So today I drove down to Tacoma to meet up with a Buddy and for Tacoma’s Pride festival. Good times. Good times. But I think my favorite part was when I was parked and texting my South Sound people to figure out where they were. During that time my gremlins climbed out the sunroof and shouted out at folks walking by how much they loved their outfits. Am I really old for that to be my favorite part of Pride?
Fuck no you were not wrong. I would not let them go into any private areas, but part of pride is being a fun part of the community and that means having fun with the kids of allies and GLBT parents to show them that pride is for them too, not an exclusionary for GLBT only event. Everyone should have pride in who they are, even cishet people. No one wants to stop and end cishet people, we want to all be ourselves together. That being said you are probably aware some GLBT people get caught up in adult party theses and sometimes show disregard to the safety of younger members of the crowd. People do stupid things, especially those partaking in partying and mob stupidity so watch out for the kids because no one wants them hurt. As a paintball ref I am concerned with the safety and wellbeing of kids and adults at big events. I have had to be the person toning down some partying from time to time, and understand the dangers to others when you get caught up in adult activities. There should be a safe way to participate with the youth to show inclusion and let them know they will be the future of pride.
I know you are kinduv kidding, but it is important for belonging for parents to bring their children to activities they enjoy. My parents brought me to their adult events, so after I became a teenager and went through the my life is mine phase I went back and became adult friends with their friends at their parties. It was an interesting social right of passage for my sister and I along with my parent's friend's children that we grew up in that unit and as I have gotten older it has made the family much closer that we can participate in family activities as adults because we share our lives. It may not always lead to kids returning to a better adult relationship with their parents, but kids who didn't have things like that tend to just go their own way from what I have seen with others later in life.
You are old. Not because that’s your favorite part of pride, though. Lookit your gremlins. They’re grown!!!
Of course not. Your love of Pride has certainly matured, but now you enjoy it on a deeper level, and you're looking ahead not just for your own freedom to choose, but for your children. I think that's good, and it certainly doesn't make you old for feeling that way.
