TMI: PRIDE 2014

It is PRIDE weekend in Portland… I’m missing it this year. But my heart is there in spirit.

HAPPY PRIDE 2014!

1. Tell me about your first Pride.

* My first pride was Portland 2012. I had this idea that PRIDE would be an assembly of gays celebrating who we are in a world that wants us to sit down and shut up. What I found was that there is as much judgment and hate amongst the gays as there is in the world at large. I had my fill of that when I was closeted, I didn’t go through the pain and loss of coming out just to be hated on by members of the gay community. Some very good friends took me to my first pride, they were my guides on what to see and how to find your own groove in a very diverse community.. and how to spot and avoid the mean girls.

2. What did that first Pride mean to you?

* Living in a rural area I had only seen PRIDE parades and festivals on the TV machine. Which meant I had a notion that it was a bit more fabulous and over the top than it actually was. I was surprised that the parade had more church/faith groups than bars, dykes on bikes or floats. That part still resonates with me, how much certain brands of the faith community are so willing to show their acceptance and understanding of the pain the church has inflicted, they will miss their own Sunday morning services to walk in a PRIDE parade.

3. How many different Prides have you been to?

* Two – Portland and TriCities, WA. Since I’m not able to go to Portland Pride this year, I’ll be hitting Mid-Columbia Pride next month.

4. Do you fly the Pride Flag and/or stick it to anything?

* I have a Bear Pride window cling on the Subie and I have a full-sized Bear Pride flag, but since I live in an apartment, there’s really no place to hang it other than in my window.

5. Do you still celebrate Pride? What does it mean to you now?

* I’ve been “out” just five years. I think that the spirit of PRIDE is something you celebrate every day that you don’t let the ignorant homophobes of our society drag you down.

“Be who you are and say what you feel, those who matter don’t mind and those who mind don’t matter” –Dr. Seuss.

6. Does Pride need improving? If so, what changes would you make?

* I haven’t thought of it.        My next tattoo, or something like it  --->

7. How do you give back?

* I talk to others who are still closeted, giving them an ear, offering some advice from someone who’s been there. I also have done volunteer work for a non-profit assisting those living with HIV and educating others so they practice safer sex.

BONUS

What kind of trouble or embarrassing moment have you had during Pride?

* Nothing to debaucherous… yet.

I did fall into the trap of spending too much money on the sexy stripper boys at Silverado. It’s fun in the moment, but filled with regret later because I could have used that $$ for something useful. But.. .in the moment… it’s hella FUN! (This boy is a bit too skinny but his muscles felt nice… and he let me wrap a unit of paper currency around his rather ample cock.)

**Check out Sean the author of TMI Questions and check out some of the other participants (in sidebar)