Please be sure to stop my blog and check out the links to more info on gays at Sturgis and living in South Dakota.
Gay Americans continue to knock down barriers and find acceptance in some pretty unlikely places across the land.
For the first time ever, the gay community center of South Dakota will have a table at the Sturgis biker event in the Mount Rushmore state. Over the weekend I spoke with local gay leader Mike Coats, who told me about this step forward for gay South Dakotans and that the community center was invited to participate by an area bike shop.
From Mike Coats' blog:
The Gay Center West will have a booth at the Independent cycle tent at the top fifty rally venue in Piedmont. It is at Elk Vale Road, exit 46 on I-90 at Piedmont. The venue is open 10 AM until 7 PM from Sunday, August 5th through Saturday, August 11th. We will be passing out literature and soliciting donations. I've been told this is a first for the rally.
As if that bit of news isn't enough, friends of Coats report on their blog that this year's bike rally will see the second gay men's biker event.
From the South Dakota Project blog:
The 2nd annual Gay Men's Biker Run is Wednesday, August 8th, 11 AM. Meet at Chute Roosters Restaurant and Bar in Hill City, SD. Entering Hill City from the north, Chute Rooster is on the left, as you enter town. We will be going to Rochford via Highway 385 and will lead for the run.
A link from Coats' blog leads to the official calendar of all events for the Sturgis biker rally, and it pleases my gay activist heart to see amid the list of Marine Corps, Christian and Alcoholics Anonymous functions, not to mention socials with Miss Sturgis, the gay men's bike rally is included. To me, this is tell-tale sign of advancement for all LGBT Americans and I extend deep thanks to the South Dakota gay community for their involvement with the Sturgis rally and related events.
The only thing troubling me about all this great news from our gay family in South Dakota is that there is word yet on a Dykes With Bikes rally. Let's hope the lesbians with hogs stage their own event and inform us of the details.
Oh, one final note, for those of us who find biker men attractive and sexy, Mike Coats promises lots of photos will be shared after all is said and done in Sturgis by the local gay community. Can't wait to see the pictures!