| Palm Springs for Gay Men: Gay Pride 2004 |
So we held an election, and so we did not relish the result - we still celebrate our Gay Pride. For consolation, we think of Thomas Jefferson's words after losing an election in 1798: "A little patience and we shall see the reign of witches pass over, their spells dissolve and the people recovering their true sight, restore the government to its true principles. If the government runs sometime against us at home we must have patience till luck turns and then we shall have an opportunity of winning back the principles we have lost. For this is a game where principles are at stake."
| Updated 11/8/05 |
Just like for the celebrations a year earlier, the Greater Palm Springs Gay Pride 2004 did not offer balmy, sunny, Palm Springs November weather - maybe November is a tad too late in the year. The Saturday festival enjoyed plenty of sunshine, the Sunday parade was threatened with, yes, rain. And it sure looked like it, but behold, as the event started, the skies cleared up and the warm sun brought relief to skin that had to be bared. It was a great parade, well spaced, no visible snafus, maybe a bit fewer participants, but tons of energy displayed. "They" said that the onlookers did not cheer and applaud much this year - maybe the ominous Bush wings fluttered over the spirits.
On this page you will see a good number of pictures from the parade down Palm Canyon on November 7. This year we identify the various floats and units in the parade - as well as we can, until you help us with those we miss. We count on you to fill in the holes. It is really amazing how much labor of love goes into making the parade in this little village as sizzling as it is, and we never fail to admire the organization that manages to get all the units out in line in their proper order.
Among what we noted absent was the Dykes on Bikes who usually started the parade - this year they were replaced by a huge contingent of gay couples who had been married in San Francisco this year. They all had the title of Honorary Grand Marshals for this parade. There were also no police cars, ambulances, and firetrucks in the parade - possibly budget restraints. But there was still plenty of color and eye candy for everyone.
The festival inside the stadium was organized largely in the same way as in earlier years. We give you a snapshot of the festival, not pretending to show you all of it. For that you have to be there in person, so how about a date for November 2005?
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THE PROUD PARADE
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THE PROUD FESTIVAL
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