My LTE sent today to the Dallas Voice, "The Community Newspaper for Gay & Lesbian Dallas," after this past weekend's
22nd annual Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade. That's
Gay, Lesbian, Bi, and Trans Pride parade anywhere else in the nation, but The Freedom Parade here in Dallas.
There's lots more, but you have to JUMP for it:
Dallas has lots of good points. But one of the bad traits here is that they don't like to be "controversial" - that's "bucking the system" or "biting the hand that feeds you." So, in Dallas, we have a gay men's choir that won't use the word "gay" - they are "welcoming." And a parade that is not a LESBIAN PRIDE parade, etc, etc, etc.
We also have our parade in September instead of June. Something about the date of a Texas Supreme court decision that ended enforcement of the sodomy statute in Texas, except that it didn't. Finally the US Supreme Court did that for us, and a long time after the parade had been moved to September.
Of course, it is hella hot in June in Dallas, but this year the Sept parade marchers, goers and watchers had to endure nearly 100 degree afternoon heat. Houston actually has their parade at night (in June) and it's a lot of fun!
Anyway, here's my letter-to-the-editor about one of the entries that caught my eye:
Dear Editor:
The 22nd annual Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade once again provided a wonderful afternoon of entertainment, visibility and pride for our GLBT community and all our out-of-town guests. While every entry was enjoyable, funny or just plain hot, there was one that raised more questions than answers.
The Gay Republicans were announced as "Supporting Our Troops" in a parade themed "Dallas Pride 2005: Equal Rights! No More! No Less!" Well, boys, we all support our troops. No one wants a single one of them to come home in a box.
But what really struck me was the great health of our Gay Republicans. Muscled, shirtless, butch, smiling and already dressed in stylin' camo shorts, they were something to look at! Honestly, my first thought was, "Why don't they enlist?" After all, they are young, strong and fully in favor of the Iraqi war. Good old "W" would be hard put to find anyone more qualified and more enthusiastic.
Our Army is running critically short of their recruiting goals. Time to sign up! Seriously, our troops need reinforcement. They need support. They need YOU, Gay Republicans.
Our fabulous announcer, Paul Willaims, raised many a laugh throughout the parade with his usual witty commentary. But one line was more an after-thought: "Maybe we wouldn't be in Iraq if Republicans weren't driving Hummers" (like the one in the Gay Republican entry).
The line didn't draw laughs. Spectators up and down the street nodded in agreement, said, "yeah", "you got it", "that's right" and applauded the statement.
Come on, Gay Republicans! Here's your chance to put your body where your mouth is. Sign up with Uncle Sam. Enlist in the U. S. Army. Demonstrate your support of the troops in the way that REALLY matters - go yourself and fight for their safety.
Or is your support only hollow words? Your faith in the Commander-in-Chief only lip service? Or is it that you really do support the war, as long as someone else does the dying?