Don't Let the Parade Pass Me By

[eggwards]

This is one of those things that you just have to hate about Dallas. Everyone else this month gets to go out and have fun at their various Pride Events (well, unless you live someplace like Odessa Texas or Kazakhstan. pride isn't coming to visit you anytime soon).

I'm seeing several pictures of people enjoying parades and events, and wish I could join them, even in out 90 degree heat. Sure, we had the true colors tour, and that was pretty gay, but the only Dykes on Bikes you'll see are the ones exiting the superpages.com arena waiting to get on the freeway to go home.

Sometime, somewhere Dallas got shortchanged. Sure, there's a parade. It's the Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade. I'm happy for Mr. Ross for getting his name on a parade, but it's not the Pride Parade, it's the Freedom Parade. There's a noticeable difference. Here in Dallas you have the freedom to be gay (especially after Lawrence vs. Texas), but we don't really think you should go around being so damned proud of it.

The Freedom Parade takes place in September. Someone thought that the weather would be better in September than it is in June. Well, that person is wrong. In fact, on average it's actually hotter.

There used to something called Razzle Dazzle Dallas! (you must use the exclamation point) which was the Dallas bar's attempt to keep people here during June, and not running off to other pride events across the nation. The event lasted a few years before dying a death caused by apathy. Perhaps with higher gas prices, and airlines nickeling and dimeing you to death, it's time to create something new, locally.

So those of you out there who get to enjoy your pride event, please share pictures, I'm dying to see what's going on out there, and want to know how much fun you are having. Let's hear it for the boys, and girls, and all things in-between!

As for me, I'm going to go see Wall-E and perhaps Swiffer the floors if I get the notion. I'll just have to wait for my parade to come in.

Comments

[furrbear.livejournal.com]

The "weird" scheduling of Pride events doesn't make sense outside of an understanding of the gay community's history in Dallas and the case of Baker vs Wade. After Don Bakers's coming out he was removed as a teacher for the Dallas Independent School District. Two years later he was involved in Baker v. Wade, challenging the constitutionality of 21.06.

On August 17, 1982, Judge Jerry Buchmeyer ruled, in the case of Baker vs. Wade, that Sec. 21.06 of the Texas Criminal Code is unconstitutional. The Texas Freedom Parade as it was then known began the next year to celebrate the granting of our freedom.

The decision was vacated by the 5th Circuit in the summer of 1985. For those three years, 21.06 was out and we were 'legal'.

In recognition of his years of organizing the parade, the parade committee (The Dallas Tavern Guild) added Alan Ross' name sometime around 2000 (I forget)

RDD was a annual fund raiser for gay organizations in Dallas. It was always held in June and was regarded as Dallas' 'observance' of the Pride event.

There was a third event back in those days, but I just cannot recall what it was.

[eggwards.livejournal.com]

That does give a historical basis for September, but it's not something that's given out with the "Welcome to Dallas" kit, apparently.

Although I know other cities that have Pride at different times, I can think of Phoenix and Ft. Lauderdale in particular, they have it before june. In September it just seems like an afterthought.

[furrbear.livejournal.com]

Palm Springs - last of October, first of November

[eggwards.livejournal.com]

True, that is one. I guess it makes sense to have that one when the makeup wouldn't be dripping off the drag queens.

I'd be perfectly happy with a November pride here. Then it might be 80 degrees.