06/30/2008
Gay Pride Weekend Wrap
Wedded bliss was a special focus of San Francisco’s 38th Annual Pride Parade, the first to be held after the California Supreme Court decision to legalize gay marriage. The Dykes on Bykes tossed bouquets and San Fran Mayor Gavin Newsom was greeted like a rock star. Gay icons Cyndi Lauper and Margaret Cho were among celebrity attendees. Crowds were said to be "larger-than-usual." Full photo album here.
According to The Canadian Press, members of the Canadian Armed Forces participated in Gay Pride for the first time in Toronto, whose parade featured a grand marshal (Gareth Henry) who fled Jamaica after being persecuted for his sexual orientation.
The Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul in Minnesota attracted an estimated 125,000 celebrants, including an exceptionally proud terrier (who I hope was dyed humanely).
Chicago’s Gay Pride Parade went off without a hitch Sunday. Themed "Live, Love, Be Proud," the parade’s grand marshal was ex-marine Eric Alva (pictured), the first American casualty from the Iraq War and an openly gay man.
German Pride celebrated its 30th year by kicking off for the first time from the former East Berlin. One special participant was 95-year-old Rudolf Brazda, a survivor of Buchenwald concentration camp:
"It was a terrible time. I must say that I feel as though I were in paradise in this democratic society."
Other European Pride events held on Saturday included some in countries "seeing gatherings of gays and lesbians for the first time." At the Czech Republic’s first Pride, three people were jailed for throwing fireworks at some of the 500 marchers. Five dozen skinheads were arrested in Bulgaria for attempting to derail that country’s event.
Paris Pride was organized around "homophobia at school" and drew about 700,000. But why talk about it when you can just take a look?
Finally, marchers in Calcutta, New Delhi and Bangalore celebrated Gay Pride, marking the first parades in the latter two Indian cities. "Several hundred" participants were reported at the events, which were staged in advance of arguments before a Delhi High Court to overturn the antiquated law—Section 377—forbidding any sex that is "against the order of nature." Indians are rarely locked up for homosexuality, but the legal punishment is up to 10 years.
Gay-rights activist and New Delhi organizer Lesley Esteves says:
"Discrimination is widespread because there is no protection or law or societal understanding. There's discrimination in the workplace; there's discrimination in the family—it's on every level."
At least some of the onlookers were just there for the music.
As usual, there will likely be a dull roar from some gay quarters that Gay Pride isn’t necessary because being gay is nothing to be "proud" of (overlooking that it’s the suggestion to be ashamed that these events are counteracting) or that it’s counterproductive because all the "freaks" come out. I agree with JoeMyGod’s annual rant: "They wish we were invisible. We’re not. Let’s dance."
Sphere: Related ContentPosted 8:24 AM EST by Andy in Canada, Chicago, Czech Republic, France, Gay Pride, Gay Rights, Germany, India, Paris , San Francisco, Toronto | Permalink
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We should NEVER be invisible! I love pride and go every year. This year it is the 4th of July weekend in Atlanta due to venue change and there is a lot of complaining going on. Because of our severe drought we, and ALL other festivals were kicked out of the park over environmental concerns. However, we must go and be seen and heard. Freaks may come out, but we are all still fighting for the same rights. The only way to show the world that there are gays from all walks of life is for everyone to come to pride and be seen. Hiding at home does not help OUR cause so come out and enjoy pride! Especially this year in Atlanta!!! HAPPY PRIDE EVERYONE!
Posted by: RB | Jun 30, 2008 9:31:42 AM
Zagreb (Croatia) Pride was also this weekend. Participants came from all over ex-Yugoslavia, since some other places (Beograd) still can't get police protection. This year there were only a few minor gay bashing incidents at the march, which had 200-500 participants.
Video here:
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1023205933383&oid=7870720763
Posted by: Kevinvt | Jun 30, 2008 10:03:32 AM
No love for Twin Cities Pride?
Posted by: Scientitian | Jun 30, 2008 11:04:26 AM
Do we have the most expensive Pride in the world here in Manchester (UK)? Up to £20 this year if you wait until August to buy a weekend pass. That's about USD 40 in the current exchange rate. London and Brighton's Pride celebrations function well enough on donations alone.
Posted by: John C | Jun 30, 2008 11:18:07 AM
"Chicago’s Gay Pride Parade went off without a hitch Sunday."
Only if you don't count the spectator who got run over by a float, halting the parade for about 40-45 minutes while an ambulance was brought in. Followed by a few waves of rain showers - the first to fall during the parade in 15-20 years - sending spectators scrambling for umbrellas or into the bars and stores.
Posted by: Dan | Jun 30, 2008 12:08:58 PM
You've got a point, Dan, you've got a point. But I used to live in Chicago...all of that was normal! :)
Posted by: Matthew Rettenmund | Jun 30, 2008 12:25:40 PM
Dan, there was only major break in the parade compared to years previous. Last year's parade saw at least 3-4 breaks because of people over-indulging and succumbing to the heat.
And the rain didn't stop anyone in my group from enjoying the parade. In fact, it made it all the more fun!
Happy Pride everyone!
Posted by: Tread | Jun 30, 2008 12:29:26 PM
"Chicago’s Gay Pride Parade went off without a hitch Sunday. Themed "Live, Love, Be Proud," the parade’s grand marshal was ex-marine Eric Alva (pictured), the first American casualty from the Iraq War and an openly gay man."
I hope there is some word missing or a typo--how was he the first CASUALTY of the Iraq War and still be the Parade Grand Marshall?
Posted by: Bill | Jun 30, 2008 12:40:37 PM
"Casualty" means people injured or killed, but thanks for checking me because I've made stupider mistakes.
Posted by: Matthew Rettenmund | Jun 30, 2008 12:52:55 PM
Nice roundup of events which are always a huge challenge to aggregate. It's wonderful to learn that the number of pride events around the world grow each year.
Less there be any confusion, Alva, admirable as he is, came out after leaving the Marines. And there's no excuse for the "Sydney Morning Herald" [source of the story about the events in Germany] publishing this absurd falsehood: "...the memorial to the tens of thousands of gays and lesbians who were persecuted and killed in Nazi Germany."
Now had this world famous newspaper said, "tens of thousands of gays and lesbians persecuted OR killed" it would have been accurate. But while the earliest stories in our community had hugely exaggerated numbers that still persist among those less careful with their scholarship, the best guess [and it pretty much remains that as few reliable records have survived] is that between only between 5000 and 15,000 gay MEN were sent to the camps [up to 35,000 more were sent to traditional prisons].
Estimates of the mostly indirect death toll [i.e., from illness and abuse rather than direct murder] have been as high as 60%. In addition to the problem of few records is that homosexuality remained a crime in Germany for decades after the War thus causing virtually all of the survivors to remain silent. The US even supported the idea of transferring some surviving gay camp prisoners to prison to "finish their sentence."
Lesbians, relatively speaking, experienced little persecution beyond the end to public socializing. Efforts to criminalize lesbian sex had failed and women-as-potential-baby-factories were prized about lesbiphobia. And the growing assertions that they were sent to camps AS lesbians [rather than for also being Jewish or communists, etc.] where they had to wear a black triangle is manufactured nonsense.
Posted by: Michael Bedwell | Jun 30, 2008 2:13:55 PM
Make that "prized above lesbiphobia."
Posted by: Michael Bedwell | Jun 30, 2008 2:16:23 PM
Jesus made it rain in New York City.
Posted by: John in Manhattan | Jun 30, 2008 2:24:19 PM
It rained for Columbus Pride too. Jesus was just trying to create a rainbow.
Posted by: Josh | Jun 30, 2008 2:28:29 PM
Nomination for best pic from San Francisco:
http://contribute.sfgate.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/1/10/61da8fd4-1f0d-46dc-9a35-
Posted by: Michael Bedwell | Jun 30, 2008 8:29:31 PM
Michael do you have to heat your house in the winter?
I would imagine that with all the HOT AIR you spew your heating bills must be really tiny.
Posted by: Anon | Jul 3, 2008 12:37:27 PM