|
|
Yesterday a few friends and I went to the New Hope, PA Gay Pride parade. New Hope is to PA what Provincetown is to Massachusetts, a very gay-friendly town.
http://www.newhopecelebrates.com/
The trip was part of a bicycle trail ride with my gay cycling group. If you didn't see the "equals" stickers on the backpacks, you wouldn't know we were gay (well, except for my orange and blue cycling jersey. But hey, it's so I don't get whacked by a car on the road). The other 4 guys are two couples who have each been together for decades, and then me, who has been out just in the past few years. They are all great guys who understand where I have come from and are very supportive of me. Anyway, personal stuff done.
I have been to a few Gay Pride parades and felt a mix of "don't look too interested or you'll out yourself" to "I'm really embarrassed how the gay community presents itself" to "I hope some day I will be that comfortable with myself". Yep, I bet my therapist would have a field day with that succession of ideas.
Yesterday's parade was very well done. I am referring to the participants. There were the "Dame Edna" impersonators, the Mummer's style band, and the definite eye candy guys. But the overwhelming presentation of the parade was family friendly (no pun intended) with the desire to be all-inclusive of the GLBTQ family. There was nothing embarrassing about the parade that I wouldn't have wanted my mom or kids to see. There were marching bands, organizations representing the Human Rights Campaign, groups with rainbow flags, equal sign flags, AIDS walk information, even church groups with accepting outreach programs. The only mainstream church represented was the United Methodist Church, the others being evangelical/ecumenical stand alone churches. The parade was far removed from most of the Mardi-gras style that I have observed.
I discussed my observations and comfort level with the parade with a friend. I asked him if this was a change of presentation by the GLBTQ community to seem more mainstream, or just a local style to fit in with the area. His reply centered around his idea that originally the Gay Pride parades were a way to allow gays to "blow off steam" in front of an audience, similar to the Mardi-gras. Unfortunately, the local news services pick up footage of the really far-out people, and run that on the evening news. Average Joe watches that news and now really thinks gays should be outlawed, because "look how wild they are". (of course, they don't run footage of him and his buddies at deer camp, because that's not out in the open) I guess I'm leaving that idea hanging without closure.
The other possibility is that I'm definitely becoming more comfortable with myself. I did realize halfway through the parade I was standing with my hands in my coat pockets, a body language that says "I'm hiding". Over-all, I am glad I was there with friends that I talked with to, from and during the parade. We did ride 40 miles overall (it WAS a cycling event).
My perspective is that the parade's message was that normal people can be gay. Just because a person is gay doesn't mean he/she is a freak. We are regular people, too. So, is this a direction the gay community is going with their image, or a local factor, or just my wishful thinking?
Any thoughts?
Cycling is the one sport where a guy can shave his legs, wear spandex and bright colors, and be accepted.
|
] 
A Place of Safety
Search
Help
Register
Login
Home
