Is it blasphemous for a drag queen to admit being completely over the annual LGBT Pride Parade and festivities? It's a question I've been asking myself since Sunday, when I realized - at least for me, and quite possibly for me alone - the event lacked the charm and appeal of years past.
After riding with nearly a dozen look-alikes on Charo's float - who, despite being a "Celebrity Grand Marshal," was apparently so over Pride she didn't bother to show up for the parade - I immediately called a friend to pick me up. Rather than venturing into the mass of booths, dance pavilions and generalized madness, I wanted out. For some unknown reason, nothing offered in that maze of humanity, beer tents and single-serving circuit parties even remotely appealed to me! (Could it have been the noticeable void of interesting mainstage acts?! It's a reasonable consideration.)
Thankfully, after a pit-stop to recover from all my "Cuchi! Cuchi!"-ing, I was soon delivered home to shower, nap and enjoy being as far from the faggotry as possible. Later, against my better judgment, I ventured back to The Castro for dinner. The streets were packed with people drifting away from Civic Center, many obviously from outside the city, even more drunk and obnoxious. The whole experience left a bad taste in my mouth.
Perhaps as a San Francisco resident - and a very out, extremely visible drag personality - I take for granted the form of self-expression LGBT Pride offers and celebrates? For some, this might well be the only opportunity to revel in their "gayness." One might go so far as to suggest events of this nature are one of the many ways our community has gained such wide-spread acceptance. These arguments might certainly be legitimate; I don't dispute any of these.
My only real point here, I must confess, is feeling less and less personally connected to the event. Maybe in years past, when I was younger and had more of a desire to party for days on end, this was the excuse I needed. It might have provided a fantastic opportunity to dabble in drag, making my way into public wearing heels for the first time. Perhaps it allowed me to cruise with abandon for sex partners I'd likely never encounter again.
All of those are true, I suppose, and over time each has become less important or interesting to me. A similarly true observation, though, is that there was a time when our parade and Pride consisted of organizations which actually stood for something.
Whether Dykes on Bikes or PFLAG, the parade brought much-needed visibility to otherwise invisible groups and members of our community. These organizations affirmed our community's values and showed bravery by being a presence in times when it was not so accepted to do so. Of course, those groups remain, but today they seem increasingly lost in a sea of commercialization.
Indeed, these days Pride feels like little more than a marketing device. Every other float or contingent is corporate-sponsored, it seems, with groups ranging from department stores "showcasing" gay colleagues and airlines hoping to lure in LGBT consumers to phone companies trying to convince me they are the most gay-friendly. At some point, I'm not quite sure when, my mind simply shut down. I lost interest.
In the minds of many, events like Pride are what make San Francisco so special. As someone who spends every day in our community, I agree they contribute to the city's character but also recognize the array of immensely charming, extremely unique activities, events and experiences found in our little town year round. Maybe next year, I'll just focus on those and leave Pride to someone else.
Guardian celebrity blogger Pollo Del Mar can be found cohosting Brain Farts interactive trivia each Wednesday, 7:30-10:30 p.m., at Lookout, 3600 16th Street at Market. For additional information, visit Pollo's MySpace Page.
Comments (8)
Hey
In years past going to Pride for me meant that I was apart of a larger community. Living most of my life in the a rural area meant that having Pride could only happen once a year when you went to SF. The last fews Prides for me were spent walking around for hours visiting with friends and just being toghter with my Queer Family. Maybe the folks running the Event need to remember that. It's not only about the Pretty People but its about everyone who is Queer.
Sincerely,
Richard Brooks
Posted by Richard Brooks | July 2, 2008 01:04 PM
Hey
In years past going to Pride for me meant that I was apart of a larger community. Living most of my life in the a rural area meant that having Pride could only happen once a year when you went to SF. The last fews Prides for me were spent walking around for hours visiting with friends and just being toghter with my Queer Family. Maybe the folks running the Event need to remember that. It's not only about the Pretty People but its about everyone who is Queer.
Sincerely,
Richard Brooks
Posted by Richard Brooks | July 2, 2008 01:05 PM
It is too bad that you can't find your pride and I am sure that you are also single. If you weren't so self involved maybe you would have noticed the happily married couples carrying their just married signs. Just this weekend alone, there were 284 marriage license appointments. It is such a major legal victory for many and a larger victory on an emotional level. Pride was a time of joy to spend with the newly married. Maybe you can realize also that in order to have events in San Francisco, it means a lot of money that is provided by the commercial scum you seem to hate. The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence struggle to pay for the Pink Party and contribute money to local organizations due to the rising cost of holding events in San Francisco. Next year, the Sisters will have to really debate whether they can pay for next year’s party. Also hurting are the organizers for the Transgender Pride March which may have to be canceled next year. It is sad that you had such a miserable time at a celebration, perhaps next year you should put the lip stick down and stay home.
Posted by Steven Wong | July 2, 2008 01:57 PM
what i really want to know is how it became SF GhEtTo PrYDe 2o08!!!
seriously, i've never seen so many ghetto dyke bitches in my life. coming to our city and destroying everything for a week. GO HOME AND DON'T COME BACK. supposedly, pride is supposed to be the biggest tourist event of the year. bringing in thousands of needed dollars to sf merchants each year. i didn't really notice a difference until sunday when they threw up everywhere. they don't support anything but the liquor stores it seems. who needs to eat when you're on meth, right? and forget about clothes! we're just going to take them off anyway no matter how fat we are!
i was totally over pride this year, too. YAY! we're here, we're queer, and we're totally fucked up out of our minds on anything you can give us!
the marriage licenses were great and everything, but that would have happened regardless.
to the silly AZN who posted before me. don't be so cunty, honey. she was just speaking her piece, no need to get catty like you girls always do.
Posted by parker | July 2, 2008 02:18 PM
I love when people get offended by the acknowledgment that pride really isn't much more than a marketing device. To wit, i believe that your apathy was very well expressed. Granted, it was a year for celebration as we experienced for the first time the culmination of a longtime legal victory in our fight for equal rights.
However, it just goes to show you that as you gain those rights, little by little, the things that you once cherished as origninal, anarchistic, unique and dynamic start getting stripped away. At a certain point, pride attendance will be akin to a white-suburban teenager at a rap concert, wanting so badly to fit in with a minority that is constantly grappling to express their difference, despite its lack of urban consciousness or minority outlook.
For now, at least we have Juanita's pool party. Being with all those freaks aroud the pool made me happy i was in a courtyard celebrating pride and not amidst a sea of people i seem to understand less and less.
Posted by sissy starbucks | July 2, 2008 03:23 PM
As a resident hetero, I was over the Pride Parade after the very first one blocked my route to Candlestick for a Giants game. But seriously, I agree that it's become increasingly commercial and mostly an excuse for out of town hordes to trash the city, just like every other "festival" that has outgrown it's small-town or neighborhood charm (e.g., Halloween). In truth, I think everyone in SF gets it (Gay Pride), supports it, and is pretty much over it. So, why not move the venue every year to enlighten the good folks of Oklahoma City, or Boise or any number of places that could use a good trashing. If a potential violent backlash is a drawback, remember, there's nothing like injustice and oppression to create true solidarity and sense of purpose. That is what Gay Pride is about, isn't it?
Posted by Glenn Walters | July 10, 2008 02:25 PM
do what i do, pass out of exhaustion cause youve worked so hard for a whole week to make sure that equality and diversity is a universal thought, and not just in my mind. I stay grateful that I have days like Pride to catch up with old friends, and make new ones, and I don't sweat the small shit..
Yes although I must admit Pride has become an overtly commercialized celebration in the past few years, but really now, the commercialism is what keeps the celebration alive. Its hard to sustain that many people who come into town celebrating. For me Pride is like comfort food, the more you eat the fatter you become, and its never enough to satiate your appetite..
keep rocking miss thing!
Posted by monistat | July 12, 2008 04:52 PM
We need to fight the corporatization of Pride celebrations nationwide. These events shouldn't be about consumerism, and HRC isn't helping with their corporate index and their corporate friends and fundraisers. Yuck.
Radical Queers Resist!
Posted by Mark Snyder | July 27, 2008 03:04 PM