Seattle Gay Pride 2011

I've marched in the Pride Parade more often than I've watched.  It's important and so very full of every race, religion, ideology and for everyone concerned about human rights.  For one day out of the year we are treated more as the kings and queens that we so often use in our lingo toward one another than the scourge perpetrated against us by the few.  And, just maybe, a few minds will be changed this day in late June.  Yesterday was no exception.

Sandwiched between two cloudy and rainy days was Seattle's first gorgeous day of summer.  And, this day, it was made more brilliant and illuminant by the fact that the place where our fight for civil rights began, New York, had, the night before, passed Marriage Equality.  It was a day to be proud and celebrate.  In honor of New York, I forgo wearing the t-shirt provided by my company and, instead, chose to wear the shirt I bought at Stonewall; made for this years New York Pride.  Although, a nifty skirt was made out of four company t-shirts that I proudly wore.

(This is my other half modeling)

I decided early on that, this year, I wasn't going to hold a banner but, rather, pass out the "goodies" to the crowd.  Having been on the sidelines watching in previous years, there is such a disconnect with so many of those who march.  I'd always appreciated the people who came up and handed things to the people in the crowd, personally, as opposed to just tossing things willy-nilly (besides, that creates litter - no one picks up shit once it hits the street).  Needless to say, I was the one "left behind" (*wink* *nod*).  I can't even begin to count how many times I had to run to catch up with the rest of the Starbucks crew. But the crowd appreciated it and cheered me on.  I even got a 10 from the ratings guys (mind you, these are hard core queens and a 10 is usually only reserved for the sexy boys; definitely not this old bitch).  LOL  People want that little extra connection and doing it with eye contact and a sense of humor is all it takes.  Of course, it does help working for a company (regardless of it really just being "another" corporation) that cares about it's customers and employees.  It makes my job of advertising and solidarity fun (it also helps that people are rabid for coffee and hats).

There was a lot of talk this year about those funny, silly sociopaths from the Westboro Baptist Church picketing (and we always have some idiot with a bullhorn screaming the same old, redacted for their convenience, Bible quotes).  But something funny happened; I hadn't noticed any of them and, as far as I know, no one else did either.  Sure, it may be the right thing to do to try and reason with someone.  But that only works for those who have the ability to reason.  Otherwise it just turns into a shouting match and everyone ends up looking stupid.  When the idiots of the world are ignored by those of us with better things to do they are the only ones who look ridiculous.  Remember, my fellow gays, we don't have to be the ones to make them look that way; they're brilliant at it on their own.  Look at all the wonderful straight people who go to pride, even with their children to educate them on all human beings and to show that gays are not scary or evil or trying to "recruit" them.  These people are on our side and, together, we far outweigh the ideological bigots of the world.  So celebrate, and fight when you are actually able to make a difference.  Showing peace, love, humor, and kindness are proving to be a bigger "weapon" than any anger or evil words ever have.

I would, personally, like to thank my boyfriend, my straight cousin, a fellow straight Starbucks partner from our store and her straight friend from her other job for marching with us.  Also, a shout out to my friend, Siobhan, who came running and hugged me in the middle of, well, 4th Ave.  It was a special moment.  It was fabulous and fun.  But it also means so much because there truly is strength in numbers and those numbers alone will be the only way for this country to ever recognize full equality.

 (Tracy doesn't like her face photo's sprinkled over the internet, but a thigh should be ok) ;-)

(Me catching up; we actually are supposed to be in front of the van.  LOL)

And, in closing, let us not forget our brothers and sisters who have passed.  Many, of whom, may still be with us had it not been for our very government denying, for 5 years, there was an epidemic.  Until, they realized, their own kind were also dying from AIDS and the official Reaganautic tune of "Gods Wrath Against Gays" came to an end...sort of.

Although I didn't see him, a friend of mine took some wonderful shots.  Here is his link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/damonic/sets/72157627056788078/