About seven years ago, this month, I went to my first Pride parade. I was invited by my gay co-workers to attend because we'd become really good friends over my first year of working at what at the time, was my new job. Now, I'm not going to lie and say, I was so totally comfortable with this idea. Honestly, I wasn't. I had some stupid thoughts going through my head about what would or wouldn't happen there, that looking back on it, I feel so dumb to have thought that. I just felt like I was going to be out of my depth at the parade because as a straight woman, going to a gay club or a Pride parade or other specific event for gay people just seemed strange to me. In my mind it would be like if I just turned up at toddler time with no toddlers...like what are you doing here, you weirdo.
My friends though were very reassuring to the five of us who were straight out of the total of 20 who were going, that we would have a good time, and knowing them, I was sure, even if the parade sucked, they would make it fun. All 20 of us met up at a friends apartment which just happened to be near the parade route and we loaded up all our coolers with illegal drinks. We were legal to drink, most of us anyway, but it's illegal to have opened bottles and alcohol out on the streets...but our friends told us, literally everyone does it and the cops turn a blind eye as long as you don't start s--t, so that's what we did.
Walking the 10 blocks to the event was fun. We were all really amped up having just gotten off work to just let loose and have some fun. The closer we got the parade, the louder the noise got. Music was blaring from what seemed like every other corner. There were small clusters of people along our walking route huddled up and making plans. There would be this stream of cars from time to time with bodies hanging out of them screaming and laughing and throwing out promotional flyers and flirting with passersbys. There were also a lot of families with kids in strollers dolled up in the rainbow colors.
It was insanely hot, and everything I was wearing had me melting, but as soon as the sun went down, the party started in full. It was lights, color, sound and LGBTQ in full effect. Members of the city counsel were there, people from every radio station were there, gay and local celebrities were there. The floats were tossing out condoms, and lube, and flags, and t-shirts, and candy, and beads and bracelet's galore. We were stationed on the route next to an equally large group who were so awesome and friendly. It was like looking at a mirror group to our own and we just kind of all merged together to form one big group who fought to the death to snatch the beads away from rival neighboring groups. When the last sort of wind down of floats were coming, we just ran under the barricades and jumped into the parade and started tossing out the beads we'd just gotten which was funny because people kind of knew we weren't supposed to be there, but it was still fun to toss the beads out and be apart of it.
Every other year, I've been back with this or that group of friends. I was super excited the year gay marriage went into effect because a lot of my older gay friends had wanted to get married but just never thought it would happen, and then boom, there it was officially. I love how everyone collectively celebrates love and who they are. When some hater would come along, they would just shut them down immediately. As a straight woman, I think going to Pride has taught me to open up my eyes a bit more to other people's stories. We're always so caught up on our own struggle and the things we have to fight for to get a leg up in this world, but we don't look around and realize we should all be fighting together for those infamous "human" rights, not just him, her, or me, or them, but for all of us. My LGBTQ friends need to be surrounded by supportive people, especially straight supportive people because in their words, we bridge the gap and get other straight people to start seeing them as just people too if they don't already because if we're not afraid or ignorant towards them, perhaps others will see it's okay. Small steps, big steps.
I would encourage anyone who has LGBTQ friends to go and celebrate and support your friends especially if they are very supportive of you. You may feel awkward and out of place, but we all do at some point and in some situations in life, but you can over come that to just be there for your friends and show that you love and support them in all aspects of their life. Happy Pride Month Everybody!
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