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Standing, Standing, Standing Up For Pride
Jun. 26th, 2005 02:41 pmIt's actually raining here - a little. Normally this isn't a big deal, but since it hasn't rained here in some 3 weeks, it's kind of remarkable. It's been a major dry spell for us.
Of course it didn't rain last night for Pride Houston. It was hot, crowded, and a bit unorganized, everything we've come to expect form the event. There's three things I need to write the Pride committee about for them to consider for next year.
1. Charging $10 for the festival creates a low turnout. This will keep you from getting sponsors next year, because their tents were all behind the gate where the majority of the crowd couldn't get to them. They will remember this next year when they try to decide where to spend their money. The same goes for the artists, who don't want to play to a small crowd.
2. Start on time. Since the starting point is a mile or so away from the main viewing area, this is important. The published starting time was 8:45, and there was even some acts for the center viewing area to fill the time, but they were over far before the first float sailed by. The opening acts also were placed a block away from the big chandelier at Westheimer and Montrose, where the TV cameras were placed, which brings us to our last bit...
3. Keep things moving. As always there were lots of lulls where there were no floats. This year was the first year that the parade was broadcast (on the pay-per-view Here! channel) and I wondered how they were filling the large gaps of time when nothing was happening. It also seems that the official reviewing stand and were the TV cameras were were two different places, which didn't make sense.
Alright, enough of that. I got into the neighborhood just early enough to park on Jerry's street, but Jerry (![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
goofycubb) already had plans and a spot to see the parade (the top of Mary's bar), so I was on my own for the day. The crowd was already building at 6, and milling about with little to do since the afore mentioned festival was off limits to most. I walked around just seeing what the crowd was up to. A couple of the other bars were doing good business with their own artist playing to the crowd outside.
In going down to Disco Kroger (actually one of the worst stores in town due to its nearness to a homeless shelter) to get some water, I found a place to actually listen and watch Sophie B. Hawkins' set which was a good, but a little disjointed. I was sad to see that she was playing down a side street to a crowd of less than 200 when there were thousands just one block away. There was a member of her street team who had also found the loophole and was watching over the fence with me.
I tried looking for Jerry, but to no avail. I set up shop, and stood next to some bears from San Antonio and some people from the rodeo, and a whole lot of people who apparently only get out one time a year. I guess I take being out a little bit for granted, since the large group of latino guys next to us looked like they had never kissed in public before (which may be true). They proceeded to get drunk really quickly, as did several other people around us.
The Bears and the rodeo guys were cool, and we were snarky about everything, making things a lot more fun. Of course our parade tries to be like Mardi Gras with all of the beads, so there's people jumping all over you trying to get them, and sometimes heckling of groups that didn't have anything to give.
The highlight for me was seeing the Strangerettes who did a great routine under the lights of the big chandelier (for the TV cameras). The girls shamed the hell out of the un-choreographed mess that was the dancers from South Beach, the local twink bar, on the float behind them. I was surprised that the bears had so few people. Again, the odd bible-belt vibe happens here, and there were many, many church groups represented. After about three and a half hours and 100 floats, I was ready to go, and this was before it was over.
Really, I had wanted to go out and have some fun at the bar, I was actually feeling social enough to go for it earlier, but after standing in place, being run down by little latin guys and watching the drunk guy fall off the cooler he was standing on, I was a little too tired to do it. My back and knees were screaming and the walk back to the car was very painful. i'll admit the guy who was parking his car who asked me how the crowd was at the Ripcord was making my head(s) think twice, but the pain was too much and I didn't pack any aspirin or anything to help.
I feel bad about saying this, since I encouraged Larry (nightfallcub) to get out and go to Denver Pride today, but I think I'll think twice about going to Pride alone. I made the best of it, but it wasn't as much fun as it is being with someone, friends, partners, etc. Still, it was probably better to be out and be scene than just sitting at home watching on TV.
I think I'm starting to understand the somewhat jaded feeling some members of our community get when they've seen several Pride events. I was kind of upset that many people were just there to get drunk and didn't seem to be taking in the more important political and social aspects of the even, but when you have the big alcohol dealer floats in the parade, what are you promoting? It's not that I don't think it's important, it is, but there's obviously an odd message out there. I think it's important for our community to gather, and it's important for people to have a safe place to be proud of who they are and celebrate.
Still, I wonder if we put so much emphasis on the one thing, the parade, the event, that we miss the importance of working everyday to be out. Parades are great, but I'm sure a large portion of Houston didn't even know it was happening, or just saw 2 minutes of it on the news. Monday, what will they think about? Will they still be thinking about the upcoming marriage amendment ballot vote this November (that was only lightly mentioned at the parade). I'm thinking it's more important for people to see GLBT being proud of who they are in their everyday lives. We all love a parade, but the march shouldn't be just one day a year.
I had a lot of fun last year riding in the parade, maybe I just didn't like going back to being a spectator again. It's all about me, isn't it? ☺ Still, I could have brought a chair, too.
That being said, I'm thinking I should do what I didn't do last year, and get active with the pride committee. Sure, I don't know if I'll be here next year, but I shouldn't let that stop me. If I want things to be better, I should do something about it myself, and then I won't be alone next year for Pride.
Would someone like to come over and massage my tired legs, please?
Of course it didn't rain last night for Pride Houston. It was hot, crowded, and a bit unorganized, everything we've come to expect form the event. There's three things I need to write the Pride committee about for them to consider for next year.
1. Charging $10 for the festival creates a low turnout. This will keep you from getting sponsors next year, because their tents were all behind the gate where the majority of the crowd couldn't get to them. They will remember this next year when they try to decide where to spend their money. The same goes for the artists, who don't want to play to a small crowd.
2. Start on time. Since the starting point is a mile or so away from the main viewing area, this is important. The published starting time was 8:45, and there was even some acts for the center viewing area to fill the time, but they were over far before the first float sailed by. The opening acts also were placed a block away from the big chandelier at Westheimer and Montrose, where the TV cameras were placed, which brings us to our last bit...
3. Keep things moving. As always there were lots of lulls where there were no floats. This year was the first year that the parade was broadcast (on the pay-per-view Here! channel) and I wondered how they were filling the large gaps of time when nothing was happening. It also seems that the official reviewing stand and were the TV cameras were were two different places, which didn't make sense.
Alright, enough of that. I got into the neighborhood just early enough to park on Jerry's street, but Jerry (
goofycubb) already had plans and a spot to see the parade (the top of Mary's bar), so I was on my own for the day. The crowd was already building at 6, and milling about with little to do since the afore mentioned festival was off limits to most. I walked around just seeing what the crowd was up to. A couple of the other bars were doing good business with their own artist playing to the crowd outside.In going down to Disco Kroger (actually one of the worst stores in town due to its nearness to a homeless shelter) to get some water, I found a place to actually listen and watch Sophie B. Hawkins' set which was a good, but a little disjointed. I was sad to see that she was playing down a side street to a crowd of less than 200 when there were thousands just one block away. There was a member of her street team who had also found the loophole and was watching over the fence with me.
I tried looking for Jerry, but to no avail. I set up shop, and stood next to some bears from San Antonio and some people from the rodeo, and a whole lot of people who apparently only get out one time a year. I guess I take being out a little bit for granted, since the large group of latino guys next to us looked like they had never kissed in public before (which may be true). They proceeded to get drunk really quickly, as did several other people around us.
The Bears and the rodeo guys were cool, and we were snarky about everything, making things a lot more fun. Of course our parade tries to be like Mardi Gras with all of the beads, so there's people jumping all over you trying to get them, and sometimes heckling of groups that didn't have anything to give.
The highlight for me was seeing the Strangerettes who did a great routine under the lights of the big chandelier (for the TV cameras). The girls shamed the hell out of the un-choreographed mess that was the dancers from South Beach, the local twink bar, on the float behind them. I was surprised that the bears had so few people. Again, the odd bible-belt vibe happens here, and there were many, many church groups represented. After about three and a half hours and 100 floats, I was ready to go, and this was before it was over.
Really, I had wanted to go out and have some fun at the bar, I was actually feeling social enough to go for it earlier, but after standing in place, being run down by little latin guys and watching the drunk guy fall off the cooler he was standing on, I was a little too tired to do it. My back and knees were screaming and the walk back to the car was very painful. i'll admit the guy who was parking his car who asked me how the crowd was at the Ripcord was making my head(s) think twice, but the pain was too much and I didn't pack any aspirin or anything to help.
I feel bad about saying this, since I encouraged Larry (
nightfallcub) to get out and go to Denver Pride today, but I think I'll think twice about going to Pride alone. I made the best of it, but it wasn't as much fun as it is being with someone, friends, partners, etc. Still, it was probably better to be out and be scene than just sitting at home watching on TV.I think I'm starting to understand the somewhat jaded feeling some members of our community get when they've seen several Pride events. I was kind of upset that many people were just there to get drunk and didn't seem to be taking in the more important political and social aspects of the even, but when you have the big alcohol dealer floats in the parade, what are you promoting? It's not that I don't think it's important, it is, but there's obviously an odd message out there. I think it's important for our community to gather, and it's important for people to have a safe place to be proud of who they are and celebrate.
Still, I wonder if we put so much emphasis on the one thing, the parade, the event, that we miss the importance of working everyday to be out. Parades are great, but I'm sure a large portion of Houston didn't even know it was happening, or just saw 2 minutes of it on the news. Monday, what will they think about? Will they still be thinking about the upcoming marriage amendment ballot vote this November (that was only lightly mentioned at the parade). I'm thinking it's more important for people to see GLBT being proud of who they are in their everyday lives. We all love a parade, but the march shouldn't be just one day a year.
I had a lot of fun last year riding in the parade, maybe I just didn't like going back to being a spectator again. It's all about me, isn't it? ☺ Still, I could have brought a chair, too.
That being said, I'm thinking I should do what I didn't do last year, and get active with the pride committee. Sure, I don't know if I'll be here next year, but I shouldn't let that stop me. If I want things to be better, I should do something about it myself, and then I won't be alone next year for Pride.
Would someone like to come over and massage my tired legs, please?
