Gay “Pride”
Hard Candy Stud Calendar participated in our first Pride parade in Chicago this year. there was nothing but fun and sun. thank goodness for Gatoraid! as i walked and walked and walked and walked along the parade routes, i had plenty of moments where my mind simply wandered. looking into the faces of gays and their supporters ranging in ages from 2 months old to 800 months old, screaming in support of the floats but mostly screamin 2 get beads tossed at them, i wondered what was all this really about? i mean really really. is this pride?
i look at the gay pride parade and it seems 2 b a freak show for white gay men. with the rainbow wings and the assless chaps providing more ammunition for our detractors. nothing about the pride festivities actually show PRIDE. events that celebrate our dignity, courage and perserverance simply do not exist. what’s the point of a party? we have gay “parties” every weekend at the club. how is a pride party different? it’s not. it’s just more people. i guess more makes it special somehow. the whole thing leaves me unfulfilled and a little bit sadder. i love being around my fellow gays but in what capacity? running around like a bunch of crazies on the street. getting drunk and lookin like fools? yes, i know i’m generalizing. but seriously all the decent folk get drowned out by the not-so-decent. when u’r young, all this aimless hoopla is fun. there’s no goal but to scream, get full and possibly meet someone new. but when u get older and have responsibilities to get back to, it’s not really a good idea to work your body so hard and u got a significant other to go home with already. the luster is gone. the only ones that seem 2 keep their zeal is the white gay male. they’re out there in full force from the young young boys all the way to the senior citizen bears. there aren’t as many blacks out there. then again we have black gay pride next week.
now i know what i just said sounds all fucked up. but i’m at a stage in my life where i want a little more meaning. i’m all for having fun. but i think we should name it accordingly. it seemed 2 b more of a gay mardi gras as opposed to gay pride. but then i stop and wake the hell up and see that there is pride. it’s all over the place. there are people that want to say something.
but wait! who’s to say that everything has 2 be all serious and making statements 2 the world? sometimes one has to blow off some steam and just let go of all of the bullshit that we get on the regular and just be free. just for a day.
Happy Pride Everyone
I walked with Lambda Legal this year. I had no idea hard candy was in the parade! Had I known, I would have asked you could I volunteer to walk with your float. I had fun too, and I feel you on the “mardi gras” atmosphere. It’s one aspect of the parade that hasn’t really changed in all the years I’ve attended. I guess you also have to look at the history behind the parade to really understand why white gay men have such a resounding presense. Black people NEED to become more involved in the parades, I wish we would if only to show that we too have strong pride in ourselves and our community. I know we do as a whole, but presense makes the difference. Next year, if you decide to enter hard candy into the parade, keep me in mind!
