I Used to Like Gay Pride
Last weekend was Gay Pride. But they don’t call it Gay Pride. In Salt Lake City, it has evolved to “Pride.” In between the “Gay” version and the “Pride” version was the “GLBT Pride.” They changed it to Pride to be inclusive of the entire community. I liked the two versions prior.
I liked the version held at Murray park (I think) in the early 90s, where a straight person wouldn’t be caught dead. Where skin heads on bikes held signs saying “Die faggot die” and the cops were there to hold them back.
And I liked the version after when it moved to the City County building, where I knew that once a year I could go and see all my friends whom I had lost contact with throughout the year, and hang out. Where my three year old daughter saw her dad riding on a Bear float, and he jumped off to give her a hug and say hello.
The last time I went to Gay Pride was three years ago. It was huge and covered blocks. I didn’t see one person I knew. I didn’t see one friend. It was so packed I could hardly move. It is great that everybody goes now, all of the straight families who have taught their children tolerance, everybody showing their support, especially in Utah, for GLBT people. And I don’t want to take anything away from that.
For me, it is just a little sad that what used to seem like a family reunion is now a block party. Maybe I’ve just got older and don’t like huge crowds.
Filed under: Lesbian
Yeah! You have your laptop back and are posting again! Missed ya!
Honestly? I don’t really get that straight people go to this thing. Is that weird of me? Love the tolerance and acceptance straights are getting into these days, but seriously, this feels like it should be a gay club party, you know? Straight people seem out of place to me.
I for one am glad that most of the gay crowd is accepting of straight people and that I, as a straight person, can go see my friends (whatever their sexual orientation) at the fun event. The “older versions” at Murray Park sound scary; but I do understand your nostalgia.