Says the Miami Herald about this past weekend’s annual Winter Party: “Thousands of men and some women — of all ages and ethnic backgrounds, from all over the country and the world — descended on a strip of sand to dance in what seemed like one huge, heaving mass of flesh — smiling, laughing, drinking, taking pictures, touching and feeling truly free.”
Usually, the press seeks out the dirty side of the story: rampant GHB use, unsafe sex orgies, body obsession, etc. This time they have gone out of their way to mention that drug use is less obvious, that there are older men attending, comfortable with their age and appearance, and that the straight college students are commingling with the gays.
There is more than one side to every story, and circuit parties can afford people really affirming experiences — I’ve had many of them myself. But I can’t remember the last time I read such a positive article about a circuit party from a major newspaper. I guess the reporter’s E hadn’t worn off before his deadline.
