| Steve Grand at SF Pride 2015 |
The southern grumblings and gatekeepers of backwater cities and villainous governors where resistance still yowls, may quiver, but like the obstinate Dixie flag, it goes down yet again.
| SF Pride in Civic Center |
Goodbye, old century, again.
| Sky's the limit for Cheer SF |
Happily backstage - thanks, SF Pride, and to the caterers! - I got to say hi to artists I've interviewed, celebrities whose parties I danced at, and made a few new acquaintances.
| Cheer SF |
And what of the real world, in 3D, and marriage, and those of us who aren't, or may not be?
We...have more rights now, sort of.
Hooray.
| Wilson Cruz |
Okay, next step.
Actually, I accomplished a sort of formal marriage engagement in my last novel, albeit private (Spoiler: on a wintry night at an inn nestled in Fairmount Park, thirty years ago).
But are those simply tales of romance?
I've heard lesser first time encounters between life-long partners and wondered.
I wonder what my now much older married fictional couple, Reid and Everett, would feel, decades after they had already dismissed by such institutions, to be found thoroughly legal.
| Bruce & Rosemary |
Either way, my enthusiasm this year was subdued at first; all my married friends had left town. March with who? I encountered many just leaving the parade, including Grand Marshal Belo Cipriano.
| ASL Interpreter & disabled area SF Pride 2015 |
I got to meet the adorable Steve Grand, and chatted with photographers Jane Cleland and Steven Underhill.
I'm pretty sure being in the crowd for hours would have been a bit much. But like those who seemed to be having fun out there, the performances would have made my day worthwhile, from the lovably crass sing-song of Lady Bunny, to the hunk appeal of Steve Grand, and bootie bouncin' fun with Big Freedia.. lucky for me, I got to interview each of them a while back:
| Big Freedia rocked the Civic Center |
Fortunately, there were few crimes, other than fashion ones, committed. Only one shooting took place, the day before, plus a few arrests elsewhere. But hopefully you had an otherwise joyous weekend for all, including the herds of tweens in tutus, and the eldergays, who've already marched, a lot, a long time ago, and just want a cocktail.
Strolling home, myself and a new pal discovered the rebuilt Temple in Hayes Valley, calming down from the festivities, we reflected on wood shavings and scrawled messages, and wondered about dinner plans.
You can enjoy more Pride photos on my (public, for now) album.
