Dateline: Ángel de la Independencia,
Mexico City
No, it’s not Barnum & Bailey. It’s Mexico City’s thirty seventh gay pride march, taking place on Saturday June 27th. The parade starts at 10:00 AM at the Ángel de la Independencia on Reforma and marches up Reforma toward Parque la Alameda, then turns right and heads to the Zócalo, where a fiesta ensues.
Nowhere is gay pride a somber event; it’s meant to be a festival. And, I believe such marches have done much to advance the cause of gay civil rights across this and other lands. These parades have become places where we can show our numbers, determination, and our diversity to the world at large. And, of course, have a fabulous party at the end. As the old saying goes, “If I can’t dance, I don’t want your revolution.”
These boys will *definitely* want to dance.
But in México? It gets taken to a whole other level. Mexicans are known for their partying stamina, and put a half-million or more gay Mexicans into the same event, and some seriously fabulous, frivolous festivities will ensue. Forget the whole “conservative, Catholic country” meme, this parade and festival is just as raucous, licentious, and crazy as San Francisco’s or New York’s gay pride festivals. And it probably is larger than either. Though not so much an international event (certain Gringos Sueltos, excepted), folks come from all over Mexico to celebrate and let down their hair.
The caring side of gay charros
And though the battle is not over, Mexican gays have much to celebrate. Consider that the first march took place in 1978. I think that was the year I first attended San Francisco’s Gay Pride March as a teenager. Though a large event in SF, it was still largely ignored by the media, with the exception of supermarket tabloids which covered it as some kind of parade of twisted perversion and a sure sign of the end of times. I can only imagine the bravery of the first Mexico City organizers and participants for that first march. Even as late as the early 90’s, there was plenty of anti-gay violence going on in Mexico City and the rest of the country, and travelers were advised to be very cautious. Now? The Zona Rosa is Mexico City’s answer to San Francisco’s Castro district, full of gay bars, restaurants, trendy stores, and a vibrant gay community where same-sex couples aren’t afraid to walk hand-in-hand. Mexico itself has all but legalized gay marriage throughout the country, and gays are beginning to take their rightful place as full members of society.
Fly the flag with pride!
Yet there is still progress to be made. Here in Boston, the gay community has become so mainstream that the parade has gotten a smidgen boring, filled with contingents of politicians and politician-hopefuls, church groups, and big, established businesses like Verizon, IBM, TD Bank, EMC, and many others too numerous to list. Despite the opportunity to build good will with a half-million consumers, basically for free, I still don’t recall seeing that kind of mainstream participation at Mexico City’s parade. But I don’t doubt the day will come where this event is seen as a “must-attend” by those seeking to win elections, and those seeking to increase their market shares.
¡Respect and Equality for The Whole Community!
As for me, I fly down this afternoon, on a non-stop no less. (Thanks, Aeromexico!!!) Edgar will meet me tomorrow, and then we’ll spend the weekend together doing the parade as well as me showing Edgar around a city he has barely seen.
¡¡¡Saludos and Happy Pride!!!
El Gringo Suelto 
I love a parade 😉 And when did a parade necessarily have to have a useful purpose? As a libertarian to each his own as long as it does not hurt another – bottom line. There is way too much time spent on sorting out permissible behaviors. Give Peace a Chance!
LikeLike
Hola John! indeed, the parade was a ton of fun. And to the people who say it’s a negative publicity event, does anyone really judge Catholics by Mardi Gras? Thanks for stopping by and saludos!
LikeLike
I contend that Gay Pride parades these days do more damage than good to the gay “community.” But before going to that issue, I’ll point that out gays already have exactly the same legal rights of all Americans (sticking to the U.S. right now) with the sole exception of full marriage in many states. Other than that, there is nothing I can legally do that you guys cannot legally do. If you can point something out, I’d love to hear it.
Gay Pride parades are typically circuses, and confirm the most grotesque stereotypes held by so many straight people, which is to say about 90 percent or more of the population, according to statistics. They do you no good. It’s as if the black Civil Rights processions of the 1960s were — instead of the sober, dignified, effective marches they were — streams of people intentionally decked out like Stepin Fetchit and munching watermelon while demanding rights.
So what’s up with the street grotesqueries? I recently saw two photos illustrating this. I wish I had saved them. One was a Gay Pride parade of a few decades ago, in which the participants, for the great part, looked like normal citizens. Like you, for instance. It was impressive, and there was legal discrimination at that time. The other photo showed a modern Gay Pride event that looked like Barnum & Bailey had come to town.
One might also view the Pride thing as an example of “protesteth too much.” Being gay is a major disadvantage in almost every corner of the world, and I don’t believe it’s a choice. It’s stamped into the soul. You got it, or you don’t got it, and there’s nothing to be done about it. Not being Christian, I attach no sin to it.
You’re odd men out in most every society (up to and including being murdered), and the Gay Pride events do you no real good in your relations with straight society. They are counterproductive, I ever contend. Be gay, but don’t don a G-string and dance in the streets.
Before anybody gets it into their heads to say I’m biased and dreadful, know that I think that whatever anyone wants to do regarding sexual relations is their business and nobody elses. I simply care not. It’s private.
LikeLike
Hola Felipe! Well, I can see your point about the parades, though I don’t entirely agree with it. The fact of the matter is that we and everyone should have full rights to be whoever we are.
As for rights you have but I don’t, note that twenty-two states plus Washington, D.C and Puerto Rico outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation, and nineteen states plus Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico outlaw discrimination based on gender identity or expression. That means that in the vast majority of states, it is *still legal* to discriminate against gays simply for being who they are. That includes employment, public accommodations (think wedding cakes, among other things), adoption, and a whole host of other things you think of as normal rights. The fact that such discrimination is not common doesn’t mean that gays have equal rights, or that it’s right in a democratic society to allow such discrimination. It’s also probable that there’s a lot less discrimination than there might be due to the fact that many gays pass for straight, whether intentionally or otherwise, in many situations.
As an example, it would be incorrect for you to say, “Well, I know Kim G, and he has had every opportunity that everyone else has had, so there must be no problem.” First, though I am very fortunate, I have been discriminated against, and I have suffered for that. I don’t wish to detail it all here, but believe me, the discrimination is a real thing.
And finally, it’s not solely a matter of what we do in bed. It’s part of our identities as human beings, and if we cannot be free to be ourselves, we end up living an attenuated life. And why should we do so simply so as to not discomfort any bigots?
P.S. Check out this article for details.
LikeLike
P.P.S. In terms of your view of the parade as being a negative for the gay community, note that it is not solely for “straight consumption.” It holds a much more important role in telling the members of our community that we are diverse and we accept everyone for who they are, from the straitlaced to the flamboyant. And of course it’s a celebration of freedoms slowly won.
LikeLike
I agree to a point with Sr. Felipe saying that Gay Pride parades serve no useful purpose other than giving folks a chance to express their diversity (he doesn’t care for that word at all!) ActualIy I don’t think it differs from Mardi Gras all that much…it gives people a chance to let their hair down once a year. There are not many among us who at one time or another hasn’t been somewhat embarrassed by the flamboyant behavior of some of our brothers and sisters. I remember some of the very early celebrations when people were afraid to attend for fear of being violently attacked or even murdered..so we have come a long way in many respects
The majority of us live our lives normally and go unnoticed by the rest of society for the most part…and there are few, if any, of us that have not experienced blatant discrimination at some point in our lives…and often it comes from family and friends rather than strangers. It is very difficult to explain that feeling to those who have never experienced it…so I don’t even try anymore.
Hatred and bigotry are not natural human emotions…they are taught and continue to be taught by those who choose to remain ignorant to life and the lives of others.
That being said, today was a good day for the USA…and for those of us who have been on this journey all of our lives there is no way to describe how free I felt inside when I saw the decision this morning.
Have a great time this weekend…be safe and party on!
LikeLike
Hola Charles! I think I’m going to have to disagree with the idea that the parades serve “no useful purpose.” Indeed I believe that the parades give everyone a chance to be an activist once a year, to show up and be counted, and to make a statement that “we’re here, we’re queer, and get used to it.” It is also a community-building effort and that helps us to be united in our struggle for equal rights. And of course the party aspect of it contributes to the last point, but it’s an important point.
Finally, many studies have shown that people become much more willing to accept equal rights for gays if they know someone gay. I think these massive events give people a sense of solidarity and make it easier for them to come out. Saludos and thanks for your comments!!!
LikeLike
Have a safe trip and a great weekend…happy that you’re able to share it with Edgar…today was a great day for the US as well!
LikeLike
Woo hoo!!! I just saw the news! Of course certain people just can’t let the topic go and will continue trying to keep us second class citizens.
In Boston in the first Gay Pride march after MA legalized gay marriage, our local gay paper, Bay Windows, ran a float with mock up of their front page and the headline read, “Gays Wed; World Doesn’t End.” To me this captures the point perfectly. Saludos and thanks for stopping by.
LikeLike
Having grown up in the City, I think it will be awhile before DF will equal the “openness” of the participants of the parades and festivals the City nurtures by it’s active community.
It was indeed interesting and colorfull to say the least!
Have fun, will love to see some photos..
LikeLike
Hola Tancho! I was very pleasantly surprised by the size, scope and openness of the Marcha del Orgullo in DF. Though there’s still a long way to go even here in DF, the strides are impressive. Saludos and thanks for your comment!
LikeLike
Glad to see you blogging and traveling again! I love parades, and Mexico does know how to throw a party.
My favorite photo in this line up is the “kid” wearing the rainbow sign that says,”respect and equality for the whole community”. Exactly, my sentiments.
regards,
Theresa
LikeLike
Hola Theresa! I’m with you on the photo. There are a surprisingly large number of parents and other non-gay supporters in the parade too. I would have put more photos into this post, but I was having some trouble with my computer and running out of time to boot. I very nearly missed my flight. Saludos and thanks for commenting!
LikeLike
Good to see that you are heading back to Mexico after about a year away. Buen viaje, and have fun!!!
LikeLike
Hola Bill! It really does feel like I’ve been away for a long time and it’s good to be back. And I think it’ll be hard not to have fun. I had dinner in La Casa de Toño last night, which is always fun. Saludos and thanks for stopping by.
LikeLike
Oh I’m with Christine – I can’t wait for the photographs and to hear all about it! And your reply to Babs made me laugh out loud. So true. : ) I can’t imagine more fun than being at a gay pride march – it’s a “must-attend” for anyone wishing to feel happy, and thankful to be ALIVE. How exciting that you can attend this one. Reading this makes me wish I still lived in San Francisco. Although Seattle’s march is not too shabby. Always wonderful to go.
Have a fabulous time and then hurry back to tell us all about it. : )
LikeLike
Hola Barbara!!! Thanks for the kind comments. I’m looking forward to the parade, and also to seeing Edgar, who I haven’t seen in almost a year, which is kind of an amazing thought. I’d love to see Seattle’s Gay Pride March some time. It’d probably remind me of Boston, where it’s frequently rainy that day, though fortunately not this year. Saludos and thanks for stopping by!
LikeLike
Have fun, which I know you will. I got caught in the midst of the parade several years ago trying to get to my hotel, which was impossible. The cab driver couldn’t get me any closer, so I sat in a little park for FOuR hours on my suitcase watching in amazement. Of course, my thought was, “ALL these good looking men and not a one is interested in me” ha………..
LikeLike
Hola Barbara! Your comment made me chuckle. Of course if they knew you were an interior design architect, they’d be all over you. Saludos and thanks for stopping by!
LikeLike
Well, I can’t wait for your photographs, Gringo!
LikeLike
Hola Christine! I have a hard drive full of photos from prior years, but I hope to add to the collection. The tough part is deciding which ones to publish. Saludos and thanks for stopping by!!!
LikeLike