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I think trying to go to Pride solo is just doing it wrong. I've come to this conclusion before. Yesterday wasn't great, but sometimes it's still better to get out and do things than sit here and wonder what if?
First, I went to the block party at Crush. Smaller event in my part of town seemed like a good thing. It was supposed to start at noon and I went at 1. I got there and... nothing was going on except for collecting a cover for the bar that goes to Planned Parenthood. That's cool, but 'bar is open' is not a block party. I got some coffee, wandered, came back, etc. Then I gave up and went to the main event down town.
I saw a lot of tents from the bridge! At least something was happening. It was busy, raining, muddy and a preacher trying to get us to repent had a sound system loud enough to drown out the main stage. My idea of a good time? No. But, it's also very classic Pride in Portland vibes. Being rained on while standing in a long-ass line hearing the word of god blasted at you is just peak Portland Pride.
When I say muddy I mean:
The ground was actually just not stable in areas. Also, the mud stank.
Columbia sportswear was handing out stickers like this:
I got a lot of stickers of rainbows and butt plugs and other stuff. I wandered booths. I was rained on.
I stayed for a bit to wander, but it's not a fun time to be there alone. A celebration of all that vibrant love and family that has never included me.
Stag was heavily promoting an inclusive block party for the whole community, so I decided to flee and go check that out. Now, if you are reading this and live in Portland, yes, I am dumb. I rolled a 1 on my Local Area Knowledge. I had Stag mixed up with another bar. Stag is... for young, mostly naked, ripped gay boys. Yeah, they advertised an event for the whole queer community, but ... no me being there was not a chill thing. The whole 'whole queer community' thing should have been taken in the context of 'at Stag'.
I had paid the cover rather than try to awkwardly peer in and check out the vibes. At the door they smiled and took my money, but once I was in I was getting looks. I stayed for five minutes and fled.
On a hunch I went back to Crush, which was living up to it's name. The advertised drag performances were now happening. There was no way to get into the bar or the patio. It was too packed. Again, stayed a bit in the area in case like things shifted again or they bothered trying to have a line to get in. But, nope.
So, then I just wandered and went photowalking.
And today I am tired as hell. I walked a lot and trying to be a part of any of that was rough and alienating. I was trying to be positive and have a good time and check out various groups and be hopeful and now I am just really tired.
First, I went to the block party at Crush. Smaller event in my part of town seemed like a good thing. It was supposed to start at noon and I went at 1. I got there and... nothing was going on except for collecting a cover for the bar that goes to Planned Parenthood. That's cool, but 'bar is open' is not a block party. I got some coffee, wandered, came back, etc. Then I gave up and went to the main event down town.
I saw a lot of tents from the bridge! At least something was happening. It was busy, raining, muddy and a preacher trying to get us to repent had a sound system loud enough to drown out the main stage. My idea of a good time? No. But, it's also very classic Pride in Portland vibes. Being rained on while standing in a long-ass line hearing the word of god blasted at you is just peak Portland Pride.
When I say muddy I mean:
The ground was actually just not stable in areas. Also, the mud stank.
Columbia sportswear was handing out stickers like this:
I got a lot of stickers of rainbows and butt plugs and other stuff. I wandered booths. I was rained on.
I stayed for a bit to wander, but it's not a fun time to be there alone. A celebration of all that vibrant love and family that has never included me.
Stag was heavily promoting an inclusive block party for the whole community, so I decided to flee and go check that out. Now, if you are reading this and live in Portland, yes, I am dumb. I rolled a 1 on my Local Area Knowledge. I had Stag mixed up with another bar. Stag is... for young, mostly naked, ripped gay boys. Yeah, they advertised an event for the whole queer community, but ... no me being there was not a chill thing. The whole 'whole queer community' thing should have been taken in the context of 'at Stag'.
I had paid the cover rather than try to awkwardly peer in and check out the vibes. At the door they smiled and took my money, but once I was in I was getting looks. I stayed for five minutes and fled.
On a hunch I went back to Crush, which was living up to it's name. The advertised drag performances were now happening. There was no way to get into the bar or the patio. It was too packed. Again, stayed a bit in the area in case like things shifted again or they bothered trying to have a line to get in. But, nope.
So, then I just wandered and went photowalking.
And today I am tired as hell. I walked a lot and trying to be a part of any of that was rough and alienating. I was trying to be positive and have a good time and check out various groups and be hopeful and now I am just really tired.
no subject
Date: 2022-06-20 03:42 am (UTC)From:That mud looks brutal.
Oof @ Stag. I wish they'd been a little clearer in what they were actually advertising/who they were actually aiming to "include."
no subject
Date: 2022-06-20 11:27 pm (UTC)From:I've given Pride another chance at least. Don't need to worry what if.
no subject
Date: 2022-06-21 03:49 am (UTC)From:I'm glad you gave it another go, and that you don't have to wonder about it. I'm sorry it wasn't better.
no subject
Date: 2022-06-20 05:52 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2022-06-20 11:30 pm (UTC)From:A lot of LGBTQIA+ groups in Portland don't advertise online, so part of why I went was hoping to get a line on like a book club or something I'd never hear about searching the interwebs or asking reddit. No dice, though.