Well, I went to the Pride event that I was waffling on a couple weeks ago. It was held in Tacoma, WA. It's technically not the "right" event for where I live; however, it was convenient to get to today, and seemed more likely to be a real event vs. where I am. I still have visions of the Pride serving my area having a parade of gay chickens. :lol: The event is "Out in the Park." Not quite a fitting name as it was actually held on some blocked off streets. (It has, I've been told, been held in a park in the past. So the name probably just stuck.) Most of the time I spent wandering booths. Basically that's all the event is: booths and some live entertainment. No parade that I know of. I wish I'd known that so I could possibly have figured out a way of getting to Seattle. Still, the booths could be interesting. There was everything from groups working for LGBT causes of one sort or another, all the way to booths full of rainbow themed things to buy. I took some photos to share.
One of the first booth stops I made was the booth holding this sign. It was a (pleasant) surprise seeing a Catholic church LGBT group!
Heh, pretty cool! They have that here in NYC too, called "Pridefest" I think - but I've never actually been. I've been to the parade itself, but never that part of the (week-long) festivities. Maybe I'll have to go next year And the Catholic Church LGBT group is encouraging! At first, I thought that they didn't exist, but then I met a gay Catholic at an event, and he told me about the one here - but I didn't think they were that common, but it seems they are!
Well, the bad news for me is that I didn't get a parade! Apparently you have to go to Seattle for that. I wish I'd researched sooner. But I thought it would be much the same--maybe smaller scale--and easier to get to. Oh, well. Maybe next year. It really is encouraging. Apparently the group is accepted by the church, and they got some sort of blessing from the Priest.
Thanks, Rose & sagebrush! ---------- Post added 12th Jul 2014 at 07:22 PM ---------- Looking back, I have some mixed feelings about having gone. It did some good, I think. Some real world interaction, however limited, with other LGBT people. But the discouraging thing: I had hoped to get some ideas of "what next?" for this journey. At least for real world LGBT interaction past one July afternoon a year. Alas, I came away with no new ideas. :tears:
Cool! I'm glad to see that you had a good time! I love the fact that they do have a misleading name. It should have been renamed "Out in the Streets to a Certain Extent" :lol:
good on ya BMC77 its a start. and puts you a step or 2 past where you were a couple of weeks ago and you have something to look forward to for next year Seattle Pride Parade. on the other front, do you think you might be trying too hard? maybe let things happen and enjoy the ride? i told my counselor that i wanted to get a social circle in the local LGBT community and she reached out to some of her friends and we met last week and we're going to meet in a bit for a BBQ or something with a broader group of friends. depending on how out you are you might be able to network in a similar fashion.
Great about the pride fair but lose the gay Catholic booth. Been a catholic all my life til last year, when I realize that I was gay and came out. The Catholic Church is ruled by bishops, arch bishops, cardinals and a pope and do you know where Gay Catholics fit in according to them. "The only good Gay Catholic is a celebate Gay Catholic and one who shuts up" Sorry, I don't make the rules but once I found out, I left that horror show faster than Superman was rocketed out of the planet Krypton before it exploded.
Thanks, everyone! Yes, this is something I've wondered. And I have thought about just letting things happen. Maybe try that for a while because it's pretty clear nothing else is working. Networking is an idea that appeals. But I'm not sure how I could even make it work under present circumstances. I really don't have any close connections to tap.:tears: ---------- Post added 13th Jul 2014 at 11:42 AM ---------- I really liked that sign. I just hope no one took advantage of that "ask anything" to indulge in some sort of negative/hurtful comments disguised as questions.
Networking is an idea that appeals. But I'm not sure how I could even make it work under present circumstances. I really don't have any close connections to tap. you have to trust someone at some time and take that risk. i have a lot more to risk than embarassment, i have a kid to think of but i need to move forward. so...... maybe you need to trust and take chances too.
It's not an issue of trust so much as it is a lack of people in my life who could possibly help me network (and network in general). Most of the people I know locally are very casual connections. The one person who I know well enough to potentially use for networking is not LGBT friendly.