A Question of Perspective

DC Cowboys II by bravesfan1810

Depending on the situation, I’m roughly 80% gayboy.

I’m somewhat ostentatious, I make a lot of noise, and the DC Cowboys are one of my favorite things about Pride. (I’m missing them this year, because they’re on the stage today, and I’m in front of the computer today…)

I braved Denver Pride yesterday, for the Dyke March. It was a little bit sad, I must say… as I mentioned to one of my friends, they could likely benefit from a little bit of gayboy flair.

1. 

   Me and Michael, Priding it up

   The space was too big for the crowd, so it looked like there weren’t that many people there. Providence likely has less attendees… but also less real estate, thereby making the whole thing look packed and fabulous.

2. 15 Dykes in Bikes. Really, people? That’s it? In all of the Denver Metro area, there’s only 15 lesbos who own a motorcycle? Oy vey. EDIT: Cathi, of DDOB, who would know well better than I, tells me that there were upward of 35 Dykes on Bikes… and well over 1,500 in attendance on Saturday.
3. The main stage. Now granted, I didn’t spend the whole day counting heads, but when my sidekick Michael and I toddled over to the main stage, there were maybe 20 spectators, and 4 dancers. To the lesbian singing folk music.
4. The side stage (that’s what I’ll call it anyway.)  When I arrived there was a woman singing (I think, I was too far away to do a good bio/drag/trans evaluation of the hands, feet and Adam’s apple.)  This stage, which was on a trailer of some sort, was better populated than the main stage, which is likely because it was closer to the food.
5. 

   Turkey Legs and Rainbow Leggings

   Let the sun shine. The blazing, 90 degree sun. Any good gayboy knows that the middle of a concrete area, in the blazing midday sun, is not the best place to be rubbing all around with 500 of your new BFFs. The lesbians were letting it all hang out, without the hardbody benefit that you’ll typically see when the boys get up on their boxes and shake, shake, shake it.

6. I miss my BB Hayes. And it’s not just because her alter ego is one of my favorite gay wonders of the universe. It’s because she has the good sense to have a focal point. If you don’t know what I mean, you need to get out from that rock you’re having a grand ol’ time under.  The drag queen, yes, singular, was less than my drag dreams had hoped for. I’m sure they’re out in droves for today’s festivities, but what’s wrong with Denver, don’t the lesbos love their drag queens here?
7. Condoms, anyone? I know I’m a little bit biased about this, but I do believe that any good Pride festival should have condoms, lube, dental dams, and all the rest of it, freely available. Not a rubber to be found at the festival (that I saw, anyway) and the only ones I saw all day were at a bar, in a condom pack that didn’t have any lube in it, from Planned Parenthood.  Seriously? Is HIV such a distant thought that it’s off the Pride radar? Never mind all the rest of it. I did have a nice bar back ask me if I knew about the HPV Vaccine. Yes, thanks…
8. 

   Old Tarot Card Reader Fellow

   On the plus side, there were some fabulous attractions, like the Palm/Crystal Ball/Tarot Card Readers/Fortune Tellers. There were 2 of them. They were about 3,000 years old. That or they had some AWESOME makeup on…

9. Turkey legs and rainbow leggings. Need I say more?
10. I got out of the house for a bit, which is a commodity in short supply lately…
11. I got my first real view of Denver queers. They come in more shapes, sizes and colors than they do back home, but I suspect that’s a function of demographics.

All in all, not that impressed with my first Denver Pride. Granted, I didn’t venture out for the main event today, but yesterday’s first-ever Denver Dyke March needs a little bit of gayboy tjuz.

I’m rooting for a better showing next year. After 4 hours gaying it up yesterday, I’m pooped.