Mixed reactions

[jay]

Today usually provokes a mixed response... I'm happy to see the expressions of pride and community and love and the free expression of these. While at the same time, at a personal level reminding me that I'm marginal, an outsider. Too mundane to be at a Pride parade, too weird to be welcomed enthusiastically in parent groups or at church... not fitting well anywhere, really.

I hope that my many participating friends have a beautiful day marching or watching, as well as those up at the Loving More conference at Harbin. For me, I'll be at home working on rewiring electrical circuits and fixtures...

Comments

[purplecthulhu.livejournal.com]

just showing up in an unfamiliar environment, alone, with a hundred thousand people... is perfectly OK in a foreign country, but not in SF

You do realise how silly that sounds?

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

Ah... but in a foreign country, I'm there on a mission, with some defined reason for going. At a pride parade, I feel like I have to justify my presence there.

[purplecthulhu.livejournal.com]

One of the things that pride marches thrive on is weight of numbers. Being a number in these cases (and not in a Village/Prisoner sense) is good support on its own.

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

That makes sense... just showing up equalling a form of community service, rather than party-crashing.

[purplecthulhu.livejournal.com]

So why couldn't you work this out yourself? Its not like you're stupid :-)

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

This is how I justify my presence at Pride:

"Wow, that looks like fun!" I also justify it with, "It's good that bisexuals are visible," but I can't think of a single year that either straight or gay allies haven't been marching with the bi group.

And again, this year we had the giant pile of polyamorists behind us.

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

Community service -- demonstrating numbers, and support... that's a justification. (nods)

[hobbitbabe.livejournal.com]

Also, there's something really encouraging about seeing ordinary people on the sidewalks, whether or not they went there on purpose or were interested enough to stop their shopping for a few minutes.

If you didn't want to go alone, you could take some or all of your sons to watch.