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| Local gay residents, Halo co-owner Babak Movahedi (left), author Tim Bergling, activists Frank Kameny and Cheryl Spector and nightlife promoter Karl Jones joined other gay Washingtonians in reminiscing about Pride and its meaning. (Blade photo Henry Linser) |
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HOME > ENTERTAINMENT > FEATURE
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Pride means many things to many people from all kinds of backgrounds and our cover story and photo shoot is a good example of that.
Long-time activists Frank Kameny and Cheryl Spector have led the charge for many years. Tim Bergling is a former Marine and author of three books about gay male culture. Babak Movahedi is co-owner
of the über-chic bar Halo, and Karl Jones is a promoter of alternate queer nightlife events.
They and several others took a few minutes to ponder the meaning of Pride on the eve of D.C.’s 32nd annual Capital Pride, which is in full swing this weekend. From party to protest, their responses show Pride is almost as diverse as the members who make up what they call “the GLBT community.”
What is your fondest memory of a D.C. Pride event?
I had the honor of being a Capital Pride Hero in 2006 and the opportunity to share this significant moment with many outstanding leaders from our community. It means a lot to me when our own community recognizes the work we do to advance our rights.
What should be the purpose of Pride?
I think the purpose of Pride should be to celebrate the strong positive presence and contributions of our diverse GLBT community to the overall development of our great city.
What would you change about Capital Pride?
I wouldn’t change anything. It is a great event that brings together people from all sectors of our community to celebrate in unity.
What is your fondest memory of a D.C. Pride event?
I have very fond memories of producing the “Field of Dreams” party in Stead Park for Capital Pride.
What should be the purpose of Pride?
Pride should be an opportunity for all gay (and other sexual orientation-marginalized people) to come together and feel good about being who we are.
What would you change about Capital Pride?
I would move it back to a place where our community can have more of a sense of ownership of the event. I think it lost a bit of its soul when it moved down to Pennsylvania Avenue.
What is your fondest memory of a D.C. Pride event?
It’s awfully hard to separate out just one fond memory — my first D.C. Pride was 1981, and I haven’t missed many — but probably the one that stands out most in my mind was 1996, when I marched with other gay veterans in my old Marine Corps dress blues, carrying this massive flag. It was 95 degrees that day, and I thought I was going to pass out somewhere between Dupont Circle and Pennsylvania Avenue! But seeing all the folks along the parade route, hearing the cheers and applause as we passed, was pretty damn emotional and uplifting. And it was the last time that uniform still fit me!
What should be the purpose of Pride?
There “should” be no single purpose. Pride Day is, like anything else, exactly what you want to make of it. For some folks it’s all about visibility and political action, for others it’s a celebration of diversity under the summer sun, for lots of people it’s just a day to get out and mingle and boy watch and toss back a few beers on a Sunday afternoon. I think for me it’s always been a mixture of all three.
What would you change about Capital Pride?
I’d ditch the separate Saturday evening parade and bring back the Sunday parade that leads directly into the festival. It always seemed like a much better demonstration of our numbers and purpose to let folks watch the parade go by, then fall into step at the tail end and march in thousands across the city to the festival site itself. I’ve never heard a good justification for why they stopped doing that. Don’t gay people always want to be part of the show? Why not let them?
What is your fondest memory of a D.C. Pride event?
The same moment repeats every year. Being in the crowd and realizing as I wade through a sea of diverse peoples that in spite of our varied stratifications, we are a community, and we have strength in it.
What should be the purpose of Pride?
To reflect on our identity, purpose and direction as gay people, not just our self-esteem. Otherwise, Pride is of limited benefit, if not completely masturbatory. We are scouts of culture on the vanguard of society. Whether via spirituality, music and the arts, or the healing professions, etc., we have been leaders. We have an ...
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