Well it was just a matter of time, really. I mean, you had to know it was coming. Local gay activist Daniel Cates has launched a Facebook page called “Take Back Dallas Pride,” which is the latest example of a national movement whose effects were recently witnessed in Austin. Here’s the description of Cates’ group:
- “Reclaiming Dallas LGBT Pride, as a vehicle for political and social change, queer expression and community building-free from beer advertisements, racial and social segregation/alienation and conservative integration into mainstream society!”
It’ll be interesting to see where this goes. I don’t think anyone associated with Dallas Pride, including Tavern Guild Executive Director Michael Doughman, would deny that it’s become a celebration that’s paid for by corporate sponsors, who in turn receive the benefit of product promotion. But some of Cates’ allegations seem a little over the top. For example, I don’t think anyone who’s been to Dallas Pride in recent years could argue that it’s racist — I would say it’s roughly half Latino. Likewise, one would have a difficult time arguing that Pride doesn’t remain full of queer expression.
At this point, this is just a Facebook page, similar to the effort to bring former first lady Laura Bush to Dallas Pride. And again, it’ll be interesting to see where it goes. Thoughts?
I like irony but this is almost too much.You have quoted the description on the facebook page. What you left off was the rant about how we have to fight to get ENDA and DOMA passed.
Daniel seems to have missed the NPR interview with Mattilda Sycamore posted earlier, which explains in fairly clear terms why marriage is, in fact, an act of assimilation which many self-identified queer people feel should be resisted. Daniel, then, wants to get away from ‘conservative integration into mainstream society’ by having a separate pride where they work toward conservative integration into mainstream society.
What Daniel may not know, as a white man, is that many queer people of color feel disconnected from the standard fare of LGBT activism, which they say advances the needs of white middle-class gays while ignoring the problems of racial discrimination. So a pride which seeks to eliminate racial and social alienation while continuing a focus on issues of limited relevance to the lives of the racially and socially marginalized.
It’s difficult to take this seriously.
I said my peace on the Facebook page.
I’m sorry. I have trouble getting my panties in a wad over a facebook page. I have to draw the line somewhere.
@Glinda – I have trouble getting my panties in a wad over ANYTHING Daniel Cates does!! Yes, most pride celebrations have corporate sponsors, which personally I don’t know if they do it because they actually support us as a group of human being regardless of orientation, or if they do it just to push their products, but c’mon, they sponsor just as many straight activities – more actually I’m sure, but people are going to buy their products whether or not they sponsor Pride or not. Personally i am thankful for their sponsorship making Dallas Pride one of the bigger better prides in the country that I have been too.
As for the racial card he is trying to play – seriously? I’ve lived here 7 years, I’ve only seen Dallas Pride grow and include more and more people and groups each year. Has he ever been to Pride? There are people there of every shape, size, color, ethnic background, gay click, etc. all coming together to celebrate…he makes it sound like it’s a “white’s only” event where white gays get the best seats, and everyone else is forced to stand a block away….please!
@BDUB….I agree that the Pride events are getting better but there could be some improvement. I have never heard of the Tavern Guild promoting events that cater predominantly to QPOC (queer people of color). I hear about the drink specials on the strip, the pride party in Victory Plaza, the festival in the park. Where are pride after parties at places like Elm and Pearl or even Backbeat? I’m not saying that the Guild is at a complete fault but if they are going to organize, they need to make a better effort to involve all LGBT organizations and party promoters.
As far as following the example of Austin, I think one would have to have witnessed the Austin Pride for themselves in order to understand the need for something like Queerbomb (alternative Pride activities). I went to both Queerbomb and Austin Pride events. To be honest, I was extremely disappointed in the Austin Pride parade. It was bland and boring. I understand trying to make it family friendly but it seems like they had sucked the soul out of the LGBT out and just left the pretty shell. I don’t feel that same emptiness when I attend Dallas Pride or any other Pride.
This Take Back Pride initiative is not trying to reinvent the wheel. It’s taking what we have and trying to make it better. I don’t see a problem with that but I think all concerns need to be taken to the people who help organize Pride events. We should not be starting facebook pages and trying to go rogue on this.
“Racial and social segregation/alienation”- is he serious and has he actually been to Pride? How can you say pride doesnt allow queer expression and isnt diverse? Then again he and Queer Liberaction are the ones who think preaching to the choir via having the Equality March on Cedar Springs is a good idea.
@James…we are in the process of organizing Equality March 2010 which will take place in October. If you would like to help organize, our next meeting is today, 2pm @ the Resource Center Dallas. Hope to see you there 🙂
Tisha – you get it. We are not trying to re-invent the wheel, we are just trying to make what we already have better! And the facebbok page, though it comes after numerous failed attempts to contact members of the Tavern Guild, is nothing more than a call for change to our existing pride events. It’s supposed to serve as proof to the TG that there is a need for change and community support for it. We are not wanting to do a separate event- how would that be unifying or inclusive?
This guy has never been to a Pride March apparently. The only person he wants to elevate is himself. What an unfair picture he paints of our event and our city. But it gets his name and face out there which is really all its designed to do. And I would LOVE to hear from Tavern Guild about the numerous times they’ve been contacted by Daniel. I doubt he has their phone number. And I’m absolutely sure they would meet with him if he had tried.
On their FB page they took down the entire debate we had last night. I guess only posts that AGREE with them are allowed. How Democratic and Inclusive is that?
I’m an in-the-streets, carry-picket-signs sort of person and I’ve been do different rallies that Daniel has been involved with. And while I agree with inclusion, I have trouble with his original approach.
My concern was that Daniel’s ORIGINAL description of the effort was incredibly rude to the organizers of the event and to the memory of Alan Ross,who spent years tirelessly building up this parade. Daniel at one point tried to claim he knew what Alan Ross would have wanted for the future of the parade. Incredible!
Either way, he’s now removed the whole debate and changed his language to be more agreeable and less bombastic. Perhaps he did see the point I was trying to make after all. You can help build up a movement without tearing down the work that’s been done and the memory of the person who worked to his dying day for this community. I hope Dallas Voice won’t stifle the debate.
I would love to have a community meeting between Dallas Tavern Guild who has run this wonderful event for YEARS and who we all owe a HUGE DEBT of GRATITUDE and Daniel to see if there’s anything that can or needs to be changed.
@Tisha – I know that the pride celebration for African Americans “THE MOVEMENT” is set fot SEPTEMBER 30 TO OCTOBER 3, 2010 – and I coudl be wrong on that – I can only see the headline from google on the particular computer I am on thanks to our lovely firewall – and whether or not the TG has anything to do with or not, I have no idea. As far as events on Elm, Pearl, etc. they’re there, they may not be a “Tavern Guild Production” but yes, they are there, you just have to know where to look for them – they’re generally of the circuit party nature, with a line up of DJ’s spinning at least 3 nights, with the Tdance on Sunday after the parade – and I say “circuit party” but having been to the pride events like these, I can tell you these events are just as diverse as the parade crowd – not just the stereotypical circuit boys, and I’ve always felt welcome and had a great time. For making it bigger and better – that would be great! would be an awesome thing to see Dallas pride be able to compete on a scale of, oh lets say NYC pride….of course, that would never happen without even more corporate sponsors – I can say this, this years pride should be very interesting with all of these developments…could be a good reason to just stay home and watch it on the net, and avoid the drama!
Actually, @BDUB, The Movement is set for the September 23 – 26, 2010. Black pride always falls on the same weekend of the Grambling vs. Prairie View game at the Cotton Bowl.
Thanks!! Like I said – wasn’t sure what I was even looking at since “lifestyles”, “homosexual”, “gay” etc. are all blocked through the firewall here – so I could only see the “headlines” through google, but thanks for clearing that up for me!! I would like to attend some of the events this year, show my support for their pride as well….as long as they don’t mind a 30something cubbish white dude hangin around ;-0
@BDUB Anyone is welcome to The Movement festivities in September. Always have been. C’mon on out!