Stomachheart Eats Pride

Pride is History
As you, dear reader, probably know, this past weekend was Gay Pride in many cities across the country including my little place of residence, San Francisco. I made it a point to go to as many events as I could, from the TransMarch to Dykes on Bikes and even to a performance by the Backstreet Boys on Sunday. This year, the theme was "Fabulous and 40" commemorating the 40th anniversary of the event. This, of course, made me think of history and how Pride has a way of digging up the past and presenting it to you as if it were yesterday. And I don't mean it makes me remember all those queer legends and heroes that came before to make Pride possible.
Necessities: What better to way to brave a very hot and crowded Dolores Park on Pink Saturday than with a cheap bottle of chilled Chardonnay and some reduced fat pita chips. I, of course, brought a classy little cup to keep the festivities green.

The history I'm thinking of is more personal. For me, and I think for many queers in the city, Pride is the inevitable time when you are bound to take the long parade past many of the people that you've hooked up with. Sometimes this city is too small and there are just too many skeletons in the closet (or out of it actually).
By the end of Pride, it felt like I had made dinner for half of the gay men in the city. At the Pink Party, I barely just said "hi" and "happy pride" to Dinner Guest 11, when I ran into and did the same thing all over again with Dinner Guest 2. Literally within 1 minute of each other. Awkward... I wonder what would happen if two of my Dinner Guests met. Would they cancel each other out? Would they join forces and fight me? Would they fall in love?

Then on Pride Sunday, I narrowly escaped an encounter with Dinner Guest 1. I totally dove behind a crowd of shirtless leathermen just, so I didn't have to have another awkward hello and happy pride. And then, of course, the Monday after Pride, I ran into Dinner Guest 12 who actually took the day off as a paid religious holiday (Q: Do you believe in God? A: No, just Gay). Also very awkward because I ran away after 5 minutes. Sometimes it's just too much. Sadly, he actually witnessed the shooting that happened at the Pink Party. I guess there are more important things to worry about then the boys from my past. Hopefully next Pride will not only be fun as it always is, but safe for everyone, too.
My friends totally showed up my meager Pride snacks with lots of delicious offerings from Bi-Rite: beet and sweet potato salad, organic peaches, chocolate mousse, spinach and artichoke dip, and some yummy cheese.

The one dinner guest that I wish I had run into at Pride is Dinner Guest 14. Unfortunately he was out of town and I had to go the whole weekend without even a very proud snuggle.