Pride
Well, today was fun. At least, the first half of the day was.
We woke up and got ready for the Indy Pride parade. I dressed in black.. because nothing says out and proud like a black shirt and jeans. I made it work.
After all, isn't the point of pride... or at least one of the points of pride, to celebrate our individuality? This is how I am. Black shirt and jeans.
This is the other point of pride.
Jason was in his Jurassic Park shirt, roller derby hat, and sunglasses. The shirt got more attention than any of us.
I saw a few friends and met a few more for the first time. Waved and cheered on All Saints as a very LARGE group of parishioners from Episcopal churches were representing.
Especially if you are FABULOUS!
I also high fived Zach Adamson and Andre Carson!
After the Tim Gunn mention, I had to put this up after the Andre mention.
Zach - http://www.adamsonforindy.com/ Andre - http://andrecarson.com/
When the parade concluded we all marched behind the actual parade to the mall where the festival was. It took a minute or ten to get in and when we finally were through the gate I had to sit down. The parade was an hour and 20 minutes long and, kids, now that I'm 33 years old, I needed a rest. So we kicked it for a little while when a friend of Jason's came around whom I got to finally meet. I wish we could have hung out for a minute or two longer but we went our separate ways.
Jason and I did a circuit around the park. A circuit, kids, is just a circle.
I introduced Jason to Mother Suzanne from All Saints. Later that afternoon I had to climb a ladder to take down a banner at church. It really would have been awkward if that would have been the first meeting and I would have later died from falling off a ladder. However, it would have happened in a church... so the funeral, I think, would have been a sinch. I do request to be put in a columberium should I die while performing church activities. Seems only right.
We continued to walk around, making catty comments to each other.
There were only a few gays (and I really do mean that term with all the love I have. I mean, hello, I am a gay, too!) that were walking around with nothing but boxer briefs on and shoes. I mean, really. I had to hold Jason back from pantsing one. Actually, I egged him on. It's so difficult to portray myself as the one with the level head. I'm SO not that person sometimes.
We walked around a bit more until we both decided that it was time to eat. I may not be a 36 anymore but after baking in the sun and standing -slash- walking for over 2 hours, I was hungry!
So we walked over to Punch Burger to get something to eat. This would be the second time out of three that I've been there that the order we put in did not yield a correct product to be placed in front of us.
So, we talked to the cook and he made it right. All was well with the world... but it was touchy there for a minute.
We also found a few protesters. Yeah, okay... I would expect that. You know what I wouldn't expect, though, is for the protesters to be NOWHERE NEAR THE FESTIVAL!! Seriously? Now that Phelps is dead, nobody has any balls?
Yeah, they were three blocks away from the festival.
All in all... great day. I've also discovered a low level fear of ladders. I can climb several hundred feet on a tower... but ladders make me stop and think. Truthfully, towers make me stop and think. I think you'd be pretty dumb if you didn't have an inherent respect for anything dangerous like that.
The rest of the day took a dive. Money issues and the death of a family member. Not blood family... but still family. I'm on my third glass of wine and have already hit the NyQuil.
This morning was fun and I loved having my mate with me this time. I would say that about 90% of the people there were just normal, everyday Joe's not trying to make a statement or dress lavishly. Just enjoying each other's company at one big party. Although, I really shouldn't have been, I was surprised at how many dudes were holding hands who also worked at Cummins. Also, the dudes holding hands who were a little rough around the edges. Those whom you wouldn't at all have pegged as gay. Jason made a comment that I think is very true. He said that it is really hard to feel alone when you see all of this support.
I think that's the real point of pride.
We woke up and got ready for the Indy Pride parade. I dressed in black.. because nothing says out and proud like a black shirt and jeans. I made it work.
After all, isn't the point of pride... or at least one of the points of pride, to celebrate our individuality? This is how I am. Black shirt and jeans.
This is the other point of pride.
Jason was in his Jurassic Park shirt, roller derby hat, and sunglasses. The shirt got more attention than any of us.
I saw a few friends and met a few more for the first time. Waved and cheered on All Saints as a very LARGE group of parishioners from Episcopal churches were representing.
Especially if you are FABULOUS!
I also high fived Zach Adamson and Andre Carson!
After the Tim Gunn mention, I had to put this up after the Andre mention.
Zach - http://www.adamsonforindy.com/ Andre - http://andrecarson.com/
When the parade concluded we all marched behind the actual parade to the mall where the festival was. It took a minute or ten to get in and when we finally were through the gate I had to sit down. The parade was an hour and 20 minutes long and, kids, now that I'm 33 years old, I needed a rest. So we kicked it for a little while when a friend of Jason's came around whom I got to finally meet. I wish we could have hung out for a minute or two longer but we went our separate ways.
Jason and I did a circuit around the park. A circuit, kids, is just a circle.
I introduced Jason to Mother Suzanne from All Saints. Later that afternoon I had to climb a ladder to take down a banner at church. It really would have been awkward if that would have been the first meeting and I would have later died from falling off a ladder. However, it would have happened in a church... so the funeral, I think, would have been a sinch. I do request to be put in a columberium should I die while performing church activities. Seems only right.
We continued to walk around, making catty comments to each other.
There were only a few gays (and I really do mean that term with all the love I have. I mean, hello, I am a gay, too!) that were walking around with nothing but boxer briefs on and shoes. I mean, really. I had to hold Jason back from pantsing one. Actually, I egged him on. It's so difficult to portray myself as the one with the level head. I'm SO not that person sometimes.
We walked around a bit more until we both decided that it was time to eat. I may not be a 36 anymore but after baking in the sun and standing -slash- walking for over 2 hours, I was hungry!
So we walked over to Punch Burger to get something to eat. This would be the second time out of three that I've been there that the order we put in did not yield a correct product to be placed in front of us.
So, we talked to the cook and he made it right. All was well with the world... but it was touchy there for a minute.
We also found a few protesters. Yeah, okay... I would expect that. You know what I wouldn't expect, though, is for the protesters to be NOWHERE NEAR THE FESTIVAL!! Seriously? Now that Phelps is dead, nobody has any balls?
Yeah, they were three blocks away from the festival.
All in all... great day. I've also discovered a low level fear of ladders. I can climb several hundred feet on a tower... but ladders make me stop and think. Truthfully, towers make me stop and think. I think you'd be pretty dumb if you didn't have an inherent respect for anything dangerous like that.
The rest of the day took a dive. Money issues and the death of a family member. Not blood family... but still family. I'm on my third glass of wine and have already hit the NyQuil.
This morning was fun and I loved having my mate with me this time. I would say that about 90% of the people there were just normal, everyday Joe's not trying to make a statement or dress lavishly. Just enjoying each other's company at one big party. Although, I really shouldn't have been, I was surprised at how many dudes were holding hands who also worked at Cummins. Also, the dudes holding hands who were a little rough around the edges. Those whom you wouldn't at all have pegged as gay. Jason made a comment that I think is very true. He said that it is really hard to feel alone when you see all of this support.
I think that's the real point of pride.