Pride Parade

(typical float)

To celebrate a summer Sunday, I headed up to the Gay Pride Parade only a mile away. I did had the option to head to the Southside for the Crosstown Classic, but I couldn't resist the lure of drag queens and festive crowds. Hiked up to the Diversey/Broadway turning point, trying a couple different spots before settling on a curb at Broadway and Surf around 12.30. By 12.45, the first parts of the parade began to trickle down Broadway. Mostly politicians, including one glaringly oblivious assemblyman who shouted, "Happy Gay Day." Ouch. After a gap, we started to get into some of the more fun acts/floats. The wildest floats belonged to the area clubs, most featuring semi-naked boys and a live DJ parked in the back. There were a handful of drag queens, but nothing terribly Priscilla-licious. Lots of awareness groups, and a bunch of corporate organizations (banks on parade?) who at least gave stuff out. I did not score any beads, but I was not flamboyant/drunk enough to really grab attention.

(the Chicago samba group)

It was fun to watch as the afternoon wore on. The weather was near perfect, then the sun came out. It warmed up right around the same time people got increasingly drunk. Shirts came off, and there was a general silliness. Including a cross-street game of volley/kick the beach ball between a couple guys on my side and 3 really drunk stumbly girls on the other. I pretty much basked in the energy and bubbles from the machine across the street.

The Pride Parade attracted nearly half a million people. Because it is a big party. And because the focus isn't solely on gay pride as much as pride in who/whatever you are. Who can't get excited about that?

After all that excitement and sun, I was pretty wiped out. Walked up Broadway to Cornelia so I could see the whole parade, before catching the not-really-moving-but-at-least-AC 22 homeward.

on the iPod: "I Need You Tonight"

Oh yes, there will be more pictures on flickr!