Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings breaks us off some beads.
UPDATE: CLICK HERE TO VIEW MORE PICS
DV photographer Chuck Dube will be sending over about a gazillion photos from gay Pride shortly, and DVtv segment producer Brent Paxton will be along with video. We’ll post all that just as soon as we can, but for now here are a few shots I took of the parade from my vantage point — which was somewhere in front of Kroger. That’s where I went because that’s where I was told there would be an area set aside for media, which there wasn’t. So instead I got to take in the parade with the rest of the crowd, including a very friendly lesbian named Stacy, who agreed to give me a spot next to her along the barricades in exchange for posting her photo here, which I’ve done below.
Anyhow, as superficial as appearing in the Pride parade has become for politicians, it was good to see Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings riding prominently atop the city float (above). However, the overall turnout from city council members appeared to be fewer than the 13 who had RSVP’d (we’re working to get an accurate headcount). It was also good to see County Judge Clay Jenkins in the parade, riding with the Dallas Young Democrats.
After the parade I ran home to meet the BF, who had gotten off work at 3, and we headed to Lee Park. When we arrived at the festival around 5, the entrance near Rawlins Street was literally jammed with people (photo below) as the cashier apparently couldn’t keep up with the line. There was also a large crowd congregating on a sidewalk across the street — either because they didn’t want to pay to get in or they didn’t want to leave their coolers unattended. When we walked past, police officers were yelling at them not to sit on the curb.
Attendance appeared to be down significantly at the park, but as we noted last week, organizers expected this given the new $5 admission charge. Even my new friend Stacy from the parade told me in no uncertain terms that she didn’t plan to go to the park because she didn’t want to pay.
But we won’t know to what degree attendance was down — or other details about the parade and festival — till Tuesday. That’s when Michael Doughman, executive director of the Dallas Tavern Guild, says he’ll be available to talk.
This entrance to Lee Park at Rawlins Street was jammed with people when we arrived at about 5 p.m.
A few more of my pics are below. Check back shortly for others.
I thought the parade was good this year ! Not a Great but Good ! What really upsets me is that when I got to the park there were Three vendors selling HARDCORE PORN at there booths. The magazines were shrink wrapped but the DVD’s were in plain site laying in stacks on the tables. If we are going to promote this as a family venue how can we justify this with that much HARDCORE PORN in plain site ? There may have been more I got there, I got there at 530 and a lot of vendors were already breaking down.
Judging from the pics, it looks like this years parade was just like last years and the year before and the year before that…………..a FREAKSHOW!!!
What a way to show the heteros that we are “just like them”, by having a porn fest and other things that heteros condemn us for. It’s ok to watch porn, but to have it as a “focal point” in the festival/parade?? REALLY?? It only solidifies the way heteros look and think of us………..and newsflash, it isnt the rainbow glory so many of you seem to be blinded by.
This was year number 9 I skipped the parade/festival, and I am glad I did.
It seems like the parade of today is overshadowed by how outrageous the younger set can be, my question is, does the younger generation even know the TRUE meaning of the “Pride Parades”? I bet if someone polled them, 9 out of 10 wouldnt know………sad, so very very sad.
and if i may add….I contacted the Dallas Tavern Guild the night before to let them know that I would not be attending this year’s parade because of the porno show that my kids cannot watch. I was very specific with him and he sent me a reply back and said that the parade is simply a way for everyone to express themselves and that they are all well within the dress parade guidelines…BUT, if you logon to the Dallas Tavern Guild website, you will see a header that states ” we represent a positive image in the Gay and Lesbian community”…..this is not an image that i want to be compared to as a Lesbian. I am a classy Lesbian who will never attend the Dallas Pride Parade until they clean up the trash.
I walked in the parade with TWU and as a first timer it was amazing, I do not know what all of you people are saying about a freakshow and everything? And I find that kids should not be allowed within the park because of nudity and whatnot, that I will agree with. But porno shows? I did not see any of that lol
Alexander, you are right. How can people not attend the parade and then bitch about it being a “freakshow”? It was a lot of fun this year and the festival was a nice change of pace.
Fabulous pics! I love seeing all the smiles and colors that make up or community! Thanks for posting, Dallas Voice!
me and my pack of furryes weir their in fursuite had fun
I so agree with Josh. Where is it in the handbook that we need to wear lingerie and act the freak because we are gay. I am a middle of the road, educated, mainstream American gay male that goes to work everyday, pays his taxes, and demands respect from my hetero counterparts, just as they demand from me.. I hate that the heteros see the freak show that we call our pride parade. I am not proud of what I see…not at all…. My life does not revolve around sex, and I do not, nor have I ever had the desire to, put on women’s clothing. The heteros don’t parade their sexual proclivities in the streets of Dallas.. Why do so many in our community think we need to? And we push so hard for same sex marriage and family values?? The meaning of pride is lost with us..just lost.
This was our first year to pride in Dallas. It was not family friendly. I was very upset to see all the porn in plain view. There was a leather float with a female tied up. I was disgusted. We are trying to teach our children that this life we live in not a joke. However, pride was. This has to change. Other state that have pride don’t allow things like this to go on. It just shows poor management an judgement.