And Leigh is quite correct to point out that in fact many of our LGBT brethren/sistren (and transen?) are economically marginalized during this commercial hoopla.

As I read about the tragic way that the Fort Worth, TX, police decided to commemorate the Stonewall riot of 1969, I think twin Cities Pride has become totally irrelevant to liberatoin and is just another ill symptom of our national shift from being citizens to just being consumers.

Time to revolt! I hear that San Francisco Pride has allowed a “commercial free” zone there (at the instigation of the radical faeries). I like that idea.

We still have a long way to go though. There are plenty of reasons to still be just as radical as we ever were. That said, I still think, in the midst of all that work that so many of us do to further our campaign for equality, it’s important, even necessary, to take the time and effort so many of us put forth to celebrate who we are and what we have accomplished, to welcome the new ones to the fold, to honor those who have gone before, to give hope to those still living with fear, to look to the future and what we have yet to do, and to be enlivened and invigorated by coming together at Pride Fest each year as the diverse family and friends that we are and have become during our struggle together.

Once upon a time only queer organizations and queer-owned businesses were willing to pay for a Pride booth. It was a wonderful, political, joyous community event whether it was your first or your twentieth. It could be again, if only queer organizations and businesses were allowed to be in the parade or to have booths.

I know that there are still problems, but there is no reason to concentrate on those for one weekend that is supposed to be about celebrating accomplishments. And by being marginalized for all this time, there has been a greater unity in the community, which all comes to a head at pride. Personally, I don’t think that people of homosexual persuasion fully appreciate the communities that have come from the marginalization.

I just started writing a new book today regarding a matter of personal envy toward gay communities across the country. As a straight male, I’ve been a staunch supporter of gay rights for many years, and hence attend pride every year. And what I leave with year after year is a matter of envy of the unity within the community either through parades and celebrations, or through simple matters of symbolism. I see none of this in straight communities. When there are rallies or anything along the lines in straight communities, it’s usually about anger amongst one another or about outsiders, often gays. When I enter mainly gay communities, I see unity, money, people who look and smell nice, clean streets, rainbows everywhere, clean parks, and so on. When I enter straight communities (my own is one of few exceptions, as it costs far too much to live here) I don’t see this same sense of community and unity. You don’t see it in any other minority communities either.

I guess, yearly at pride, I feel as though I’m home, and again, I’m straight. For a while it confused me as to why I felt this way. Until I finally understood it two years ago, and it was everything I just said. I’m not trying to shamelessly promote my book here, it’s just a message that I’ve wanted to get out since then. And in this way it pertains to pride, namely the parade, because instead of bitching about how it’s lost its original intent, one should look at the fact that it has as a testament to how far it’s gone. Personally, I prefer pride with a smile. If you want violent looting and violence, go to a straight community. It’s here all year round.

But, er, 400,000 people?

They really expect one in ten adult Minnesotans – 1/5 of the entire metro, a bigger crowd than all of Minneapolis – to turn out for it?

I’m sorry, Andy, but that figure doesn’t pass the stink test.