July 2, 2002 |
The Adventures of Paisley
Blue
The annual Gay Pride Parade on Capitol Hill was a blast! It was held June 30th down Broadway on Capitol Hill, followed by a rally at Volunteer Park. I attended the same parade last year but there were some key differences between then and now.
Last year, I did not know very many people. I saw one person on a float whom I recognized. I stood alone on the curb, even as it rained, watching everything with the wondrous eyes of delight. What a colorful spectacle!
This year, I knew lots of people. I saw many people in the parade whom I knew and recognized. I sat on the curb surrounded by friends - Mechanic, Red, Queen, Escort, Mama, Angel and her daughter Fairygirl, and Angel's mate Butch.
After a full turn of the wheel, this pride event meant more to me than I ever knew possible. The weather was great most of the time. We had lots of fun. I'm really glad we had a little girl there because children are great to have at things like these.
Of course, Mechanic had stayed at Red's place the night before in order to be closer to the parade route. They were supposed to get out bright and early and reserve a place on the sidewalk for our big happy group. They used a bedsheet to reserve our space, and I am glad they did. We make up a sizeable group when we all get together.
The parade lasted a long time, with too much space between 'events.' One of my favorite parts last year and this year was the Dykes on Bikes. I love to feel the rumble of the motorcycles as they go by, and the joy and freedom the riders exuded as they circled around was contagious. Some people threw candy or pride beads. Others handed out condoms or information cards. There was music and clever costumes and so much to see!
After the parade we followed along walking up Broadway, following everyone else up the hill to Volunteer Park. We found seats on the grass for the rally and started listening to the speakers and music. Of course, I had to go to the bathroom. (Don't I always?) So I headed out in search of the porta-potties.
The line of potties was clear at the other end of the park and I cannot remember the last time I was in a crowd of so many people. In the past crowds have seriously bothered me, but I did not feel unsafe. Amongst the folks at Pride, I felt safe. It was cool.
I stood in line, and stood in line, and stood in line... and finally it was my turn. Well, I was taking more than 30 seconds and someone outside started making comments and then getting real rowdy about it. By the time I exited, she was making movements that indicated it was about to get physical. Argh. Everyone I knew was at the other end of the park!
A couple of women approached and started sticking up for me. I quickly thanked them and tried to disappear into the crowd. My heart was racing. That was a little scary for me.
I made my way back to the rally point and along the way stopped at the Show Time tent to pick up stuff about Queer As Folk. That is one of my favorite tv shows. Mechanic and Michael introduced me to that show.
Um, about now you might just possibly be wondering why I attended Gay Pride, and why I watch Queer As Folk... why this webpage is full of pride colors.
The people who are represented by the colors are my friends, people I love. They are labeled and treated as different. There are too many high profile cases of people who have been killed just because they are gay. If we don't stand beside our friends who are different, who will stand by us when we are deemed different? One day there may be prejudice against gays, another day the prejudice could be against pagans or muslims, and another day... it could be against white people, or red heads, or people shorter than five and a half feet tall. I'd fit in all those categories.
Besides, pride events are lots of fun!!! And if you read this journal regularly, you already know that I have oodles of gay friends. So it shouldn't be a surprise that I attended and enjoyed this day's events.
However, after sitting in the crowd of the rally, after already feeling the effects of my new sunburn, and after the deafening sound of the speakers that was making me feel nauseous and get a headache, I decided it was time for me to go home.
I told Mechanic there was no reason why he should go just because I was going. He should stay and enjoy the day with everyone. I'd be fine.
I walked down to Broadway and caught a bus downtown. I had taken this bus route hundreds of times in the last two years. No reason for this to be any different.
I had to get off the bus in front of Benaroya Hall, which is smack dab in the middle of downtown, in order to transfer to a bus going towards home. As soon as I got off the bus, a crowd of teenage kids surrounded me and started harrassing me. I was being called 'queer' and 'dyke' and 'gay.' In an instant I realized that it would do no good to say that I was not gay. These kids wouldn't believe it. I was wearing pride beads. Besides, I figured that these kids didn't really care whether I was really gay or not - they were just looking for someone to hassle.
I kept walking, trying to ignore them and praying I wouldn't get hurt. The sidewalks were crowded with people, and all they did was watch. At the corner, a man was waiving religious propaganda. He heard the kids' shouts and taunts, and joined in. Pointing his finger in my face, he shouted that I was going to hell. Someone grabbed me and my hand got scratched.
The light turned green and I walked as fast as my little feet could carry me. A bus was sitting there. I didn't care what bus it was - I was going to get on it!
Fortunately it was one that went directly where I needed it to go. I got home safe and sound after that, but once in my apartment, I didn't want to leave. I just wanted to stay locked inside the security of my home.
I never in a million years dreamed that I would experience something like that. What a weird circle of events... to attend a pride parade and rally, celebrating our freedom to be different, to be ourselves... and then to be on the other end, where people don't want me to be me, where people want to make assumptions about me...
We've still got a lot of progress to make, don't we?
~Paisley Blue
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Seattle Pride '02 logo courtesy of the official homepage.
Other page graphics were created by Paisley Blue.
http://www.oocities.org/paisley_blue/jour/02/070202.html
Contact
webmaster @ paisley_blueATyahoo.com
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