Edward Smith and I attended the first-ever Yelm PRIDE Festival today and I had so many amazing conversations with people!!!

 

I arrived about 20 minutes before Edward did, so I wandered around to get the layout/parameters of the extent of the Festival.

 

CHRISTIAN PROTESTERS, MASSIVE POLICE PRESENCE, AND A PROUD BOY OR TWO

 

What I noticed right away was a small group of sign-waving Christian protesters (perhaps seven or eight; about 15 by the time we left, three hours later). I also noticed that the protesters were outnumbered by about three-to-one by peace officers and about 20-to-one by festival attendees.

 

Oh, and there were one or two Proud Boys whose faces were masked up to just under their eyes so no one could identify them. I noticed that several of the peace officers had their eyes on those guys especially, given that group’s nefarious activities on January 6th, 2001 at the nation’s Capitol and at other locations before and since then. (The Southern Poverty Law Center has designated the Proud Boys a hate group. Canada has designated it as a terror group.)

 

I thought it massively ironic that a huge police presence was in place, standing between the festival-goers and the Christians. (The Proud Boys walked freely around.)That said, I was immensely comforted to find officers in literally every direction I looked (including aloft atop a building), because as I headed out this morning, I did think (sadly enough), “Well, this is a risky activity, given the present far-right demonization of LGBTQIA+ individuals. I reckon this could become my last day on earth.”

 

But I didn’t turn back. Edward thought the same thing, he told me, and he didn’t turn back, either. We we both knew the “opponents” would have won without firing a shot had we and others done so. So we both decided unilaterally that our presence at PRIDE was a hill worth dying on. (The moment a group wins through intimidation or silent, placard-holding vigils, they have won, period.)

 

PRIDE FESTIVALS ARE FILLED WITH LOVE

 

Take away the agitators/protesters and Pride Festivals are 100% love, compassion, and comradeship. (Oh, and very loud music!) People of all ages wander around to each booth collecting their favorite freebies, entering drawings, and spinning wheels. The vendors are friendly, welcoming and un-pushy.  The food vendors are all good.

 

Edward and I ate at the Demobooth because a percentage of each order went to the Thurston County Democratic Party. (There was no official GOP presence at the festival.) The order taker was actually a lovely young lady who is running for office in Thurston County. She looked to be barely old enough to qualify as a candidate, but she was amenable to chatting with us (when she wasn’t taking orders) while our orders were being readied.

 

I wish I had thought to take more pictures. 

 

I took the two selfies you see above, but nothing more.

I was just too busy telling festival attendees (about every three minutes, on average!) where I got the terrific T-shirt I was wearing (image below)

People young and old were exclaiming over it, saying, “I want one! Where did you get it!?”  I had to confess I got it at Amazon because I never could find it at any of the PRIDE booths I have ever visited.

 

When vendors asked me the same question, I said, “Next year YOU should have it. I could have sent 30 people to you today if you had it this year!” So, I put  a bug in several eager ears. Maybe next year there will be some at the festivals, too!

 

But it was the  men and women who asked if they could take my picture, or have their picture taken with me wearing the shirt,or if they could hug me, that made my day.  I entered into conversations with at least four different groups of people after they commented on my shirt. They told me stories about their transgender loved ones. I told them about my journey (briefly) and mentioned that I wrote a book about it so that other TG individuals (especially the younger set)  would know they are far from alone (as I felt I was when I was a kid) and that they’re not damaged goods.  The TG kids that we saw there were happy and effervescent, not at all feeling any kind of shame for their orientation.  That was heartwarming to me!

 

One lady chatted with me for 15 minutes, and two women and  a man chatted with me for a good twenty minutes. The man told me he had never met a transgender person before, and I was his first. He seemed rather blessed and impressed and wanted to shake my hand. I expressed to him that he probably had met TG people before but they just hadn’t mentioned their gender identity to him by wearing it on their shirts! He agreed that must be the case, but he had no idea who they were so, to him, I was his first. I’m super glad I was a positive experience for him!  They asked to have their photos taken with Edward and me, and I wish I had asked them to forward a copy to me, but I didn’t think of it and they didn’t offer so that I could say, “Oh, yes, please, of course!”

 

THE PROTESTERS

 

The protesters had Bible passages scrawled across large pieces of cardboard, so at least it wasn’t a GOP- or Koch-supported rally; these were individuals deeply concerned about our salvation and about the “grooming” of young children into what they consider ungodly (deviant) lifestyles.  They were protesting a bill that is before the Washington State Senate, asking that it be rejected. They have bought the lies that are being spread about it.

 

In my heart of hearts, I wanted to chat with the protesters and help them not be so afraid of diversity. I also wanted to ask them if they believe God makes mistakes, feeling that they would respond, “No,” and then I’d say, “So if, in your view, God made every one these people here  at PRIDE today — all these LGBTQIA+ people and their loving families and allies, then perhaps the lesson is for you, and not for us. Have you considered that?  I called myself a Christian for most of my life up until recently when I discovered that a great many Christians aren’t following Christ; they’re worshipping a golden calf, and proposing policies that Jesus would condemn.”

 

I didn’t do it because I figured that police line was as much to keep me on my side (even though most officers were facing the protesters) as it was to keep them on theirs, so tempers couldn’t flare and confrontations could be avoided. (I didn’t feel like testing this theory, either!)

 

Anyway, Edward and I spent a good three hours at the festival and I’m glad we went. I’m glad Yelm is acknowledging its  LGBTQIA+ members and turning out to support and embrace them.I saw scads and scads of hugs going around.  It was wonderful to see.

 

I encourage everyone to attend a PRIDE festival.  It’s a joyous occasion filled with happy people.

 

Tacoma PRIDE is scheduled for July 8th. I plan to attend that, too!