My first real Pride
Until this year, I had never really participated in a full on Pride experience. When I was living in Iowa, I was in the Des Moines Gay Men’s Choir and we sang at Des Moines Pride one year, but I literally sang my song and left. I mean, Des Moines’ Pride was about as exciting as being in … Des Moines. And don’t get me wrong, I would never blast Iowa. I am proud to be from there and I have the most amazing friends in the world who still live there. But let’s face it, Des Moines Pride and its, like, 300 gay people doesn’t hold a candle to Phoenix and its thousands!
So since this was my first year as Echo editor, I decided to spend as much time as possible in our booth (basically all day, both days!) so that I could meet the people who read this magazine. I met so many wonderful people, and I am still touched by all the kind words people said. For those of you who took the time out to come by, say hello and compliment or congratulate me — I can’t tell you enough how much all of that means to me. I am a very modest guy and I have been blessed with this opportunity and I don’t take any of it for granted. I am honored to serve this community and humbled by all of you who spoke to me. My goal is to make you proud, and one by one, all weekend long, so many of you told me that I was — so thank you all so much.
I don’t know how many of you saw me on the float, but it was almost a surreal experience. I still can’t wrap my head around the whole weekend. I never imagined that meek and shy little me would be up on a Pride float dancing around with a sparkling beret on and tossing Pride beads and beach balls into the crowd. I may have even been a little flirtatious! It didn’t hurt that I had abut 10 really hot guys in tiny swimsuits cavorting around the float with me!
The event itself was fantastic. On Saturday, it seemed like every single G, L,B and T in town was at Steele Indian School Park. And as I watched all of you, and talked to many of you, I really began to understand why an event like Pride was so essential to our community. I have been extremely lucky in my coming out process that no one I loved turned his or her back on me — and I know that isn’t the case for everyone, which makes events like these all the more important for our community. In fact, my mom came to Pride and sat at the Echo booth all day Sunday! It meant so much to me to have her there. I hope she knows how proud it makes me to have a mom like that — even if she does suck all the man attention away from me. She’s like a man magnet.
Yeah there were some protesters in random places, and yeah, some people yelled names at us as we drove down Seventh Street in the float to get to the parade. But none of those people can take away what a unifying, exhilarating experience Phoenix Pride 2008 was for this community. It’s renewed my commitment to all of you and I can’t wait for the many more years of Pride memories to come.
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