pride afterglow

[quesarah]

This was a tremendous weekend. I'm exhausted today and barely keeping up with tasks but it was absolutely worth it. I haven't had this much fun in a long time. It wasn't necessarily the parties we were invited to, or the dancing, or chatting up people at the chorus booth, although all of those actiivities were fun. It was the sense of fitting in even as I realized how I was unique; of participating; of being with my community and celebrating us in all our different flavors. It was being on the dancefloor with the cowboys, the softball dykes, the leathermen, the femmey girls, the cholos, the sistahs, the swimmers, the old women, the young boys and bois, the queer geeks, the gender neutrals, the queens, the greens, and the everything in betweens. It was watching the parade on Saturday and realizing I knew people in many of the contingents -- no mean feat in a parade of 180 floats and groups. It was catching up with old friends and meeting new friends. It was, as we from the Midwest would say, a Homecoming festival. Welcome home, everyone. So good to see you all again.

This weekend I sang with my chorus, I danced with my girlfriend, I had a beer with friends, I caught up with people I haven't seen for a while, I was recognized by strangers who've seen me perform and wanted to say hello and introduce themselves (hey to Nicky, Liz, Chris, and Erin), I met people from out of town and out of state, and most wonderfully I met folks who were attending their very first Pride festival and got to share in their sense of wonder and excitement at being in a space where they aren't "weird" or "different." My body is tired but my spirit is joyful and my heart is filled with love.

Comments

[among-the-waves.livejournal.com]

I felt a lot the same, sistah.

And I stole your cheeky monkey. If that is not an acceptable state of affairs, let me know.

[zazuomgwtf.livejournal.com]

I can not wait till I can go to my first pride parade.

[biogeekgrrl.livejournal.com]

Dude, all the icons I've made are shareable. :D

[biogeekgrrl.livejournal.com]

There was a booth at our festival for World Pride in Israel! OMG how fun!

[among-the-waves.livejournal.com]

Y'mean I can steal all of your monkeys?

Ee ee ee ee ee! ::scampers off and scratches armpits::

[biogeekgrrl.livejournal.com]

The visual is priceless, yo. Hee!

[zazuomgwtf.livejournal.com]

It was supposed to be here this year, but because of the evacuation of the Gaza settlements this month it was put off till next year. I plan to go then!

[biogeekgrrl.livejournal.com]

Yay, yes you should go! You should also go to other festivities, if there are some beforehand. Your first Pride is so cool. :)

[zazuomgwtf.livejournal.com]

I am looking forward to it!

[biogeekgrrl.livejournal.com]

Have you seen the photos that bobamster posted from this weekend? (she filters her posts whenever there are pictures of RL people, which is why I ask). There are a couple of pics of virginmartyr1 and I.

[zazuomgwtf.livejournal.com]

unfortunately she is not on my flist
perhaps you could just link me to the pics wherever they are hosted.
I would love to see.

[biogeekgrrl.livejournal.com]

I re-posted them here. Yay!

[kimberlychapman.livejournal.com]

Yay for your good time! :)

[biogeekgrrl.livejournal.com]

Thanks!