Gay Pride 2009

I am wiped OUT. Today, I volunteered to help Heritage of Pride (HOP) as they put on the Heritage of Pride March (also known as the "Gay Pride Parade"). Technically, this isn't a parade, but people call it that, so it sticks. My organization, Out of Bounds NYC was in charge of Vehicle Check-In. This means that my volunteers had to act as gatekeepers at specific intersections in Midtown, and either allow or block vehicles from entering that block. All vehicles need to have a permit, and if they don't, they can't come in. I assembled a group of 21 volunteers, and they were broken into small groups of 3s. I have to really thank my friend Nicholas Forge for bringing in five additional volunteers by himself! THANKS NICKY-POOS!

Throughout the day, I heard some fun things that I just have to share with the world:

1) As I was walking to visit one of my groups of 3, I passed a drag queen on the sidewalk, dressed as Marie Antionette, and I must say, she looked stunning. Immediately after passing her by, I noticed a young father, in his late 30s with two young boys, maybe 8 and 10. They looked like they were from Connecticut, or somewhere else where people talk through their clinched teeth, and I heard the father say to his boys, "Trust me, that's a guy." The kids didn't believe him.

2) There was a fire truck that was part of the March, for the Kiehl's company. It was all done up in pretty rainbow flags, and Kiehl's signs all over it. The police refused to let it enter the March, and I asked one of the nearby officers why not. He told me that he ran the plates, and the truck had the WRONG plates on it, expired registration and no insurance. Then the Kiehl's representative standing next to him said, "We're getting all of the papers you need RIGHT NOW, and the truck is insured." I asked the cop, if they produce all of that, could the truck enter the March, and he replied, "If he gets the right plates, he could drive it to Egypt for all I care."

Overall, the March was great! So many people. I was told there were 30 more groups this year! Organizing this is so difficult. It was truly like herding cats. Everyone has a mind of their own, disobeys authority, and does whatever-the-hell-they-want. But it's not that bad. Very interesting show overall.

Bad Taste Award goes to the NBA Store at 666 5th: They had some staff members outside selling bottles of water for $2.25!! Talk about opportunism at its worst. I'm sure they don't sell water for $2.25 on other days.

After the March, I went home, showered and ate dinner. Then I dropped by Lindsey & Drea's for a short visit...

Then I went to the Pier Dance and saw lots of my friends. The best part of the night was meeting Cleve Jones! He was very friendly. We talked for a few minutes. I also saw Dustin Lance Black, but didn't get to talk with him.

HAPPY PRIDE! 40 Yeas Since Stonewall...

Michael Jackson 1958 - 2009

Rest in Peace.

Farrah Fawcett 1947 - 2009

When I was about 11 years old, I remember my best friend Jeff Fields had this poster in his bedroom. Even at that age, I didn't seem at all interested in getting one for my room. That was probably a sign of things to come, right? However, I do remember looking at a lot of pictures of Leif Garrett and Sean Cassidy in Dynamite Magazine.

Pee-rah-naaaaaaas

Alex came home from the gym this morning, took off his shirt, admired his nicely worked out torso, and then said, "I like that I can take off my shirt in public now. At the bar, the boys come over to me like pee-rah-naaaaaaas."

Speaking Proper Spanish Grammar

I was walking down a suburban street in Brooklyn on Saturday after spending some time at the local flea market with a friend.  He said something in Spanish, and I thought I would show off with my minimal, yet dirty, Spanish abilities. I then announced, "Mi pinga es mucho grande."

And from behind the hedge we were walking by, a Latino gardener replied, "Muy grande. No mucho grande."

I stand corrected.