Cincinnati Pride

(Friday Rap will return next week)

Cincinnati is coming out of the closet this weekend like a drunken GOP congressman caught driving his boyfriend home after a night at the bar.

It's Pride Weekend in Cincinnati! Happy Pride!

Of course it wouldn't be Pride without some cat fighting and controversy.

The activities being moved downtown has some upset...Well girlfriends....it's supposed to be downtown...that is where it began in 1973.....Downtown...on Fountain Square.....where everyone...the entire city was invited to join in....Cumminsville....OOPs!....Northside....was the backup plan...

If the bar owners of “Northside” wanted it to stay in “Northside”....they should have jumped in and taken over the Pride organization when the Community Center said it could no longer do the parade and festivities..

As it were....The rich white guys of the Gay of Chamber of Commerce stepped in, and you know, the only stage they want to showcase their fabulous-ness on is on the main stage.....and in Cincinnati...that is Fountain Square....

Others are pissed off that the rich guys have not included enough diversity...In fact I read an interview with the HWGIC who admitted as much...not enough diversity and we will do better next year he said...

Well, it's always next year for diversity....after hearing that lame bullshit for 40 years now...I turn a deaf ear and just get my own party on anyway....I've said it before....the LGBT community is no more inclusive than the still nearly all white patriarchal society that continues to rule America...even with a Black guy in the White House....

It is changing....but not yet....

Now that Cincinnati is truly growing up...maybe the Black LGBT community can stop hiding and get together like Chicago, Detroit, Atlanta, and Los Angeles to name a few....and put on their own Pride Celebration...Black Pride in these cities usually happens simultaneously with it's paler and more official version...

Everyone goes to the same parade...but then it's we party ova heah with family and friends, ribs, kool aid and potato salad, ya'll ...while the white folks go to the bars and pub crawl and get drunk...

Black Pride celebrations...especially the one in Chicago reminds me of the Black Family Reunion...just a little more festive...so to speak...

Frankly....I'm a little confused about the slam of not enough activities for poor gay people to take part in....HUH!...what's the fukin parade and festival? Nobody is charging admission to stand on the street...There is a whole weekend of stuff happening on the Square...free....

I don't see anything wrong with having a Ball or big dance...Fabulous Fun...something to look forward to...save your pennies...buy new shoes....dance the night away! Fun!....

The world does not revolve around poor people.... It doesn't give a damn about middle class people even.....hasn't this current economic recession taught ya'll anything?

The point is to have fun this weekend and to remember the drag queens at Stonewall who stood up and put their asses on the line so that rest of us would no longer have to worry about getting our heads busted in just because...

So...Quityerbitchin and Dance!

Now Stand up for the National Anthem!

Happy Pride!

Cincinnati Pride Sunday-Part 1

Veggin' out at the gay pride parade in Bowdie Park on Ludlow.

Pride Sunday, no matter where you are, meaning in what city you happen to reside, is a feel good day. For years, I have begun this Sunday, no matter where I lived, at brunch with friends, some easy conversation and good food before spending some time partying at the parade.


Since the parades, all over the country , are on Sunday, it's also a good time to see who went home with whom from the bar, on Saturday night... But I digress..


I intended to write a feel good piece about the parade because I do feel great from the camaraderie. For a change I wanted to not include politics on a feel good day, because politics feels like work to me and sometimes that's not good..

However, I can't do that today...I have to jump into politics for a little bit before I get to the feel good...so here goes...

I don't intend to vote for any person running for City Council who did not shake my hand in the Pride Parade today.

Greg Harris, Tony Fischer, and Laurie Quinlivan were there and shook my hand, coming out of the parade to meet and greet voters. They smiled, they looked me in the eye and they shook hands.

Now I can't say for a fact that they will support every issue that I think is important, but being strong enough to attend and march in the parade says a lot to me.

I will vote for Jennifer Brunner ...she wasn't there, but after that letter of support she wrote on marriage equality...can't say no to the lady, and she has to cover the whole state...

However...

These three asked for my vote....and you know what...I intend to give it to them....

I have a long personal and professional history with city council (going back to when my uncle was Vice mayor of this city) as well as many local, state and national Ohio politicians.

Some of them read my blog and tell me so....When we meet....

Some of my “friends and acquaintances” had people in the parade today...they weren't there themselves...but they had people in the parade....

And to them....I say this....It is not enough to have your token gay or lesbian staff member put on a shirt with your name on it and walk in my parade...and expect me to support you...

If you can't show up personally for an hour or so and look me in the eye and ask for my vote..

Then I got no use for you...

You are wasting my time....

Even if you are kinda sorta my cousin by marriage....


Having your token gay or dyke friend or the kid of your token, walk down Ludlow waving a rainbow flag or carrying a rainbow balloon is lazy and cowardly campaigning.....

It is completely arrogant to assume, that I am going to continue to support you when you don't give a damn about me....

I hope that maybe if enough LGBT community members read this and see some truth in what I write...maybe they will join me in a quiet protest.....

No visible support....no vote...simple....

And if you think you can get elected without the LGBT vote.....Think again...Go for it....

Mayor Mallory
Roxanne Qualls,
Laketa Cole,
Cecil Thomas
David Crowley.

To name a few.....


To be continued............................................