23 June 2006 @ 11:30 am
Parades and Festivals -- and Icons  
Topic the First:

Tomorrow is the Houston Gay Pride Festival and Parade. I haven't ever been except for the year my house was just off Westheimer, in which case I was part of the parade route. I'm so annoyed over the state-level votes and what passes for political discourse, I'm going to show my support for true equal rights for all Americans and to prove that not all Texans are hateful bigots.

That sounds all angry but I'm actually quite excited. I loved going to Westheimer events when I lived in the Montrose. I suspect this is the only festival that still happens on the street now that the "Westheimer" Art Festival is exiled. Too bad it isn't in March or April, when it's more pleasant to be outdoors around here. *grin*

**~~**

Topic the Second:

I hadn't yet used this nifty polling feature and I've been pondering the whole "where to post icons" thing, so...

[Poll #754555]
Feel free to vote for more than one answer. Sometimes more than one fits.

I'm leaning towards just posting them here behind lj-cuts because I'm damned lazy and uninterested parties need not click. I see a lot of "icon journals" around which I admit I liked when I was trawling for icons because it makes them easier to find. I'm not particularly skilled yet in making the sorts of icons that seem popular - and probably never will be because my 30-mumble eyes like color and clarity. Thus, I tend to think of this as a personal exercise, although [livejournal.com profile] jalabert is very kind to me and continues to feed my addiction by using my Crappy Icons (tm). I've been stashing them at my Scrapbook, but I suspect that's a place that only I visit.

I'll probably look at the results and then do whatever the hell I want but I'm looking to open up discussion about points I might not have thought about.
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Current Mood: excited
 
 
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[identity profile] la-directora.livejournal.com on June 23rd, 2006 05:48 pm (UTC)
One of my favorite things about being a member of St. Stephen's Episcopal was that we built float for the pride parade every year. So I haven't just seen the Houston pride parade, I've been IN it.

The best part was that at the back of the float, we always had to make a space for the lawn chairs for the two Bettys. As in two women in their 70's or 80's who were members of the church who always insisted on riding on the float. We made room for the chairs so they could sit down and relax. I remember one of them saying to me, "I just can't imagine why anyone has a problem with these nice young girls and boys. It's none of their business anyway." Amen. :)
Mish: McKay Pied Piper[identity profile] hsapiens.livejournal.com on June 23rd, 2006 07:28 pm (UTC)
I like to think that's exactly why I was so naive about gay rights and why I haven't been more active. I honestly can't conceive of caring what consenting adults get up to in their bedrooms. Too bad more people don't think the same way. The huge vote margins in the elections came as a complete surprise to me and I'm still trying to puzzle out the most effective response.

I do recall, how much it meant to me to see male friends helping to defend clinics back in the day, so I'm hoping that showing support will be taken in a similar fashion: a statement of solidarity and a statement of what is right regardless of whether the principle directly changes my own options.
[identity profile] la-directora.livejournal.com on June 23rd, 2006 07:38 pm (UTC)
That has certainly been the response I've gotten from being the straight girl at gay rights events for the past 15 years. :)
Mish: McKay Pied Piper[identity profile] hsapiens.livejournal.com on June 23rd, 2006 07:53 pm (UTC)
Good. I'm not planning on declaring myself "straight" but I never know whether I'm a welcome addition or if it seems like I'm trying to horn in on the community when it's fun to be there.

I was chuckling yesterday when I was filling out a form and, since Joe and I are not officially married, I was declaring myself as living with my partner and childless -- and that I had checked off "gay/lesbian interest" magazine as something I'd picked up and looked through in the last 3 months. I figured if I told them I was going with Amy to the pride parade, I could complete the impression.
[identity profile] la-directora.livejournal.com on June 23rd, 2006 08:59 pm (UTC)
I've never gotten the feeling that anyone thinks I'm "horning in" in any way. Just that it's good to have more people stand up and say, "This is not okay." Especially people that most of those in opposition see as "normal".

And I do have to chuckle at the idea of you and Amy as a couple. Very cute. :)
Mish: McKay Pied Piper[identity profile] hsapiens.livejournal.com on June 24th, 2006 02:15 am (UTC)
*hee* Now that I think about it, I did marry her a year ago this April...