I Gave At The Office

Pride season 2010 is here.   This weekend Seattle Pride is in full swing and I am sitting quietly on my own little version of "Wysteria Lane," just minutes outside of the hustle and bustle of the big city of the Northwest.  I am doing my usual Sunday mix of writing, reading, blogging, watching Sunday Morning News shows, doing laundry, and of course enjoying multiple cups of good bold rich coffee.   I've heard from friends far and wide ask me the same question which is "what are you attending this year at Pride?"   My answers are varied and depending on the friend are sometimes loony; but the sentiment and core of each answer is that I have Pride year round and this year I'm sitting out the parade, festival, bars, & usual Monday Morning gutter crawl towards home in the wee squinting shaky bourbon soaked morning.

I am far from saying I am retiring from future Pride weekend attendance; but this year I really felt like I have been there done that.   For God's sakes I have walked the Seattle Parade route itself in 6 inch heels, with the "full Betty," drag on five years in a row; I've "entertained," the "troops," in 5 San Diego Pride seasons as well and we won't regale all the shenanigans of my Palm Springs, Long Beach, San Francisco, Asheville, Orlando,DC, & Holland Pride festivals.   I will coyly plead the Vegas morality law which says that which has happened at each of those Prides will stay there.   I have given at the office in more ways, locations, and positions than one can imagine.

I will say that with the passing of my most recent birthday I reflected on the past 2 years of Pride festival attendances that they had begin to lose their luster for me.   I begin to think maybe it was an age thing.   The closer forty gets I see my priorities sharpen and my tastes for many things I once thought "fun," wane.  It is not  that I lack Pride.   I feel that it is a 24/7 365 day a year work in progress.   As I have grown older I have begun to really appreciate how my Pride has matured.   It goes beyond holding a sign in a parade or sticking a rainbow flag on your car.   I feel my actions in my everyday approach exemplify my growing respect for myself and as the old adage goes, actions speak louder than words.   

The Pride parties, parades, and festivals are great fun and I believe they are essential.   If you ever experience a Pride Weekend there is no way to deny that the old 10% rule of thumb is way off.   I think it is important to have a special weekend to parade like peacocks and show off your colors, your true colors.   If for any other reason to show the world that diversity is fun, crazy, zany, and embraceable.   It is palpable, it lives, breathes, and at its most significant core promotes a heartbeat sustained by the idea that there are so many colors in the rainbow and notes in a song.    Being different, embracing diversity, living through adversity are monumental reasons in which to celebrate.

This year I may be choosing to celebrate myself and my pride in a quiet place and state of mind; but deep down in my soul that iconic Sister Sledge anthem, We Are Family, roars strong in my soul and hums steadily in my veins.   So friends do not fret my Pride is not on life support, it is alive and well, It is  just matter of fact that this year I feel I've already given at the office, maybe I will see y'all next year.   Until then I send up a big ole hands in the air to Jesus dance wave, two snaps in a rainbow formation and an honorary, girrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrl!   Happy Pride!