I have a secret that’s been bothering me but haven’t felt that I could admit it until now. Denial has gotten me nowhere, which is unfortunate, because I’m really good at it. I’ve spent years perfecting my own special brand of denial; honing my techniques, acting casual, making it look as fun and carefree as a Disney musical. This hard work habitually leaves me crestfallen, with nothing but ulcers and a debilitating penchant for Lucky Charms cereal. No more, my friends, no more.
I divulge, here and now, that although I am as gay as a tangerine, I have never attended a Pride event in my life. Not one. Ever. Unless you feel lenient and let me count watching YouTube clips of the San Francisco Pride Parade.
I’m not sure why this is the case. I am fond of like-minded people, gravitating towards them as often as possible. I like parties, am an okay dancer, and have been known to attend parades for the candy alone. This is the part where I disclose one small fact that may shed some light on this query: I’ve never quite understood the point.
You may relate with this feeling or have just wished some very bad hair days upon me in atonement for my seeming lack of enlightenment. Fair enough, but because I really like my hair, consider that I am still a mild to medium neophyte (aka. newbie) when it comes to Pride related activities. Having not taken the time to actually ask people what it all means and why it matters, I’ve stayed away. Thinking that since I’m not sure what happens or who is supposed to attend, that I have a valid excuse to stay home by myself, eating Lucky Charms. Knowing what to wear is another obstacle. I’ve heard rumours that all real lesbians wear tank tops on a regular basis, but this is yet to be officially confirmed.
Soberly aware of my lack of reliable information, I’ve sought to find others who are actually in the know. Fortunately, I recently met some very captivating people who have led me gently towards a new knowledge and appreciation of what Pride is truly about.
Dallas Barnes, secretary of the Pride Calgary board, articulates the vision behind our cities’ biggest Pride event: “Our theme this year is Our Rights. Your Rights. Human Rights. We’ve been reaching out to as many members of the community as possible, hearing their concerns and suggestions so that we can facilitate a Pride that is reflective of Calgary collectively. We understand that the GLBT community in Calgary can be segregated and want to make sure that Pride is not. We want the whole community coming together to celebrate.”
Sam Casselman, board President, believes that there is an immense power in coming together for a common purpose. “This is a great way to make us all visible and let others know that we are not going away. There is strength in numbers and we want to help those who are just coming out to find a community.”
The new date for Pride has been a cause of much coffee banter. Opting out of the usual time in June, the board decided on Labour Day weekend. Dallas states that weather was a big factor in their decision. “The past 7 out of 10 Prides in June have been rained out. This year it snowed on that day, so we are extremely grateful that we moved the date! We want this year to be the biggest and best ever. In order to do this we decided to utilize a long weekend to make Calgary a destination for out-of-towners as well as locals. The date also prevents us from clashing with any other city’s celebrations.”
I’m all hot and bothered to have something to look forward to in the rather lackluster month of September, and further excited to hear that there is more than one Pride Calgary virgin out there. Wild Ginger has hopped on board as a first-time venue for the opening Pride Dance, says Dallas. “We’re very excited to hold our event in a classy, upscale place like Wild Ginger. The interior is fabulous, with a dance floor, room to hold 700 people and plenty of space to sit and chat. The staff are extremely friendly and welcoming and the DJ’s we’ll have are all part of the local gay community. Wild Ginger is an up and coming gay hot spot, extremely supportive of Pride’s efforts and thrilled to host the dance!”
The significance of this location is accentuated by the fact that Wild Ginger made the first move, offering their venue free of charge. This is no small gesture, especially at a time when non-profit organizations are trying to dream big while wrestling with shrinking budgets.
“The cost to put on this event can run between $12,000 and $15,000. We began this fiscal year with a deficit of $3,000. We are in the black now thanks to the hard work of our tireless volunteers and the many members of the community that have supported us financially. But we still need more; we are hoping to build a Pride weekend that is at par with other major cities. It’s a pricey venture to pay for everything it takes for a safe and fun celebration,” Dallas states.
It’s not too late to get involved in making Pride possible. Sponsors (including a presenting sponsor) and donations for their upcoming silent auction are heartily encouraged. If you’re in the mood for a little shopping, visit their silent auction fundraiser at The Calgary Eagle on August 8th.
I’m thankful to live in a city where events like this are championed by such passionate people. The overwhelming message is: we are not alone. I am thoroughly inspired to wipe the Lucky Charms crumbs off my lap, throw on a tank top and show some Pride this year.
The Pride Calgary celebration kicks off on September 4th at Wild Ginger. Get tickets online at www.pridecalgary.ca as well as information on volunteering, sponsoring and donating.
