Colors of Life
This is the first and only time (I hope) that I am writing a blog on past (way-past) event. But, I had to.
Like a swell of river that knows which way to flow, people move to one place in city on the last Sunday of une. On a rather dreary Sunday morning, swamped trains, caravan of cars carried people into the city from far and wide. Once in the vicinity, you don’t need directions to walk. The drift just takes you there. You can’t miss it, even if you tried. Scores of bodies direct themselves to line up as audience and participants. There are children, pets, young and old men and women who amble to find a place with best view. There’s one place to go to, one place to be at – for the next 4 hours. The colors of rainbow splash around on the market street. It is the Pride.
My three part journey started rather early as I drove to board a train and then walked a few blocks in city to join the party. The train was full, both decks. Luckily, I got a seat next to a very nice mid-aged woman. It was her first time visiting SF pride and she was beyond excited. She spent good 15 minutes trying to read maps and parade routes so she doesn’t get lost and finds a good spot. I assured her she wouldn’t get lost. Everyone (almost) on the train would be walking in one direction.
It is rather astonishing how quiet the outer streets are before parade starts. But, as you get closer and will your way on the street the scene that unfolds is magical. People are filling in the 1.4 mile stretch to find best seats in the house, lining chairs and tables and picnic supplies, fitting into costumes, buying feather boas and pride flags, setting cameras, making children and parents comfortable. When I say people are lined up, what I mean is that people first take seats on pavement behind barricades and then there are countless strings of people behind that first row. The street is littered on both ends with pride flags fluttering away. The vibrant colors of rainbow were filling in the gaps for a gray and cold-windy morning.
I feel thankful that the community fills the street and the lives around it with colors and joy and pride. Life can be pretty gray. To be able to see and soak in the colorful ecstasy of just being alive, of being equal, of being able to love is very liberating. This is a parade of being happy, wanting to be happy, claiming the right to be happy and simply walking to show the pride it brings.
The parade starts promptly at 10:30 am. The roar of bikes is staggering. You can’t talk, you can’t listen…you just hear the roar as it fills the street like a buzz of flies and cheer them on. How I wish I could see this by hovering above Market Street. A narrow stretch of road, packed with people at both ends, and roaring bikes with the sound almost filling the set-up till the brim and then some. This is followed by some phenomenal display of floats, flags, costumes, dance and music, band and so much more. There are celebrities, local heroes, politicians, everyday people and they all march in one parade. The array of display that is put out is very fitting to the colors of rainbow – the pride flag. With drags and twirling batons, with balloons and floats, with choreographed band and spontaneous silliness, with big companies and small churches, with health and tourist departments, everyone is out to show off their true colors, the true vibrant colors of the city and its people.
2008 marks a special year as you see waves and waves of ‘just married’ couples. Old, young, with children, on wheelchair, clad in leather and bride caps, decked in white, holding hands, holding signs soaking in the equality that eluded them for years. The small and yet vital parity - to be able to hold hands on street and get their love acknowledged. These are families out and proud to love and be who they are.
I don’t quite understand what people mean when they say they tolerate homosexuality. What’s to tolerate? How dare anyone say they tolerate someone else’s right, someone else’s love? It is not a character, not a behavior, not a choice. It is their life. It is their freedom. It is their family. These are families with loved ones. We tolerate people who kill, people who destroy, and people whose behavior is inhumane. This, her, is life. Love. Children. Companionship. Community. It is something to cherish.
On my way back, as I sat in train, I saw a young boy whose mom was attending the first pride. A tired young couple of lesbians sat in front seat and shared a meal. There was no rowdiness, nothing boisterous. I remembered the Halloween and New Year’s train travel and how people are drunk and raunchy. I saw the contrast and grimaced at society’s hypocritical thinking.
CA is in a fierce battle over Prop 8 that wants to ban gay marriage. Here’s what I think. Aren’t there enough problems, issues and people in the world who are destructive? Isn’t there enough violence and hatred? Aren’t enough kids orphan, enough people lonely and enough families torn? This is one community that is trying to offer a window of hope by saying they want to build families and raise children. Their is this one community that is asking for love and how ironic that they have to fight for it.
I saw an ad on TV in favor of ban on gay marriage arguing that it would be hard to teach kids – the oddity, the difference. How pathetic of an argument is that? Just coz’ it is hard for us or just coz’ we are inept to teach our kids compassion and broaden their view; we should take away people’s rights and label them wrong under law. This logic is as warped as believing world is flat until we knew better, until we learnt better. Let’s just teach world is flat coz’ it is hard to teach otherwise. Why not tell them love and compassion makes family? Why not teach them different is not wrong? Why not teach them there’s more to know what we know today; there’ll always be more to know? Why not teach them to treat everyone like they’d like to be treated? How would you feel if someone took your rights away? And rights that led to compassion, love, familiy, safety, companionship, proud life.
So, here's what I saw. Different colors of rainbow came together to create a beautiful mosiac that left one and all in an awe. Like the rainbow in the sky - perfect combination of sun and rain. No one color by itself is significant or more important. None of us by ourselves are complete. It is when all the colors come together that we become truly magical. The flag symbolizes gay pride but it truly represents life.
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