Well June is finally over, and with it all the different pride festivities. This was the third year I've ever been to any, and I was able to basically make it to 3: DC, Baltimore and NYC. Each had its pros and cons, and they were all different in their own ways.
DC: Being a local and knowing people here, made it pretty fun. I was able to hang with most friends and it being two days gave me time to enjoy each part even more. Knowing the area and seeing familiar names/sponsors on the floats or in booths, and seeing a number of people that I knew were continual reminders that this is home.
Baltimore: Tim and I decided to go up there for their parade/block party. We missed the parade completely and made it while the block party had already started. Coming from the DC atmosphere, the difference was automatically recognized. Down here, there is always a bit of pretentiouosity. It seems that you have to dress, act, be a certain "way" in the gay community. However, up there... people sorta just went however they felt. People were dressed in all sorts of ways, there were old and young, black and white, and it just seemed more relaxed than DC. There you were also allowed to carry open containers of booze. So people brought coolers and were having a drunk old time. I'd never really beeen to Baltimore, outside of a church or the Inner Harbor, so it was interesting to see how it all was. We didn't really go to any of the places, so I still haven't experienced that side of it. As for Pride, the diversity and comfortable atmosphere was definitely the most amazing part of being there.
New York City: I did what ended up happening last year, again this year. I was with family for the weekend, and then passed by pride on my way to the bus back to DC. Last year, I had said that I hoped others would go this year so it could be a cool fun group thing. Didn't really happen, although a friend I met at the HRC ended up going to NYC to visit a friend and for pride, so I met up with them and it was cool. NYC is where it all began, and I ended up standing across from The Stonewall Inn watching the parade before I met up with them. That was real lucky and I got a couple pictures and clips of it. Quick side note: the Parade started around noon, and it was still going when we left around 6:30. Knowing that it was huge, I only stood watching it for maybe 15 minutes. Since it was NYC, the place was real intense and packed. There were so many people, and streets were blocked off, and some sidewalks were one-way only, it was crazy. People went all out, there were a number of topless chicks, guys wearing almost nothing or VERY random outfits and stuff. So after I met up with them, we went to the street festival which was going on at the same time, and it wasn't as big as DC's. It had some interesting-ish booths like organic rainbow roses and 3-D porn...*smh*. Since he was driving back to DC, we didn't go inside anywhere and soon left. NYC was where it began 40 years ago, and NYC does things BIG. The crowds, floats, everything was just way too intense. It was a cool experience tho, and again, I'm looking forward to the next time and hoping that people will join.
