. I bought them."

[tymejumper]

I went to the Lansing, Michigan Pride also. I got married on the capitol steps! It was so beautiful. I started to cry when the minister said "you are surrounded by the light of God".

It was almost a perfect thing but of course there were protesters in the background, in their little chained off section, making loud noises, but I looked in my partners eyes and did not notice it until after the ceremony.

My teen made shirts for us to wear that said "just married 6/30/07" and with pics on the back of us all saying "love makes a family".:love:

[Daniel]

I went to the Lansing, Michigan Pride also. I got married on the capitol steps! It was so beautiful. I started to cry when the minister said "you are surrounded by the light of God".

It was almost a perfect thing but of course there were protesters in the background, in their little chained off section, making loud noises, but I looked in my partners eyes and did not notice it until after the ceremony.

My teen made shirts for us to wear that said "just married 6/30/07" and with pics on the back of us all saying "love makes a family".:love:

You does indeed make a family Wishing you much happiness and joy!

[Dash]

I went to the Lansing, Michigan Pride also. I got married on the capitol steps! It was so beautiful. I started to cry when the minister said "you are surrounded by the light of God".

It was almost a perfect thing but of course there were protesters in the background, in their little chained off section, making loud noises, but I looked in my partners eyes and did not notice it until after the ceremony.

My teen made shirts for us to wear that said "just married 6/30/07" and with pics on the back of us all saying "love makes a family".:love:

Oh! Look at this little tasty morsel of news! All tucked away in the Pride thread! :love: Cool beans! Yay!! :D

:flower::dove::sing:

[Julie Nemecek]

Joanne and I both spoke from the steps of the Capital Building to about 3000 gathered for the rally. It was awesome to look out and see so many loving couples and supporters of LGBT rights, Michigan has far to go but we are doing what we can to get there. I talked about how the tactics being used against us parrallel the tactics of Nazi Germany. I also talked about what we can do about it. Email me (julie.nemecek@comcast.net) if you would like to see what I said.

[BrentRichards]

Okay, Harrisburg (PA) finally had Pride this past weekend, and I was finally able to go ... I normally work that day. Me and a few friends had a great time walking around and just being, y'know? It's a very small festival, stretching only a few blocks along the riverfront on the main street, and only the second year for the parade, but it's all good. We're also a very tame Pride ... I saw no near-nudity, no S/M type leather ... even our drag queens are mostly "conservative" ... hmmm.

Protestors at both entrances (Repent America jerks), and a couple across the street about mid-way along. Surprisingly few. We have a wonderful group of volunteers in the area called Silent Witness [http://www.silentwitnesspa.org/], who come out with huge rainbow golf umbrellas, and just stand silently around the protestors, blocking them and their signs from view, and walking along with groups coming and going from the event to screen their view of the morons. Very nice!

The protestors at mid-way were a local couple, who I think are conservative Mennonite, but are really atypically Mennonite (these are not usually shouting people) ... they go from town to town standing on street corners with signs that just say "Repent." They were screaming through bullhorns, and had stationed themselves, presumably for shade, under an underpass. The beauty of this was that it placed them directly behind the porta-potties at the festival ... my ebulliant and proud AME friend was quick to observe: "That's the perfect place for their sh*t!"

Was also very pleasantly surprised at the large percentage of displays/booths along the way representing local faith communities ... and an affirming Christian band among the stage performers for the day. It had a very spiritual feel ... the PCUSA congregation was handing out rainbow "God Loves Me" stickers, which it seemed almost everyone was wearing.

Very cool first Pride experience for me.

[BrentRichards]

And this is about as good press coverage as you get around here. Not bad:



HARRISBURG

LOVE AND PRIDE

Gays, lesbians enjoy freedom at festival

Sunday, July 29, 2007

BY ELIZABETH GIBSON

Of The Patriot-News

Couples drifting north from Front Street late yesterday crossed an invisible boundary at Market Street.

There, many couples pulled apart. Dropped one another's hands. Donned looks of indifference.

They reclaimed cars and found their way back out of the city.

Scraps of rainbow-colored confetti swirled in their wake, remnants of the 2007 Pride Festival of Central Pennsylvania, where gays felt unjudged, accepted, even loved. The event lined the city's riverfront.

Joe DiSalvo and his boyfriend, Steve, of Wilmington Del., spent the day at the festival with DiSalvo's son, Jonathan, of Mechanicsburg.

As sassy female impersonators stalked a runway to pounding pop beats, Joe DiSalvo, a part-time professional photographer, crouched near the stage and snapped hundreds of pictures.

They wove among crowds of people balancing food and drinks, pushing baby strollers and pulling dog leashes as vendors sold crafts and volunteers thrust brochures for community agencies into open hands.

For gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people, the annual daylong festival in Riverfront Park is a welcome haven from condemnation. More than 5,000 attended.

Many, especially young adults, seemed giddy from the freedom to hold hands, embrace, cross-dress.

They were shielded from the few protesters who barked Bible passages into megaphones by Silent Witnesses of Central PA, gay and straight volunteers who formed a buffer with giant rainbow umbrellas. City police reported no arrests or problems.

Joe and Steve were lucky because they left the festival knowing they don't have to hide their love, worry about losing jobs or fear condemning landlords.

After living for years as married heterosexual men, each came to terms with his sexual orientation, and they now live as an openly gay couple.

Becky Gernert and her girlfriend also are out -- openly lesbian -- but their relationship has cost them their Lebanon home, they said.

They were evicted from Gernert's government-subsidized town house, which was accessible to her two physically disabled sons. The agency refused to consider the women a couple, Gernert said, and more than one "family" was not allowed in the home.

"They said it has to be a man and a woman, different sexes, to be a couple," Gernert said. They moved to a home that is "horrible," she said. "It's small. It's not handicapped-accessible."

Yesterday, she consulted Equality Advocates, formerly the Center for Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights to see if she had any legal recourse.

It's legal in most of the state to deny housing and employment based on sexual orientation. Some cities, including Harrisburg, York and Allentown, prohibit that discrimination.

Anti-bias measures have been proposed elsewhere in Pennsylvania, such as in Carlisle. Most have languished, although a statewide bill proposed by Sen. Pat Browne, R-Lehigh, might be gathering support. Equality Advocates yesterday urged festivalgoers to urge their legislators to pass the bill.

Delaware laws don't protect DiSalvo, 59, from housing and job bias.

But he owns his home. And though he spent his career teaching in public schools, he's retired, so he's immune from being fired.

Still, he said, his life's journey has had its bumps. He came out in 2005.

"I probably knew I was gay when I was young, but I wasn't sure. Now I'm wondering at what points in my life did I think about being gay and at what points did I suppress it," he said.

For Steve, 40, it was the opposite: "I knew when I was about 10," he said.

He had a romance with a man in college. But his Midwest upbringing and a head full of "shoulds" delayed coming to terms with his homosexuality, he said.

A Lebanon man, 23, who did not want to give his name, said yesterday's festival was his first since he told friends he's gay. It's unlikely he'll tell others because he'd lose his job, he said.

So, yesterday's fun was on the QT.

"But I'm having a great time," he said.



ELIZABETH GIBSON: 249-2006 or egibson@patriot-news.com