Look, I’ve done the pride parade thing. I’ve marched with political causes, social clubs, athletic groups and a chorus. I’ve done it on skates, in speedos, in jeans, and even dressed relatively nicely. I’ve done it in big towns, small towns, and medium sized towns. I’ve even attended a pride parade in a foreign country. (It was in Toronto, to be precise). I just don’t care. They bore the hell out of me. I cared and got excited about it a few times, but that was years ago. I don’t deal well with massive mobs, regardless of the sexuality of the members of the mob. Enjoy the parade, I intend to ignore it. I may attend related festivities if someone invites me to a party or whatever, but that’s about it.
I’ve never gone to a pride anything. Ever.
At this point, I don’t plan to start now. Apparently I am not proud.
That’s funny … Andy & I actually discussed going out of town for Pride weekend!
Specifically to avoid pride? Did you decide against?
We were more or less joking about actually skipping town. I’m pretty sure we’ll just avoid the festivities.
Got Pride?
I go every year and I love it.
I cry every year. Mostly because I take for granted the acceptance that I receive every day. You see all kinds of Queers that day. In a city that is so full of niches and just my weight puts me in a separate sub-culture, it is so refreshing to see people from Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, etc. enjoying what I take for granted everyday.
Now, I don’t get all crazy and wear rainbow gear or traipse around half naked (god wouldn’t that be a fright). But, it makes me a little sappy to see the spectacle.
Re: Got Pride?
Hey now, there’s nothing wrong with traipsing around half naked…
Anyway. =)
I know there are all sorts of homos way less fortunate than us. But you have to bring that mindset to the parade, because there’s nothing in it that will remind you of that point. (imho)
Re: Got Pride?
This is true!
And the sad reality that most people don’t even know why we celebrate drag queens that day. But, I agree with you there. The parade itself is all advertising for politicians or whatnot. I like the gay police, vets, and PFLAG… they make me happy.
My major complaint about Chicago Pride is after the parade (which is normally boring as hell), there is nothing to do but go to the bars, which are impossible to get into and packed to the rafters. I wish we had something like SF where the parade ends at a huge festival with booths, beergardens, and room to move around!
Ditto.
That’s why I didn’t involve myself in Bear/IML. I hate crowds. Heh
Sounds like a great opportunity to bah-humbug together. =)
Yeah, even pittsburgh has a post-parade powow in the park. My impression was that chicago used to have an event at the end of the parade. I know that in pride 2001, it moved up to hollywood beach. But I haven’t been in chicago for a pride since then except for 2005. I went to a house party for that one.
+1
Is that a succinct aggreement? =)
You know, I’m not even gay, and I enjoy pride parades.
Your problem is not a “post-pride” “over the political issue” thing.
Your problem is that you’re just a party pooper.
There’s a big part of that. Few are the parades that do anything for me.
Comes and goes for me, I can’t find a pattern to date. Some years I have nothing else planned, it goes by my street and I manage to take my dog for a walk going the other way. This year, for one reason or another, I’m totally feeling it and excited with anticipation.
Living as close as I do to the village is a curse or bliss at this time of year. If I’m not feeling Pride, I literally have to get lost. They block 2 out of three streets around my building. As a result the traffic on the 3rd street is a nightmare. Basically… I can’t cross Yonge Street within the downtown core, so I have to hope that whatever I wind up doing is to the West of where I live otherwise I’m screwed.
The years I am into it, it’s golden. I can easily come back here for more FREE and still COLD water. I don’t have to fuss with parking/lugging bags containing whatever. My dog doesn’t have to suffer through the whole affair, I just drop by when I need to walk her. (That size of crowd does not entertain her in the least and it’s too much heat for her fancy). On the rare occassions I have found someone to “explore my sexuality with”, their grin gets that much bigger when I explain that my bed is not 5 minutes away :-p
I hear ya. If you’re not into it, you’re not into it. Fair enough.
So.. no gaygamer meet-up? Or does that count?
I tend to avoid it, as I’m bothered by the concept of parades in general.
gaygamer meetup doesn’t count. =)
Agreed on parade concept.