Comments on: Not to Rain on the Parade… http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2008/06/15/not-to-rain-on-the-parade/ 68.3 Square Miles of D.C. News and Opinion Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:05:00 -0500 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Gretchen http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2008/06/15/not-to-rain-on-the-parade/comment-page-1/#comment-175098 Gretchen Mon, 16 Jun 2008 13:32:59 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2008/06/15/not-to-rain-on-the-parade/#comment-175098 I had the same reaction to my first Pride a few years ago, which was St. Louis Pride. In comparison, I found DC Pride much more balanced, not that there were fewer corporate floats/booths, but that there were *many* more community organizations, social interest groups, and so forth. I left St. Louis Pride (and this year's Chinese New Year Parade in that sad excuse for a Chinatown here in DC)feeling like consumerism had replaced culture. This weekend's Pride reassured me that, at least with a critical mass, a community can have a soul and be a niche market. Time will tell if this is a stable balance or a stage en route to ever increasing corporate-ness. I had the same reaction to my first Pride a few years ago, which was St. Louis Pride. In comparison, I found DC Pride much more balanced, not that there were fewer corporate floats/booths, but that there were *many* more community organizations, social interest groups, and so forth. I left St. Louis Pride (and this year's Chinese New Year Parade in that sad excuse for a Chinatown here in DC)feeling like consumerism had replaced culture. This weekend's Pride reassured me that, at least with a critical mass, a community can have a soul and be a niche market. Time will tell if this is a stable balance or a stage en route to ever increasing corporate-ness.

]]> By: bendygirl http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2008/06/15/not-to-rain-on-the-parade/comment-page-1/#comment-175073 bendygirl Mon, 16 Jun 2008 12:49:22 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2008/06/15/not-to-rain-on-the-parade/#comment-175073 I thought the same thing yesterday at the festival. I walked in to stare at Wachovia, saw booths for ZipCar, BofA and just about every kind of commercial drink I could (yeah, Pepsi Max, I mean you!). However, it was also nice to see so many religious organizations (I saw at least three but didn't get to see all the booths, way too crowded) and there was also the NIH trailer with vaccine info, that was really cool, too. It would have been nice if booths could have been more organized in to "commercial" areas, food areas and perhaps political/religious/health areas. DCVote was too far away from the Log Cabin Republicans and the Obama and DNC tables. Perhaps next year. I thought the same thing yesterday at the festival. I walked in to stare at Wachovia, saw booths for ZipCar, BofA and just about every kind of commercial drink I could (yeah, Pepsi Max, I mean you!).

However, it was also nice to see so many religious organizations (I saw at least three but didn't get to see all the booths, way too crowded) and there was also the NIH trailer with vaccine info, that was really cool, too. It would have been nice if booths could have been more organized in to "commercial" areas, food areas and perhaps political/religious/health areas. DCVote was too far away from the Log Cabin Republicans and the Obama and DNC tables. Perhaps next year.

]]> By: MS http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2008/06/15/not-to-rain-on-the-parade/comment-page-1/#comment-174600 MS Sun, 15 Jun 2008 19:09:16 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2008/06/15/not-to-rain-on-the-parade/#comment-174600 And it may also reflect that the "marginalized" community actually has an enormous amount of money and power, especially in Washington, DC. Just like every other "community" or "race" or some other construct that exists, there are tiers and the days of the revolutionary gay person are over. Social movements change and grow, and sometimes it is hard to leave behind the fervor of the underground. The Pride parade grew out the sense of denial and oppression, and while things are not all peachy, they certainly aren't what they used to be. I am not defending corporate America or bashing them, I am simply saying you arent' marginalized once your are a market. Whether one admires capitalism or not, it is the ideology we live by and if you aren't considered a relevant market, you end up poor, angry and marginalized? Are you arguing that the gay "community" should return to that? And it may also reflect that the "marginalized" community actually has an enormous amount of money and power, especially in Washington, DC. Just like every other "community" or "race" or some other construct that exists, there are tiers and the days of the revolutionary gay person are over.

Social movements change and grow, and sometimes it is hard to leave behind the fervor of the underground. The Pride parade grew out the sense of denial and oppression, and while things are not all peachy, they certainly aren't what they used to be.

I am not defending corporate America or bashing them, I am simply saying you arent' marginalized once your are a market. Whether one admires capitalism or not, it is the ideology we live by and if you aren't considered a relevant market, you end up poor, angry and marginalized? Are you arguing that the gay "community" should return to that?

]]> By: JL http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2008/06/15/not-to-rain-on-the-parade/comment-page-1/#comment-174549 JL Sun, 15 Jun 2008 17:32:31 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2008/06/15/not-to-rain-on-the-parade/#comment-174549 This is a byproduct of two forces: 1) America's love of brands; and, 2) LGBTers feeling extraordinary affinity anytime a big famous impersonal brand says "hey, WE like you just fine." If you dread trips to your little hometown, or you face awkward conversations with relatives, etc., something feels good about thinking "fuck y'all, McDonalds gets me." I know it's odd, but ain't that America? This is a byproduct of two forces: 1) America's love of brands; and, 2) LGBTers feeling extraordinary affinity anytime a big famous impersonal brand says "hey, WE like you just fine."

If you dread trips to your little hometown, or you face awkward conversations with relatives, etc., something feels good about thinking "fuck y'all, McDonalds gets me."

I know it's odd, but ain't that America?

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