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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 1987)
Lesbian and Gay Pride: San Francisco, 1987 WE MAKE IT EASIER! F E R G U S O N AUTO BODY & PAINT Charter Member Autobody Craftsman Association PRECISION COLLISION REPAIR UNIBODY SPECIALISTS fi FRAME STRAIGHTENING TOWING ARRANGED QUALITY WORK AT A FAIR PRICE MEMBER 232-3600 2454 E. Burnside Family Owned & Operated Since 1952 VISA’ Personalized Naturopathic Health Care Steven Bailey, N.D. Naturopathic Physician General Practice Nutrition Classical Homeopathy Women's and Children's Health Care Immune Support Programs Diagnostic arul Laboratory Workups The second largest parade in the world, the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade infuses participants and spectators with a sense of pride rarely evident elsewhere. the parade and were, incidentally, not cheered much at all. There was a marching band, a gay chorus group, a gay swimming ach year we celebrate our pride as team, gay teachers, gay librarians, gay- gay men and lesbians and march through city streets across the country. people of color, gay Asians and several men dressed like nuns. This year, I was fortunate enough to not The juxtaposition of certain groups of only march in Portland's parade, but to fered an insight into the sense of humor of also see San Francisco’s parade and rally. the organizers. The gay Catholics were 1 have always been fond of San Fran directly followed by the Gay Atheists and cisco with its rolling hills and bay the largest contingent of all, a group called windows. The people there have always Living Sober, was followed by a bar float been friendly and carry a sense of pride topped with disco queens dancing to loud from being a part of such a large, and funky tunes. diverse community. The last float in the parade was a bar The size of San Francisco's gay and float, from a bar called I Beam, playing lesbian community becomes quite apparent very loud disco music and the crowd of during the parade. Hundreds of thousands spectators fell in behind it and marched to of people cheer the marchers on. The the rally at the plaza in front of City Hall. streets are lined with people and the parade Although the San Francisco parade was itself lasts for three hours. One native in well organized (too well organized accord- formed me that the parade is the second BY M I C H A E L R E E D E Vis M edicatrix Naturae NORTHWEST. CASCADE NATUROPATHIC CLINIC NATUROPATHIC CLINIC 2606 N. W. Vaughn / Portland, OR 819 N. Killingsworth / Portland, OR ( 503 ) ( 503 ) 224*8083 289^9914 CRYSTALS & GEMS RITUAL ACCESSORIES METAPHYSICAL PRACTITIONERS & CRONE MAGIC 1 < 3 U C o Jr CL 1 #É¡ X E <rf&Æ 249-0444 PORTLAND 12-6 TUE.-SAT. 1405 NE BROADWAY TIRED OF BEING SCREWED BY THE 1RS? 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This year Dykes on Bikes was followed by a multitude of AIDS organizations, not only from San Francisco but also from outlying cities. Some groups handed out flyers to the crowd, others tossed small boxes of condoms to the spectators. Other groups had volunteers working the crowd with donation cans. More enterprising groups had 20-30 people carrying vast rectangles of fabric into which money could be tossed. The rectangle would stop occasionally and silver would fly through the air. After the AIDS groups came drag queens in convertibles, hunky cowboys boot scootin' down the street, a truckload of leathermen from the Eagle ( all with pectorals to die for). There were body builders and Radical Fairies, a man on stilts, a huge papier n >;hC monster a group of hookers, a colorful float prepared by a group called “ Artists in Search of an Award.” The man-boy love association called NAMBLA had a small contingent in ing to one native, who missed a certain spontaneity of bygone days), bigger and splashier and definitely more diverse, it lacked the sense of defiance and bravery that lies in Portland’s parade. For gay and lesbian San Franciscans, who have become a very impressive political body, the gay/ lesbian pride celebration has a certain complacency about it that those of us who live in smaller communities cannot afford to have. For instance, because we are a smaller town, marching in a parade and defining your identity to the world requires more courage than to do the same thing with hundreds of thousands of other people like yourself. It is just not as risky to be in the San Francisco parade as it is here where you could well be recognized by your co workers or business associates who might be shopping downtown when the parade passes by. Portland’s community must be applaud ed for its bravery. We must also encourge our friends to find their sense of pride so that even more people will participate in the parades that are to come. Someday we, too. shall make an awesome sight as we take over the streets and are counted. •
