The fact is, pride does reflect that — most of the people in the parade are there with their sports teams and churches, or are marching with their kids or their parents. It’s hard to blame the organizers for the fact that the media focuses on the most dramatic stuff (drag queens and naked folk).

I think pride events are important in two ways. First, they remind the world that there are all kinds of queer people living among them — and especially in smaller cities, that’s hugely important. Second, they remind us about the diversity of our own community. Especially if you’re young and your primary relationship to gay life is bars and sex, seeing that there’s room for you to also be a soccer player or a quaker or a classic car enthusiast can help you figure out that there’s room in this world to be who you want to be and not just who people tell you to be.

I think a table with information about TNG is a great idea. As someone who recently stumbled across TNG and am thrilled to know that such a thing exists, I think it would be wonderful to spread the word to as many others as possible.

On the other hand, the festival, coming on the heels of that awesome togethery-goodness feeling (and my hangover), always comes as a huge let-down. That’s where I feel everything you said above: it’s coorporate, encased in sweltering concrete, and feels kind of like a work conference you’re obligated to go to and pretend to enjoy.

I would love to see TNG offer an alternative option to the festival. I probably wouldn’t show up for anything during the parade or Saturday evening, since those spaces are already filled with things I love doing. But the festival is one area where Pride could really use a new perspective.

I’m more disturbed by the “corporatization” of Pride than anything else, mostly because it just smacks of the worst of capitalist creepiness.

However, I think the drag queens, leather men, Dykes on Bikes, etc., standing next to A&F types and lipstick lesbians cradling their children provide one beautiful option for what culture can be.

As to Zack’s question about why gay events always have to be some fabulous party: I sometimes suspect and believe that people are desparate for beauty, pleasure and ecstasy (non-tablet kind, thank you), and queer folks, possibly because of the barrier-breaking nature of an out existence, feel more free to tap into unbridled and, yes, sometimes orgiastic delight. I do, agree, Zack, that there should be room for the glam hoo-hah, the quiet jazz night and a garden dinner party among friends. Variety is a good thing.

I think it would be fantastic for TNG to have some kind of presence at Pride. If the intent is to spread the word a little more, I think the festival is probably a better bet. People already have those bags full of all-things gay and they can just add another flyer, postcard, whatever to the glittering heap.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_OQeA3GiRw