2012 Pride Parade

I don't always set the itinerary for weekend fun down here. Sometimes I am simply swept away by a tidal wave of estrogen and off we go to kids' consignment shops, Kohl's for women's wear, or, as you have seen in past blogs, places with floral displays like Sunken Gardens.

I wish I could say the same about today's activity. Gladly, I joined in with enthusiasm. Last year we went looking for a special Bloody Mary mix at the Farmer's market, but discovered no one was there. Upon heading for home we ran into St. Petersburg's Pride Parade, so this year we gathered kith and kin, less some kin, and off to the Parade once more. This year's parade drew 80,000 spectators from around the area. Dang. That's twice the number that will be arriving next door in Tampa for the Republican Convention.

Those whose tastes run to more 19th century conventional Macy's type parades and tolerances may want to end your reading now and return to your faux Rockwellian world of Andy Griffith and Sunday church potlucks.

If you are still with me, then join the parade for a look at a minority segment of the population that for one day gets to flaunt their lifestyle and allow us otherworldly creatures into their galaxy. It's not for everyone, but, dammit, they are here, and they are queer, and they are slowly receiving the legislative abilities to be equal.

Not sure what this get-up was, but looked like one of those woolly worms you see once in a while up north.

This was a float for the Dali Museum.

Loud gaudy with lots of pink, this guy was having a load of fun.

You would have thought he'd had taken off the tag, but, well, he didn't seem embarrassed by anything else.

That, folks, is no lady.

Thank heaven for the chair.

Representatives from the Flamingo Motel, a local gay hangout, which by all accounts was hopping that evening.

It was a very warm day.

What's he got stuffed in that thing...Lord!

You see everything...and more.

Hmmm. I'm speechless.

Apparently there are no rules about wearing underwear in public.

You mean they allow homosexuals in the military?

Well, there you have it. Listen, folks, no one chooses to be degraded , humiliated, scorned and sometimes killed for who you love in this world. There but for the grace of God and all that. But in this house, we choose to not judge, to grant everyone the simple opportunity to find happiness. Homophobes are bullies. Simple as that.

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