Have you ever been to a Gay Pride event?

Everywhere I go is a gay pride event.

I have been to organized events in Dallas, Texas, and Honolulu, Hawaii, and Hilo, Hawaii. I have participated in all of them.

I went to my first one last Sunday (June 11), in West Hollywood.

As a volunteer for the Human Rights Campaign, I collected signatures requesting various protections for transgenders.

One of my favorite encounters was with a gorgeous young man. His hair was styled like Justin Timberlake’s, and he looked a lot like a twenty-something Paul Newman.

It was such a heartwarming way of interacting with dozens people who felt like soulmates.

I’ve walked with friends in Seattle, Colorado and a couple of smaller East Coast cities.

And I had lunch with @Hawaii_Jake in NYC. :-)

In my home town of St. Petersburg, Florida, there is a huge gay pride event every year. I have a lot of gay friends up there. About ten years ago, at the end of the parade, they held a huge mock gay wedding, like the Moonies used to do. And certain couples were also married on stage. This had huge PR value in the struggle for the rights to gay marriage.

One of my best buds, a chef, expert blue water sailor and fellow competitor in many distance regattas, challenged me to marry him at the event to show solidarity. He even bought us a gold wedding band. There was no way I was going to back down from the challenge, even though I really hate being the focus of attention in any type of crowd. The stage is not my thing at all and my bud knew it. But I’m big on LGBT rights—human rights—and now it was time to put my ring finger where my mouth was. So, we went through the quick ceremony on stage. It felt kinda like a high school or college graduation ceremony. We were given a mock wedding certificate and then it was the next couple’s turn.

There is always after parties all over town after these events. They go on all night. Nobody can party like these guys and the women, transgenders and transvestites are absolutely gorgeous.

There were no social or occupational repercussions and I didn’t expect any. St. Pete and Pinellas County are quite conservative politically,but the people who live there and do business are not for the most part. It was a good thing and I still have our wedding band and the wedding cert is nicely framed and in a storage unit back home.

No. And I wouldn’t. I believe I have enough trouble convincing people that I am not gay.

I’ve walked and watched the past three in my town. Lovely time.

Yes I was at the gay pride parade in Dublin in 2015. I intend to go again this year. It was a very enjoyable day I must say. A very positive and loving atmosphere.

I have been to Sydney’s Mardi Gras parade as a spectator. There were so many people there you couldn’t get near enough to see the parade, so we sat in the pub and had such fun. I was so impressed that despite there being thousands and thousands of people there, we saw absolutely no trouble. Everyone was quite drunk, but there we didn’t see anything but people letting loose and having a great time.

They’re unavoidable, and so frequent that you can literally be trapped in an event unaware, and typically deprived of hope for a quick escape. The worst situation is to stumble into an event while driving.

In my 20s I’d go every year to the parade here in Chicago, just because it was one of the biggest parties of the summer. Most of my friends would go. The parade has been a big deal for a long time. It was a sight to see Mayor Daley waving to the crowd, accompanied by a 6 foot guy in a majorette costume.

It was big then and now it’s even more a very established event, with corporate sponsors and the marchers include large contingents of cop and military groups.

I hadn’t been for many years, but in 2015 I HAD to go because it was just a week or so after the Supreme Court decision guaranteeing equal marriage rights across the US.

My favorite part was the group from the County court, judges and staff (they officiate in civil marriage ceremonies), with big signs reading, “We Want to Marry You!!”.

The Blackhawks had won the NHL championship two weeks before and that hadn’t worn off.. A couple of players and the Chicago Gay Hockey league (yes, that is a thing) brought the Stanley Cup, that was really cool, giving fans a chance to see it as well as supporting the community.

Mad Max Fury Road was the big movie at the time, and another highlight were the Mad Max cosplayers on motorcycles. Dozens of (mostly) women, and they went all out with costumes. Here’s one photo I found online.

Not on purpose. I was in San Francisco for a convention and it happened to be the weekend of the Gay Pride parade. My hotel was the other side of of Market St from the convention center, so to get from my hotel to the meetings meant that I had to be part of he crowd and cross Market St in the middle of the parade.

No big deal. The worst part of the experience was the utter filth, litter, and unruly drunks what were left on the pavement after the parade ended.

1980, San Francisco. I happened to be attending an event at a hotel that overlooked the parade route, and I had a spectacular view of it from not far above the street. It was great.

The idea was kind of new to a lot of people, though, and some of the out-of-town attendees were shocked and horrified. In my opinion that made it more fun.

Of course. We joke that it is our gay duty. I’ve been to L.A. Pride, S.F. Pride, the very first Sacramento Pride, San Diego Pride and Long Beach Pride. My first was when I was 19. They have changed a lot, but it is always a good time.

No.

Yes, I have. San Francisco. Alcohol. Hot guys.

That about sums up my experience.

Sounds pretty good @DominicY!

I think it’s time for a 40K Pride party. ;-)

@DominicY

Now I wish even more than before, that I had taken a pic of the guy who looked like Paul Newman with Justin Timberlake’s hair.