So this is what the same-sex marriage has wrought. The homonormative white moneyed gay male collective has worked very hard to put up images of gay life as a series of set pieces depicting happy wealthy white men pedaling bicycles and smiling benignly. Pride, once a radical public casting-off of fear and shame, it is now street party in which vendors hock astroturf and pricey Smirnoff coolers.
The Saturday before the Pride Parade is focussed around Dyke March. This one day may contain the vast majority of true Pride spirit, and well, pride. People congregate in Dolores Park, drinking beer and mingling, looking for old friends striking up conversations with strangers. And queuing up for the Port-a-potties. Later in the day, people take to the streets, marching, dancing, and celebrating queer pride.
Saturday's vibe is much more community and queer focused. It's truly celebratory and that's what is really missing from the big show on Sunday. While Sunday has the parade, stages and booths, it feels out of sync with the grass-roots nature of the communities represented and their struggle for representation. It feels straight. It's a rainbow flag painted on any generic street festival. The parade feels like a presentation for straight people. “Hey folks, marvel at the queer zoo, and when you're done, go grab some brochures about vinyl siding!” Dyke March works because it is their march, not a function of the local tourism board or straight out-of-town gawkers looking to stare at crazy SF queers.
Maybe it's time to take the whole Pride festival back to its roots. Replace the show with more focus on issues and the people fighting for recognition. The big issues should not be reduced to bumper sticker political messages held up on floats. What I'm saying is, call the dykes, we need their help.
Posts
I agree that SF Pride is a corporate, depoliticized even that is totally worthy of criticism. I could make the assimilationist argument that this is a victory because it means that "YAY the gay people are accepted by straights!" but well all know that means generally a specific kind of gay man (able-bodied, cis, white, moneyed, etc) and that isn't at all a victory for the GLTBQ "community" as a whole and so that's a problem.
ReplyDeleteBut on the other hand, I can't help it, I find Pride fun. I think the thing is, it isn't a political thing anymore, and treating like it is will be anger-inducing. It is basically a big fabulous street festival, it's our Mardi Gras. Luckily the Bay Area is teeming with less-straightwashed events, from other street festivals to political protests, that I still think it's OK to let loose and just have a big, drunken street party as well. Let's just not confuse it for activism.
I'd argue that Pride Sunday is not even a big drunken street party. There may have been loads of debauchery, but I just didn't see it. It was kind of like a Superbowl halftime show. You know it was supposed to be entertaining, but you can't help wondering if you'd be having more fun getting drunk in the parking lot instead.
ReplyDeleteI suspect the problem is that you weren't drunk at all!
ReplyDeleteIt's more like our St. Patrick's Day.
ReplyDeleteBegorah, boy, everyone's gay on Pride! Now let me show you my shillelagh.
ReplyDeleteJust like on St. Patrick's Day, I think I just threw up a little.
ReplyDelete