My (Sort of) Summer Vacation

[ase]

Last week I started working for a car-share program in San Francisco. It's nice to know I'm slowing down the savings hemorrhage, and the employee discount on vehicle use is a major perk, but being physically instead of mentally exhausted by 7 PM is a significant change in how things are done.

Since I was Safety Monitoring (no TM), I didn't get as many pics of the parade as, say, the Chroncle. Part of that was size: to get a real sense of the dykes on bikes women's motorcycle contingent impact, one would need to compose a shot covering the full 1.3 mile parade route. I am at a loss to convey the impact of three hours of rainbow themed floats, men in dresses and platform heels (or very little, or LGBT-themed t-shirts), women in leather (or very little, or LGBT-themed t-shirts), the pre-parade safety team t-shirt mods, being on the side of the parade barricade getting thanked for sharing sunscreen and giving up part of a Sunday, and playing the "how many Lady Gaga songs will be clearly audible through my earplugs" game (three) all under blue skies, in perfect t-shirt weather, trying to balance cautions formed in the '80s, when this was a much rougher event, with the hordes of humanity who are watching contingents celebrating their lesbian, gay, transgender, queer, and bisexual identities striding cheek-by-jowl with corporate floats and political signs. (Gavin Newsom was totally working the parade-going gubernatorial voters on Market: I have a picture! I didn't get to shake hands with him: it's an election year, I'll find other chances.)



The sheer quantity of people was overwhelming, and I can see why parts of the LGBT community think Pride's getting institutional. It's hard to disagree with beads, rainbow-themed marketing handouts, and mostly-somewhat-clothed participants. I only saw one instance of simulated sex on the entire parade route! It's actually a 90% kid-appropriate event, what's up with that? I'm not sure if it's blase or voyeuristic to consider naked men and topless women a small and necessary component of large outdoor civic events, but that's the position I'm arriving at, as I push into Month Four in San Francisco. I am not disappointed I skipped the transgender and dyke marches this year, because if I had gone I would have moved right throught "eat Nutella for strength!" into "eat all the Nutella" exhaustion, but I really want to attend those marches next year.

I think I made a friend! We're hanging out tonight! I've been terrified that I'd get out here and discover all of my friend-making skills have atrophied, but apparently I have a few left.

Lilith Fair will be at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View on July 5th. I'm tempted to nab a couple of $10 tickets, reserve a car (see "perks of working for carshare program") and fill up the car. Locals, anyone in? Lilith Fair trip canceled on account of missing the window for $10 tickets. Whoops!

Comments

[morineko]

It's not actually a complaint I have myself, it's a complaint I've heard, usually in the context of "it's getting too generic."

(I don't bother going to Pride because I work most weekends and it's usually either 90 degrees or raining and also everything is in Minneapolis, so I really shouldn't say anything at all)