Do You Have Family Pride?
June is Gay Pride Month and much as I always plan to mark it festively, until I had children, I consistently failed to rise to the occasion. The last time I participated in any kind of Pride event was the 2000 Millennial March on Washington. And it was easy, because I lived close enough to the events to pretty much step off my curb and be there.
In contradiction to the prevalent image of gay life, being a lesbian is just about as mundane as being anything else. Add small children and we queers are virtually indistinguishable from anyone else wearing banana-smeared capris and a v-neck tee-shirt. And though I’ve never been one to say “but I’m just like everyone else!” the sad truth is, I pretty much am.
Nevertheless, here comes Gay Pride again and now the elder daughter is old enough to fully appreciate a parade full of strapping boys eager to boost her to their shoulders and cover her in Mardi Gras beads. Sleeping through Pride this year feels a bit like skipping a kindergartner’s first dance recital. So my partner and I are off to march with a group of friends, stroller at the ready, 2 and 4-year old daughters in tow, next Saturday afternoon.
How about you? Has having kids changed your plans for the Pride season? Anybody out there marching with kneebiters? Here’s a preview of what to expect from some families who’ve already marched this year:
If you’re in Chicago, come wave us on from the sidelines!
See Also:
Hey Queers, Come Hold Hands in Front of My Kid
Foster Kids or Political Pawns?
image: amsnovelty.com
Related Posts:
Related Posts:- Daughter Carrying Mom’s Baby
- Do Sex Offenders Belong at Church?
- Taking a Nanny on Vacation: Smart or Tacky?
- Freak Out-Free First Day of School
- Are You Bummed When Your Kid is Better Than You?
Tags: family pride, gay family, gay parents, gay pride, pride, pride parade, Shannon LC Cate
7 Comments
Embo commented on Jun 24 09 at 9:20 amWe brought our 18-month old to our city’s pride parade and he HATED it. Motorcycles (ala Dykes on Bikes) are apparently very scary and/or overwhelming. We had to leave early. The next day’s Pride festival was more successful, and we had a good time strolling around with our son.
jeannesager commented on Jun 24 09 at 2:23 pmWe have a country version of the pride parade, and I haven’t taken my daughter only because I haven’t gone myself since she was born. Something to put on the calendar for this summer! Everyone brings their dogs here, which makes it this big huge family affair.
Lindsey commented on Jun 24 09 at 6:44 pmWe’ve taken our daughter every year since she’s been born, tho honestly that hasn’t been oh-so-many years yet… Her first was at just about 2 months old, and she slept in the sling almost the whole time. For us, it’s about showing our solidarity with and support for the community and spending a beautiful day in the sun with friends. And she LOVES motorcycles!
Emma commented on Jun 24 09 at 8:16 pmI’m kind of bored by Pride myself, but we took our 2 1/2 year old and he had a blast! We went with a friend his age, who appeared to be out of it the whole time but then made a parade with his trucks for his other friend’s birthday the next day. Complete with plastic animals dancing on a “float” (school bus).
LolaLane commented on Jun 25 09 at 9:47 amMy fiance and I are walking in the parade in Houston with our 3 and four year old boys in tow- I think they’ll have a blast!
Dori commented on Jun 30 09 at 5:16 pmWe took our seven year old daughter to San Francisco Pride this past weekend and I think it was a big mistake. It had been many years since I’d been to SF Pride and I guess my memory faded about the nudity and ‘leather’ attire. It would have been different if my daughter was under age four or five, but at seven she is very aware of the nudity and “innapropriate” (her word) atmosphere. I am by no means dissaproving of the sex positive nature of the SF Pride celebration, but I think it was traumatic for my seven year old…I’m still kicking myself for taking her. Next year we’ll do something different, perhaps even attend a tamer event in a smaller city or town.
Shannon LC Cate commented on Jun 30 09 at 7:14 pmWhoops, Dori! There wasn’t any nudity at our Pride. I saw only one leathered butt. Otherwise, there were a lot of gym bunnies dancing in skimpy shorts, but nothing actually naked.
Seven is different from 2 or 3 though. My 4-year old was enamoured of the drag queens, most of all.
