Hello forum denizens, today is the annual LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) pride parade.
I pass this along for information and interest.
The parade will step off at Willowbranch Park somewhere around 4:00 pm and take an approximately 2-mile route mostly along Park Street and end at Riverside Park. I understand the parade will be followed by an evening of specials and events in 5 Points.
http://www.rivercitypride.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9&Itemid=13
(http://www.rivercitypride.com/images/stories/rcpparaderoute.jpg)
Plan and attend accordingly.
Wish I could have been there.
5 Points was ROCKING last night. Everybody was having a great time. Bet there were some thumping headaches this morning.
And the gay community was just getting started. LOL
There are two more weeks of events, culminating in an all-day festival on October 16 in the RAM space under the Fuller Warren.
I was at incahoots last night. It was "urban" night. The thing I didnt like is that everytime a group of white kids would walk in, they look pissed because of the "crowd" (thats what Im gonna call it), and then they leave. Me and friend were watching them and listening the whole time. The only I wish the LGBT community in Jax can get over is the race thing. Partying does not have a color.
That sucks. Personally, I HATE splitting people into these little groups. I like everyone & don't care what their race or gender preference is. I don't think that kind of stuff should define who a person is.
I go back & forth a lot on these types of pride rallies. On one hand, I appreciate that they're confident & "out there" & not ashamed to be who they are. But on another, I sometimes think that it only enforces others viewing them as different & stereotypes instead of true equality (which is the goal isn't it?). Same thing with stuff like "black proms" & such.
I like Morgan Freeman's stance on it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeixtYS-P3s
Quote from: stephendare on October 02, 2011, 02:47:18 PM
totally agree, duvaldude. One of the most racist groups of people in the city is the White Gay group.
The indie kids go out to urban night without every making an issue about it. During the course of the evening on my birthday last week, we ended up going out to incahoots for 75 drink specials.
When we got inside, the crowd was perfectly split betwen straight(ish) white indie kids and black gay people. there were like three white gays inside the place. It was a little ridiculous.
Is there a history behind this? I seem to recall that the local gay nightclub scene was split along racial lines for years, if I am not mistaken...
Quote from: Jaxson on October 02, 2011, 03:32:10 PM
Quote from: stephendare on October 02, 2011, 02:47:18 PM
totally agree, duvaldude. One of the most racist groups of people in the city is the White Gay group.
The indie kids go out to urban night without every making an issue about it. During the course of the evening on my birthday last week, we ended up going out to incahoots for 75 drink specials.
When we got inside, the crowd was perfectly split betwen straight(ish) white indie kids and black gay people. there were like three white gays inside the place. It was a little ridiculous.
Is there a history behind this? I seem to recall that the local gay nightclub scene was split along racial lines for years, if I am not mistaken...
Yeah its been like this FOREVER. I dont understand it. I do know that the "urban" scene is a little rough around the edges I must admit, but it has always been racial divide among the LGBT community here. For example, you have river city pride and Jacksonville Black gay pride. Why not combine the two events?
I'm going to throw a "white straight pride" night just to shake things up. Who's with me! Byyyaaaahhhhh!
That sounds silly doesn't it?
Quote from: peestandingup on October 02, 2011, 04:08:54 PM
I'm going to throw a "white straight pride" night just to shake things up. Who's with me! Byyyaaaahhhhh!
That sounds silly doesn't it?
the reason there are black Gay Prides, Historically Black college's etc is because of segregation back in the day. We had to have our own events, schools, etc because were not allowed to mix with the Whites. (the same reason there is B.E.T., we had to have our channel.). And it continues somewhat as a tradition on our part, not as a way to seperate our selfs from anyone. So it may sound silly to you, but you have to know the history behind it.
Quote from: peestandingup on October 02, 2011, 04:08:54 PM
I'm going to throw a "white straight pride" night just to shake things up. Who's with me! Byyyaaaahhhhh!
That sounds silly doesn't it?
Isn't that what Hooters is all about, Peestandingup ? ;)
Quote from: Timkin on October 02, 2011, 04:41:10 PM
Quote from: peestandingup on October 02, 2011, 04:08:54 PM
I'm going to throw a "white straight pride" night just to shake things up. Who's with me! Byyyaaaahhhhh!
That sounds silly doesn't it?
Isn't that what Hooters is all about, Peestandingup ? ;)
LOL!!
Quote from: duvaldude08 on October 02, 2011, 04:04:36 PM
Quote from: Jaxson on October 02, 2011, 03:32:10 PM
Quote from: stephendare on October 02, 2011, 02:47:18 PM
totally agree, duvaldude. One of the most racist groups of people in the city is the White Gay group.
The indie kids go out to urban night without every making an issue about it. During the course of the evening on my birthday last week, we ended up going out to incahoots for 75 drink specials.
When we got inside, the crowd was perfectly split betwen straight(ish) white indie kids and black gay people. there were like three white gays inside the place. It was a little ridiculous.
Is there a history behind this? I seem to recall that the local gay nightclub scene was split along racial lines for years, if I am not mistaken...
Yeah its been like this FOREVER. I dont understand it. I do know that the "urban" scene is a little rough around the edges I must admit, but it has always been racial divide among the LGBT community here. For example, you have river city pride and Jacksonville Black gay pride. Why not combine the two events?
I agree with you Duvaldude. This has always been an issue and I really wish it would go away.
Quote from: Timkin on October 02, 2011, 04:41:10 PM
Quote from: peestandingup on October 02, 2011, 04:08:54 PM
I'm going to throw a "white straight pride" night just to shake things up. Who's with me! Byyyaaaahhhhh!
That sounds silly doesn't it?
Isn't that what Hooters is all about, Peestandingup ? ;)
Lol, good one! ;D
Sounds like it was lots of fun. Wish I was there. Jax has come a long way from when I lived there.
I remember making plans with some friends to go out one night when one commented that "It was dark" at one of the nightclubs that we were planning to go to. At first, I thought it was a commentary on the lighting and then I realized the thrust of that comment.
Next year there should be a million posters around town promoting the parade. I saw none. I talked to so many people who had no idea there was even a parade saturday. Promote, people! Combining the parade and festival on the same day, obviously, is the next thing to do. The parade should empty into the festival, like most cities. Why are we trying to reinvent the wheel with our limited resources? One big event will also encourage visitors to come to town for the Pride weekend. As it is now, it's so divided and minimized, very few visitors bother to come. Next year, let's get it right. That said, the parade was nice. I'm always impressed with the spirit of Jacksonville's LGBT community. PS: The festival is in two weeks. Spread the word (lol: since there are NO posters.)
Good point. I had no clue about any parade happening.
Quote from: duvaldude08 on October 02, 2011, 04:20:36 PM
the reason there are black Gay Prides....is because of segregation back in the day. We had to have our own events, schools, etc because were not allowed to mix with the Whites. (the same reason there is B.E.T., we had to have our channel.). And it continues somewhat as a tradition on our part, not as a way to seperate our selfs from anyone. So it may sound silly to you, but you have to know the history behind it.
There were no gay pride celebrations, black
or white, in the days of segregation.
I would have thought this would have been more actively promoted. I am not in the loop of the LGBT community but I only saw the parade by pure chance. My fiance and I were coming out of the antique shop around the intersection of Park and King when the parade just started coming up the street. We stayed and watched and there was a descent crowd, but several people around us were also just there by chance. I looked around the shops there to see if there was any posters advertising the parade but I didn't see any.
Quote from: stephendare on October 03, 2011, 10:06:57 AM
Quote from: finehoe on October 03, 2011, 09:56:17 AM
Quote from: duvaldude08 on October 02, 2011, 04:20:36 PM
the reason there are black Gay Prides....is because of segregation back in the day. We had to have our own events, schools, etc because were not allowed to mix with the Whites. (the same reason there is B.E.T., we had to have our channel.). And it continues somewhat as a tradition on our part, not as a way to seperate our selfs from anyone. So it may sound silly to you, but you have to know the history behind it.
There were no gay pride celebrations, black or white, in the days of segregation.
The split happened a few years ago when the primarily white uppermiddle class organizers of the Pride Event banned all RAP, Hip Hop and 'ghetto' music. It was kind of brutal, and African American Pride Participants decided that they would have their own celebration here, after the manner of Atlanta.
Ive been to a couple of the Black Pride events locally and they are usually more fun than the 'White' pride event. More clowning, better food, more interesting music. Plus everyone is waaaaaaay more extroverted and fun. ;)
The Black pride actually has been around for about 20 years or so. I have a much older bestfriend who use to always attend during his hey day. Im not sure how far it goes back. But it has definately been around since the late 80's/early 90's. Black pride not advertised AT ALL like Rivercity pride. Its always been word of mouth and a few flyers here and there. And of course out of towners who like to pride hop know about it. When I was a freshman in high school (1995)I used to hear about and get invited to "sneak in the club on pride weekend" LOL! Not sure how far it dates back though. (atleast here anyway)
Quote from: stephendare on October 03, 2011, 10:06:57 AM
Quote from: finehoe on October 03, 2011, 09:56:17 AM
Quote from: duvaldude08 on October 02, 2011, 04:20:36 PM
the reason there are black Gay Prides....is because of segregation back in the day. We had to have our own events, schools, etc because were not allowed to mix with the Whites. (the same reason there is B.E.T., we had to have our channel.). And it continues somewhat as a tradition on our part, not as a way to seperate our selfs from anyone. So it may sound silly to you, but you have to know the history behind it.
There were no gay pride celebrations, black or white, in the days of segregation.
The split happened a few years ago when the primarily white uppermiddle class organizers of the Pride Event banned all RAP, Hip Hop and 'ghetto' music. It was kind of brutal, and African American Pride Participants decided that they would have their own celebration here, after the manner of Atlanta.
Ive been to a couple of the Black Pride events locally and they are usually more fun than the 'White' pride event. More clowning, better food, more interesting music. Plus everyone is waaaaaaay more extroverted and fun. ;)
I'd actually like to attend if I knew I'd be welcomed. Being from the area I grew up in (the hills of Appalachian KY are really like a "mountain ghetto"), I feel like people where I'm from have a lot in common with southern blacks. Not directly of course, just a lot of similarities I've noticed in my travels (food, the slang used, the close-knit families, strong religious ties, going without lots of things & having to make do, etc).
I'd probably feel better about it though if it were just called "racial pride" or something like that. We're all Americans. And blacks have been part of American history for quite some time now.
Quote from: peestandingup on October 03, 2011, 11:17:54 AM
Quote from: stephendare on October 03, 2011, 10:06:57 AM
Quote from: finehoe on October 03, 2011, 09:56:17 AM
Quote from: duvaldude08 on October 02, 2011, 04:20:36 PM
the reason there are black Gay Prides....is because of segregation back in the day. We had to have our own events, schools, etc because were not allowed to mix with the Whites. (the same reason there is B.E.T., we had to have our channel.). And it continues somewhat as a tradition on our part, not as a way to seperate our selfs from anyone. So it may sound silly to you, but you have to know the history behind it.
There were no gay pride celebrations, black or white, in the days of segregation.
The split happened a few years ago when the primarily white uppermiddle class organizers of the Pride Event banned all RAP, Hip Hop and 'ghetto' music. It was kind of brutal, and African American Pride Participants decided that they would have their own celebration here, after the manner of Atlanta.
Ive been to a couple of the Black Pride events locally and they are usually more fun than the 'White' pride event. More clowning, better food, more interesting music. Plus everyone is waaaaaaay more extroverted and fun. ;)
I'd actually like to attend if I knew I'd be welcomed. Being from the area I grew up in (the hills of Appalachian KY are really like a "mountain ghetto"), I feel like people where I'm from have a lot in common with southern blacks. Not directly of course, just a lot of similarities I've noticed in my travels (food, the slang used, the close-knit families, strong religious ties, going without lots of things & having to make do, etc).
I'd probably feel better about it though if it were just called "racial pride" or something like that. We're all Americans. And blacks have been part of American history for quite some time now.
The black crowd may seem unfriendly and rough, but we welcome any race to come party with us. I love to see of white kids come in Incahoots on Urban night. I actually go befriend them and party with them all night. It shoud never be about race.
Totally agree , Duvaldude.
There were people of all skin colors in the parade on Saturday. A few of the colors weren't natural too. 8)
Atlanta's Pride is this weekend. To comment to the lack of advertising, the Pride in Atlanta is heavily advertised on many TV channels for the weeks leading up to it and banners are put up around town. I'm pretty sure the mayor and just about everyone will be there. If you missed out on the one in Jacksonville and like to see those kinds of things, it's only a short 6 hour drive up. Hotels in Midtown, Downtown, and surrounding areas are long booked up I'm sure.
What is the route of the Jacksonville Pride? With these streetscapes is there any sort of possibility of having attractive lightpoles with knobs extending out to hang themed banners? That's the new thing up here, and certain areas get certain banners and of course advertising banners go up before any big event (like those on Riverside Ave before the Gator Bowl on the street lamps). If Riverside is gay enough, perhaps street lamps can have rather permanent lamp decorations denoting a gayborhood. It would be a welcoming draw and a symbol of a city on a move. I could imagine Riverside developing into a much smaller version of Lakewood in Chicago.
The route was from park (Willowbranch) to park (Riverside Park) down Park (street).