Queer As Folk

Every once in a while, a program comes along that changes your life. One that touches someplace deep inside, revealing realities and ideas you never had or thought possible.

On my second trip to London to visit A, he left me with a couple of VCR tapes of a show that had turned the U.K. upside down. Gay men and the "lifestyle" were shown raw, imperfections and all. We were real. I was real. What I felt was real, and others felt it too.

From the first minute of Queer As Folk, I couldn't stop watching. Sightseeing was set aside and I stayed in all day. I was mesmerized, invited into a world so different from my own yet so familiar. It was long before Showtime agreed to produce the U.S. remake. A huge risk at the time that broke ground for so much of what we take for granted today.

Even the title, a play on the British term Queer as Fuck, was controversial in its own right.

I largely credit this show with my fascination with London. I simple love it there. I miss my friends there.

The Queer As Folk cast of characters was varied. Each written and played with nuances that allowed you to see bits of yourself. A helping hand in holding up a mirror, looking at oneself, and asking, "Who am I?"

There was Stuart, the dark haired incredibly sexy Irish man whom all chased. A narcissistic egomaniac whose irresistible charm outweighed his dramatic failings. Living in the moment, all things coming easy to him. Looks, money, desirability. I envied him; wished I was more like him.

There was Vince, who I felt sorry for yet identified with the most. The nice guy who never seemed to be appreciated. Someone who pined for attention from the one man he'd never have — Stuart. He was willing to settle, to put his life in a place where okay was good enough. Potential never reached.

There was Nathan, the 15-year-old Prince William look-a-like with the world ahead of him. Troubled at school with the toughs by day, and emerging as a gay man on Canal Street in Manchester by night.

There was Cameron, the Australian in his 30's, seemingly the only one to see the beauty of Vince. Which, of course, only led Vince to question him as a man. Like the saying, I wouldn't want to be in a club that would have me as a member.

A full cast of characters, all drawn so vividly and with such realism, made me feel like I belonged. They were all dysfunctional. A place where I could fit in.

That was around 10 years ago.

I've been watching them in a rerun marathon on the Ovation channel over the past few nights. It's made me nostalgic and emotional. A time gone by for me, and a glimpse of gay life that has faded never to return.

If you get the chance, tune in. I think they're running it all day on this Sunday. Perhaps you'll be as affected as me.

Happy Pride!

NYC Pride Parade 2009

Yesterday was a loooooonnnnngggg day!

I had succumbed to the heat on Saturday while wandering around SOHO. The humidity didn't help; I felt faint despite drinking a bottle of orange juice and eating a couple of donuts. I hopped on the subway and headed back to my room hoping I wouldn't pass out. I made it back, turned on the AC full blast and slept for 2 hours. I was definitely dehydrated so I started drinking lots of water.

When Sunday came around, I wasn't sure I'd last. The temp and humidity was lower so I figured I'd give it a shot. I'm glad I did since I didn't feel sick at all. I started the day with a bagel, OJ, and water. Got another bottle of water and a bottle of Gatorade to make sure I was hydrated.

Due to the great work of Father Tony (see his slideshow) and his husband C, they organized a group of Gay Bloggers and Digital Activists and included me. We assembled on W 54th Street at 11:30, waiting for our turn to proceed onto Fifth Avenue for the journey down to the West Village.

The group ahead of us was a "dance float" with loud music and dancers showing lots of skin along the way. As we made the turn onto 5th, they started us off with Billie Jean and the crowd erupted. It put me in a great mood for the rest of the way. Here's a video of the final part. That's St. Patrick's Cathedral in the background and Father Tony in the left foreground and Eric Leven in the right foreground. There was a dude dressed like Batman that was dancing along like he didn't have a care in the world. I understand he's a regular in Central Park on the weekends.



The parade is MASSIVE — we didn't move from our collecting point until around 3. At 5:30, we'd covered quite a bit of ground but were still on 5th Ave so I had to say good-bye to catch my bus at 6:20. I JUST made it by the skin of my teeth!

Imagine that we were group 10 of 16 and I understand our group didn't hit the finish line until 6:30. The parade must have gone on until 9. Yep, New York's Fifth Avenue closed down for 9 hours for pride!

It's an odd and special feeling to walk down Fifth Ave, passing landmarks like St. Patrick's, Rockefeller Center, Saks Fifth Avenue, Empire State Building, Flat Iron Building, etc. An excellent experience indeed!

Looking down Fifth Ave.

Looking up Fifth Ave.

A Peruvian group was behind us with men in hot pants and lots of red feathers.

Here's the dance float that ended up ahead of us the whole way and you can see Batman dancing.

Back From NYC

Well, I had quite a weekend in NYC.

My primary reason for going was to walk in the pride parade with NYC Bloggers and Digital Activists. A great group that I'm happy have chosen to include me! If I met you, and you're stopping by, leave a comment with a link to your blog. I have a pretty good memory but could still use the help!

I'll have to write several posts to recap things. Reviews of Hair and 9 to 5, and an update on the parade itself.

Stay tuned.

NYC Heritage Of Pride Parade

Back in the day when I was an up-and-comer in the corporate world, I always went to New York City for PC EXPO at the Jacob Javits Convention Center. I'd fly into Albany to stay with family, train in and out of NYC for the show and Pride, and then return home to California. Airfare used to be considerably cheaper with a "Saturday night stay" — so much so that it was less expensive for the company to have you stay over the weekend and pay for your hotel. I got to see a lot of the U.S. that way. Win-win!

We always stayed at the Parker Meridian on 56th between 6th and 7th, just around the corner from Carnegie Hall (I followed Mel Torme on the sidewalk one night to the hotel...me returning from a Broadway show, him from a performance at CH). From the hotel, I'd hop over to St. Patrick's Cathedral to watch all the hoopla surrounding the protesters who always showed up to shout ugly things and hold aloft equally offensive (biblically-inspired?) signs. I always wondered what the event looked like from their eyes. Three hours worth of constant revelry going by and the sidewalks of 5th Avenue absolutely packed with spectators standing 10 deep as far as the eye could see. Did they feel righteous? Did they feel hopeless? Did they feel overwhelmed?

This year's parade stepped off at 5th and 52nd at noon and progressed down 5th and made some zig zags through the West Village to Christopher and Greenwich Streets. A moment of silence was to be held at 2 p.m. but we didn't experience that where we were. I recall the goosebumps I used to feel as the entire parade route would go from a mass cacophony to complete silence. We'd bow our heads and raise our right hands in a fist to remember those of us who were suffering with, or had succumbed to, HIV/AIDS.

It seemed there was always a straight tourist couple near me that would invariably ask, "What's going on now?" I'd think, "Ummm, shut your pie hole, can't you see we're all being quiet now?" Instead, I'd gently hold my pointer finger over my lips to shush them, and then I'd turn and explain the meaning when the crowd finally erupted in a roar. The visitors would always sheepishly nod their heads in understanding. In a way, I was imparting to them "gay culture" and it was important that I not be rude no matter my level of irritation. This was important to us and it was important for them to know why.

I didn't get many photos..and some of the ones I took didn't turn out very well. At top is Reverend Dr. Troy Perry who was one of the Grand Marshals. The photo of Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum, the other Grand Marshal, was too blurry to post. As was the "cooter alert" photo of the hot pants clad gal dancing on the fire escape above us. Then there was "the man" seen at left. I'll call him eye candy here, but in my dreams he's so much more!

I was fortunate enough to catch up with the authors of some of my favorite blogs. Joe, of Joe.My.God. fame, put out a call to his readers to meet at the intersection of Christopher and Gay streets. Joe's blog is what inspired me to begin writing my own. I still haven't decided if that was a blessing or a curse. Either way, I hold him responsible!

When I first arrived at the designated corner, I introduced myself to David and we had a fine chat while we were waiting for the others to arrive. [When we left, David saved me some serious time by pointing me to a blue line subway station that saved me from the queue waiting for a red line at Christopher street.] Next came the Farmboyz, always on the lookout for controversy with a camera at the ready. Just kidding boys! ;) And Joe arrived with guests in tow. I get the impression he's always got something going on with somebody! There were a few others who's names I don't recall and others whose anonymity I will respect. I will say that everyone looks like they do in their photos and I was able to see them approaching in the crowd with no difficulty. Watch their blogs for more photos.

I did find it interesting that a couple of consistent, yet semi-anonymous, commenters on Joe's blog showed up and introduced themselves to him. He was clearly tickled. The blogosphere is an odd world. Do we know each other? Yes, some of us "intimately" because people share their innermost thoughts. Have we met? Not necessarily. Is it possible to be intimate with someone you've never met? I guess that's a good question in the computer age!

My last photo worth posting is of Evita. God bless her heart, there's one in every gay crowd!
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Countdown To New York City

It's only 10 days before I head to New York. The plan is to see Fantasia in The Color Purple and Spring Awakenings on Saturday, and watch the Pride Parade on Sunday. I need the break.
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Albany Pride Parade And Festival

Two mounted police lead the pride parade down Lark Street in Albany. Not quite the size as what they put on in larger cities as you can see but an important presence nonetheless. An orderly crowd and no talk of protesters. I wonder if their tired asses have finally gotten "used to it"!

The parade lasted about 15 minutes and ended in Washington Park where the festival was held. Live music, fair-type fare, and information booths. Hardly any folks selling things and a noticeable lack of rainbow trinkets.


I watched the parade with some old and new friends...not their ages but rather how long I've know them. When I was thinking about this I realized that I never added It's Just Nothing to my blog roll. I chalk it up to one of those things I thought was already done. Anyway, that has been remedied!

Our hero Idle Eyes and a Dormy shook the junk in his trunk on the float for Rocks bar.

Another float in the parade.

It was warm and a tad humid but the overcast sky kept things bearable (but not bare-able).
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June=Pride

I'm taking part in an online effort started by blogger Kelly Stern down in Richmond, VA. Visit his site to find out more about his Celebrate Diversity project!
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