It was the best of times and the best of times. The temperature was warm but nonetheless a large number of people and organizations turned out to watch or march in the Gay Pride Parade through Rochester, NY yesterday, and I, your trusty correspondent was there to march with my church and various and sundry other groups (including an official contingent from Walgreen’s and the City of ROC Republican Committee, if you can believe it) for Gay Pride in NY State.

But first let me say “Hello there!

Yes, that’s the infamous Steven D. We (and I mean all 79 groups who signed up to march) were waiting for the parade to begin. I had just bought the beads you see around my neck. A kind soul took this picture and I texted it to my daughter who replied: You look awesome! Well, who am I argue with such an esteemed authority as she?

(cont.)

As an aside all the pictures were taken with a non-smart phone (or maybe I should say not so smart phone) so I make no apologies for the picture quality. Especially since I took many of them while marching, and to be honest, I don’t really use my phone as a camera very often. In fact, I’m not really a picture taking person at all. For that reason, many of my best pictures were lost, no doubt when I hit erase intending to save, but hopefully what I do have will make up for what I don’t.

So, now onto the Parade!

As you can see from our official car, we were number 25 in line, a good number. Sadly for my hip I was not offered a ride. Oh well.

A convertible Mini-Cooper if anyone is interested. And now for some pictures of people marching in front of me. What? You wanted faces? Sorry, that will just have to wait.

That white bird like creature you see hovering above us was either the Holy Spirit blessing the parade, or a kite on a string held aloft by one of the Episcopalians marching directly in front of us poor Unitarian-Universalists. Either interpretation is equally valid. By the way, the parade for the most part was routed along tree-lined streets and avenues which truly was a blessing in the heat. Everyone was in a great mood chanting slogans like Gay Pride! but also, “We Won!” referring of course to the marriage equality legislation just passed by the NY Legislature with three Republican defections, including my State Senator James Alesi. Mr. Alesi did not make an appearance at the parade to my knowledge, but we appreciated that he stood on the side of love rather than on the side of hate.

And now for some family values photos:

Yes, there were lots and lots of parents who brought their children to march in the parade, or in this case get a free ride in a stroller. I should add that I requested permission of every person whose picture was taken. The parents in the foreground belong to my church, and their daughter (unseen) is a beautiful little three year old girl, who was quite charming once we were out of the sun and in the much cooler apartment of one of the other members of my church at our official parade after-party. I spoke to the other Mom in the photo also and she was a lovely woman. In fact after we passed by the obligatory four or five “Real Christians” with their amplified by megaphone voices condemning us all to Hell, I told her (and those within hearing distance of my voice) “I’d rather go to hell with you folks then to heaven with them” and she was polite enough to chuckle.

But now for the star of the parade. Really, she was the star, and even of no one else thought so, she and I sure did:

This young girl was dancing, prancing and shouting out gay pride slogans with a voice that blew away even the homophobic megaphone men. In my small section of the parade she always drew the loudest cheers (and biggest smiles) from the crowd lining the parade route. I know she was enjoying the attention, but I was also proud that she knew she was on the right side of history and that what had happened in our state was something worth celebrating. It was a joy to watch her.

And what would a gay pride parade be without a Grand Marshall? Or in our case, TWO Grand Marshalls! Both of them and two of their friends were kind enough to pose for me.

A vision of true love and happiness, wouldn’t you say? And now for the rest of my meager supply of pictures in no particular order:

This poor man was struggling to keep his flag flying when I met him. Though he might look a little bedraggled in the picture, immediately after I took hit, he smiled and we exchanged pleasantries. Indeed, all along the parade route people were cheering us, chanting slogans and applauding. I never saw so many happy faces. Young, old, black, white, gay, straight — everyone was having a very good time (Megaphone men excepted, of course). We marched for over an hour and traveled 2.6 miles, but it all went by so fast. I wish I had taken more photos of the crowd, but such is life.

Meanwhile, speaking of diversity …

This man was driving in his wheelchair. That’s a goose puppet on his head, for he is in the business of selling puppets, which he sells through the mail. Unfortunately he doesn’t have a website, because as he told me he hadn’t found anyone willing to set one up for him. I forgot to get his name (my bad) but hopefully he will locate a website designer soon. His sign, by the way says: “We Need To Have Federal Marriage Equality” and that’s a policy with which I certainly agree. DOMA should go. Hopefully it will soon be a thing of the past.

And for my final photo from the parade I will end with this happy fella:

That’s a bubble making toy he’s holding in case you were wondering. He’d just run out of bubble solution when I snapped this picture of him, but he didn’t seem particularly bothered. In fact, his expression sums up my feeling about my first gay pride parade very well: a grand old time was had by all.

I hope that all the other states where marriage equality is still not available will follow New York’s lead. Yesterday the Summer minister of our church was unable to attend the parade? Why? He was busy marrying a same gender couple. And that truly is a joy for all of us.

Thanks for reading and viewing my photos. As always, may peace and joy fill your lives. We live in tough times, but even in this era when hate is spewed forth daily form all the “Megaphone Men (and Women)” on the right, let us not forget to celebrate our victories, also. No matter how bad things may get, as long as we hold together and support our diverse yet progressive communities, I believe we will never be defeated. Yesterday was a day that brought out the best in people because they knew that gay or straight, black or white, young or old, we are a community, not a community based on hate, but on love and support for every human being.

That is the lesson I took away from my experience yesterday.

Namaste

Steven D

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