Not The Best Sunday Ever

Saturday was good. langs_place and I attended the annual Midwest Regional Wobfest, which was held in Chicago this year.

Sunday was not so good. The Queer/Trans Caucus of the Chicagoland Anarchist Network held a feeder march for the local Gay Pride Parade. It was my first Pride parade, and it reminded me why I've always avoided Pride before -- crass commercial assimilation. Gay Pride isn't about Queer activism; it is about corporate sponsorship and a middle-class street party. To make matters worse, there was a homophobic group marching in the parade itself with banners like "Homosexuality is a Sin" and "AIDS is not the disease, it is the cure." When we confronted these bigots, they physically attacked us. We defended ourselves... which resulted in three of our people getting thrown in jail and charged with felonies. How messed up is that?!? We got gay bashed at gay pride!

On the plus side of things, I got to curse Fred Phelps out to his face.

Anyway, if Pride wasn't bad enough, tonight cheshcat found out that her mother had died suddenly and unexpectedly sometime over the weekend. The call came late in the evening, as I was beginning to get ready for bed. Which is why I am still awake at nearly 4am. If you know cheshcat, please go write something nice in her journal.

As I said, this was really not a very good Sunday.

Not The Best Sunday Ever

Saturday was good. langs_place and I attended the annual Midwest Regional Wobfest, which was held in Chicago this year.

Sunday was not so good. The Queer/Trans Caucus of the Chicagoland Anarchist Network held a feeder march for the local Gay Pride Parade. It was my first Pride parade, and it reminded me why I've always avoided Pride before -- crass commercial assimilation. Gay Pride isn't about Queer activism; it is about corporate sponsorship and a middle-class street party. To make matters worse, there was a homophobic group marching in the parade itself with banners like "Homosexuality is a Sin" and "AIDS is not the disease, it is the cure." When we confronted these bigots, they physically attacked us. We defended ourselves... which resulted in three of our people getting thrown in jail and charged with felonies. How messed up is that?!? We got gay bashed at gay pride!

On the plus side of things, I got to curse Fred Phelps out to his face.

Anyway, if Pride wasn't bad enough, tonight cheshcat found out that her mother had died suddenly and unexpectedly sometime over the weekend. The call came late in the evening, as I was beginning to get ready for bed. Which is why I am still awake at nearly 4am. If you know cheshcat, please go write something nice in her journal.

As I said, this was really not a very good Sunday.