(crossposted on www.indianaequality.org)
Something occurred to me in the middle of the Pride Parade in Chicago this weekend. These sort of events are becoming so mainstream as to no longer be able to shock and awe the masses. Of course, the odd rightwinger or Bible-thumping preacher would be incensed by the sight of even one handsome bare-chested boy on a float, but the culture has moved past that I think.
As we walked down Halstead after the parade, I was struck by the fact that I'd seen not a single protestor. I'm sure that somewhere on the fringe there were the sad banner holding folks that we always see. And I am sure the Westboro Baptist Church was to be found at a Pride event somewhere. But honestly, I usually expect to see those folks to validate our claims to be oppressed in a twisted sort of way. (For those of you who will argue that we are, regardless of the protestors, I will concede and agree to that without qualification.)
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