[Ed note: These are in color, since LGBT Pride is inherently colorful. Also: more is likely to come later, along with a few notes on the day. But one had to at least share a few gay families at the Pride Parade images ASAP. Especially given what’s “P,” or possible, these days. Which is not as much as one would like. Last week’s deathly quiet here attested to this eloquently. Worry not (I say to myself as much as anyone else listening)! That which is keeping me entangled and away from ye olde blog now is actually the pavement for its more turbo-powered, unfettered movement in the future. As Steve Jobs said to disgruntled iPhone 4 users: “Stay tuned.”]
The young kid at Pride image. I.e., asleep in the stroller. A far more photogenic version of this image was being pulled nearby us much of the way: kid in red wagon, shaded by a green froggie umbrella, and accessorized with a dozen or so stuffed animals. Big hit. Also, kid asleep the whole time.
Snoozing kids. Pride just wouldn’t be Pride without ’em.
And here we go. Kids leading the family contingent in the parade. Behind them, Our Family Coalition, COLAGE, and our blocks-long, balloon-bedecked brigade, enjoying the toe-tapping sound of the Australian Youth Band in front of us. Pride wouldn’t be Pride without marching band versions of Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive.” (Here’s a list of the other 177 some-odd contingents who were marching.)
Wherever yours was, I hope it was the best Pride ever!
My first Pride (last year, infact) was in the crusty old townhall, a few stalls about sexual health and an open bar. I was too young to drink, so it was pretty lackluster. The one signal to the outside world what was happening? A tiny stained flag hastily pinned up on the notice board outside. So ever since I have vowed to one day go to San Francisco and absolutly pride my guts out!
You will be a welcome addition. Anyone who has endured a (brave! much appreciated! yet painfully modest) pride such as you have is most especially welcomed. One doesn’t have much choice but to “pride one’s guts out” (great phrase!) in San Francisco. Merely showing up to the crowds (upwards of a million annually for a good decade; largest parade of any sort in North America, etc.) takes care of half the guts.
I’m de-lurking because I wanted to share that I myself made BeethovenLives’ vow three years ago, at roughly the same age. The vibrant queer blogging community (definitely including LesbianDad!) gave me hope that I too could have the open lives I found recorded therein. This summer, I actually finagled an internship in Berkeley. I was at Pride this weekend, and I did pride my guts out. It was fantastic!!!
Well hot friggin’ diggity dog! And welcome in both ways, wwlaw1! Hey, and get in touch offline (here’s an EZ handy-dandy contact form). Mebbe we can cross paths at a city kiddie park sometime before you go, and I can make sure you don’t miss the right taquerias while you’re in town. Advance warning: I’m a talkative California native whose parents were geographers. I’ll probably bring maps to the park.
Despite having a population of around 1 million, Pride in my home city seems to consistently struggle to get a parade together (they cancelled it completely in 2008). So here I am reading the list of participants in yours and the local TRANSPORT organisation is in it??!!
Oooh, it’s a whole other world…
Fabulous, and what a gorgeous day you guys had! I’d never experienced rain on a Pride parade before this year, in any of the cities in which I’ve lived, but we only made it about halfway through when the downpour began, and we decided to get our little Bean out of there. So we missed most of the church groups – always my favorite part – but we did get to see the skimpily-leather-clad transvestite with stiletto-heeled platform boots and more make-up than Tammy Faye Bakker walking down the street and chatting with the frumpy Boston matron walking her corgi. Entirely worth it for that image.
this was my first pride. i wasn’t sure what to expect even though i had read posts and seen videos of pride celebrations across the country. i was very pragmatic in my attending the events as well. at least in my head. i think the thing i kept saying over and over was, “well isn’t that interesting.” the girl friend just loved that!