It began like any other Sunday in June, except that I was awake, out of bed, and moving before 9:00 AM. Mom and Dad stayed the night after finishing the tile job very late on Saturday and, though I was awake when they left, I never actually saw them Sunday morning. Jen and I dressed and headed to Fenton to return the loaner car to the Ford dealer and pick up the Escape for what had better be the FINAL time for the transmission repair. A quick stop for breakfast and we were headed home under partly cloudy skies debating the weather for the remainder of the day. By 10:30 we had decided to risk the 10% chance of rain and climbed on the bike headed south for Motor City PRIDE in Ferndale, MI.
The winds were calm and the ride down was nice, even with a still healing tail bone, but when we hit Auburn hills I decided I needed a break from the express way pace. We exited smoothly on Square Lake Rd and took Woodward south to 9 Mile where the festivities had already gotten under way. Our instructions were to arrive at any of the barricades along 9 Mile and ask security how to get to the DOBD crew … but Security had no idea! Thankfully we had a cell phone and managed to contact H-Bom who gave us detailed directions to get around to the back of the blocked off area and in to our space for the day. The row of chrome was impressive!
Jen and I spent the day hanging with the girls, getting to know some of the members who have not been able to make it to meetings, and cruising through the crowds to check out all of the booths and festivities. It was our first PRIDE in at least 8 years and I was impressed at how much it has grown and how well they pulled it off considering the lack of communication and late planning for some of it. Jen and I even managed to make it into the new Affermations building, though Sean was not to be seen so I couldn’t give him a hard time about his days as president of GALA at Oakland University in the mid 1990’s
The PRIDE festivities wrapped up around 6:30 and many of us headed over to a member’s house for a little food and some quieter time to hang out. The streets of Ferndale were packed with people most of the day and the Thumpa-Thumpa of the dance pavilion could be heard way down at the end of the line where we were set up. It was nice to sit quietly in the back yard, well as quietly as 9 vocal women can sit while eating, razzing those around the table, and telling stories. I was comfortable with the crew, even those I didn’t know before walking into PRIDE that morning, and it was a good feeling to be with a group of friends who accept you as you are, no questions asked. For me, that’s what PRIDE is all about, well that and the people watching as they parade past you dressed, and often barely dressed, in everything you can think of, and many things you wouldn’t dream a person would wear in public.
Jen and I hit the road about 8:15 hoping to beat the incoming rain and crawl into bed before it got dark. We managed to pull into the garage at almost exactly 9:30, hang up the gear, and call it a night before the sun was completely down, but we did not manage to beat the rain completely. There was a period of about 5 miles of stinging rain drops on the face and minimal spray off the front tire, but like it often does in Michigan, it cleared, the pavement dried, and the wind dried us out long before we ever got home.
A good day … A long day … and next Saturday we ride to Lansing for Michigan PRIDE, as a pack!
This year was my first year in any sort of pride parade of any sort, and I have to tell you, it was a MOVING experience. Walking up to the capital with my transgendered girlfriend and seeing so many accepting people really helped me realise that throughout the struggles we all have to deal with from families, legislature, and human capacity for misunderstanding, everything is worth it.
ReplyDeleteAnyways, I enjoyed reading your entry, as it's already reminding me of what an incredible time I've had.