GAY PRIDE

[AndreFuture]

I appreciate you all sharing your memories of your first Pride parades—some of which were among the first ever. I'm far too young to have been part of that history, so I really enjoy hearing about it from folks who lived it and paved the way for us young queers today.

 

Yet, even I'm a bit turned off at how capitalistic Pride parades have become: "Sponsored by Bacardi" (When we suffer such high alcoholism rates), "Brought To You By Marriott", etc. On the one hand, it's nice that we've gone from being loathed by society to being courted by the highest bidder and used to score "progressive points" by corporations. On the other hand, I'm a bit disappointed that we've moved from liberation to "equality" in a system that's inherently anti-LGBTQ.

[jjkrkwood]

I appreciate you all sharing your memories of your first Pride parades—some of which were among the first ever. I'm far too young to have been part of that history, so I really enjoy hearing about it from folks who lived it and paved the way for us young queers today.

 

Yet, even I'm a bit turned off at how capitalistic Pride parades have become: "Sponsored by Bacardi" (When we suffer such high alcoholism rates), "Brought To You By Marriott", etc. On the one hand, it's nice that we've gone from being loathed by society to being courted by the highest bidder and used to score "progressive points" by corporations. On the other hand, I'm a bit disappointed that we've moved from liberation to "equality" in a system that's inherently anti-LGBTQ.

 

 

Well corporations run the world, and even Chik-Fil-A tried to make amends by providing Free food to the survivors and familes of Orlando. (may be a self-serving gesture, but generous none-the-less)

[Rudynate]

I rode on the backseat of a convertible with a drag queen named "Flame" in a San Francisco Pride parade sometime in the 70s, don't remember exactly when.

[mike carey]

This past weekend was the Pride round of the Australian Football League (AFL), with all of the teams featuring special jerseys for the games and the stadiums kitted out in rainbow colours.

 

Now the energy company AGL has lit up one venturi tower of the Loy Yang power station in Gippsland, in rural Victoria to mark a pride cup in the region (the small print is 'Celebrating diversity and inclusion in sport').

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[+ Cash4Trash]

I marched in the first NYC Gay Pride Parade in 1970 and, happily, saw Bette Midler perform in Washington Square after the third.

Haven't done much lately. In 1970 I was working in a very gay friendly business and knew there would be no repercussions so I figured, if not me, who?

[+ WilliamM]

I can compete in the Gay Pride parades because I have only attended a few. But, I was in Oakland, San Francisco and Berkeley the day Judy Garland died on June 22, 1969 and the few following days. Nobody seemed surprised..the saddest part of that visit.

[+ MostlyLurking]

I started marching in the parades in . . . oh, let's say 1971. I quit when I couldn't tolerate the commercialism and the opportunistic politicians. Besides, there wasn't any contingent with a message I had any interest in supporting. This year, however, there was a Solidarity Contingent here in Chicago. "We're here! We're queer! We're Socialists!" It was WONDERFUL. And my friend says I can have my Gay card back.

[LADoug1]

But the Eye Candy usually makes up for it

 

 

http://www.gaytravel4u.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/gay-pride-taipei-taiwan-1-495x370.jpg

 

http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/images/publications/nightspots/2012-10-10/folsom_121010_am_leash.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://pixel.nymag.com/imgs/slideshows/2012/06/gay-pride-parade/16TwoMuscularGuys.nocrop.w670.h407.jpg

 

http://images2.miaminewtimes.com/imager/the-hottest-guys-of-miami-beach-gay-pride/u/original/6515110/robin_hood.jpg

 

 

"I'm On My Way to the Parade "

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IErV2cmG7Z0/UdEsFas6ljI/AAAAAAAANC8/A66p8tOw8k4/s598/nude-bodybuilder-red-muscle-shirt-bulge-covered-gay-nature-outdoor-sex-pose-muscle-hunk-homosexual-boy-buff-exhibitionist-sixpack.JPG

Gay Pride is more than great looking bodies. Always a pet peeve of mine.

[LADoug1]

One of my fondest memories is marching in the SF pride parade as a student at Berkeley. Carried the Gay Students Union banner. This was in 1982 when the parade was more about politics rather than hedonic.

 

Have also marched recently in the APLA contingent.

[Bertster]

Just came from Christopher Street Day (that's what they call their pride events in Germany) in Berlin. It absolutely belted rain in a thunderstorm for the last hour and a half of the parade. Terrific day though, and the parade march concludes to a series of stages in front of the Brandenburg Gate - that in itself was abit of a wow-this-is-happening moment. It was quite a scene with everyone dancing in front of the Brandenburg Gate, with the recently-departed storm as a backdrop.

(I want to post a photo, but I can't figure out how to on my phone?)

[+ WmClarke]

I've always dreamed of going to a gay pride event, but my social anxiety won't allow it. I don't even have any friends to go with me to something like that.

 

I'll just have to continue fantasizing about how fun it would be.

Come to Milwaukee. The parade route is not crowded with spectators at many spots and the Pride Fest is spread over three days on large festival grounds that make parts of it seem deserted at times.