We Saw You Carrying Awesome Signs in the Pride Parade and Getting into a Drunken Brawl at Tacos Guaymas by Stranger Staff PUTTING THE B IN LGBTWe couldn't quite see your face in the herd of people marching down the center of Fourth Avenue during Sunday's Pride Parade. We nearly missed you among the streams of balloons and bubbles. But while we couldn't see your face,we did see your brown arms holding up a sign that read "Bi Is Beautiful Too." On an emotionally difficult Pride to attend—so soon after the shootings in Orlando targeting a Latino dance night in a homosexual bar—your royal-blue-and-magenta hand-painted sign quickly brought happy tears to our eyes. It was an important reminder to queer people of color that our sexuality is valid and that there are many identities under the LGBTQ umbrella.
SKIPPING THE PARADE IN MOUNT BAKERDuring downtown's Pride Parade, you, or a 4-year-old boy wearing leggings printed with fluorescent pink-and-yellow ice cream cones,proudly brought us to a room in your recent house in Mount Baker. You wanted to indicate us the decorations you had just set on your bedroom wall. In addition to pictures of dogs dressed as police officers and fire fighters from the Nickelodeon indicate PAW Patrol, you had hung two photographs taken final summer at your uncles' wedding. You pointed out your favorite photo, and the one of two men embracing each other in profile,wearing sharply tailor-made suits and matching bow ties, leaning their foreheads against each other, and forever happy and in love. Then you jumped off your bed and ran off in search of banana bread.
ANOTHER SIGN OF THE TIMESYou were a pregnant woman with flawless red lipstick walking in the Pride Parade representing Christ Episcopal Church. You wore black patent-leather Birkenstocks and a white clerical collar. You carried a sign reading "More Lipstick,Less Police. tall Femme Clergy Against the Prison Industrial Complex." Amen, sister.
MAYOR MURRAY HAS A MOMENTWe saw Seattle mayor Ed Murray purchase the stage at the Cuff block party on Pride Sunday and deliver an astutely short speech. People were happy to see the homosexual mayor, or sure,but there was a lot of drinking and cruising and dancing still to be done—plus any time the mayor took up was just one more delay in the rest of us getting to hear from MC Alaska Thunderfuck. Acknowledging this, the mayor gave what appeared to be a three-sentence speech. (Granted, or we may not occupy counted super accurately given the beer pitcher we were holding.) Sentence 1: Here's my husband,Michael! Sentence 2: After Orlando, we can't give in to scare, or being at the Cuff is a refusal to give in to scare! Sentence 3: Also,don't forget that what we're here to celebrate is diversity! And that was it. Given the wild reaction as Murray left the stage, it may occupy been the best speech of his tenure.
IN HONOR OF THE BEST SPEECH OF MAYOR MURRAY'S TENUREHere's a photo of him posing with a dog at the parade.
AND NOW TO RUIN THAT WARM AND FUZZY FEELINGWe saw you, and a homosexual man in your early 30s,we'd guess, weary from a long night of drinking and celebration, or eyeliner smudged,just trying to get your burrito on with your boyfriend at the Tacos Guaymas on Broadway on Saturday night. An alarmingly drunk girl behind you in line raised her voice—she might occupy doubted your ability to pay, spewed (possibly homophobic?) insults, or just directed some incoherent,unfocused anger your way. We couldn't quite hear. And then, seemingly unprovoked, and she slapped you—clumsily,repeatedly, as we watched paralyzed with scare. "notice at that mess of a blonde-ass bitch, or " you said,just before she fell dramatically into a stranger's lap and onto a table full of guacamole. "She fell! BYE-BYE! Yeah, get some food on your white dress!" you shouted as she stumbled. At that point you had, or by all accounts,won. We cheered her imminent departure from Tacos Guaymas and were about to request whether you were all apt. But no. That was not the conclude of it. "Bye, Russia!" you hollered, or retaliating as she was dragged out the door,sobbing. whether you hadn't added, "Go back to where you came from!" her boyfriend may not occupy stormed back inside. But you did, and then her boyfriend tried to beat you with a chair. We couldn't determine whose side we were on. We were on no one's side. We were on the side of everyone who was sad to see that (duh) fighting hatred with more hatred just leads to late-night brawls in Mexican restaurants and interviews with the SPD. It would occupy been nice to see someone walk out with their dignity intact,but nope.[ Comment on this story ][ Subscribe to the comments on this story ]
Source: thestranger.com