The raising of the rainbow flag at city hall followed by a tea dance, several charity benefits, theatrical performances, the Image Out film festival; which continues through the weekend; the Sweat For Pride dance and the crowning of Mr. and Mrs. Gay Rochester and the Gay Pride Prince and Princess are all history for this year. Tonight features the Weekend Kickoff Party with the Big Wigs at the Hyatt Regency Ballroom. 
They're all event sponsored by various groups in the city; The Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley, COAP - Come Out & Play, The Gay Alliance Youth Coalition and others. The 'family' picnic, open to the public, is Sunday afternoon at Genesee Valley Park along the banks of the Genesee River.
You've been able to hear about and see some of the sights of last year's grand 'Streets of Pride' parade, which winds it's way through the city to a huge post-parade party, which features song and dance, performances of various types, food and drink and lots of people and fun, this year being held inside The Armory Building in case of inclement weather.
The parade, itself, will be viewed by tens of thousands of city residents and visitors from around the northeast lining the parade route with over 5,000 folks attending the big shebang after. 
We've discussed what homosexuality is, diversity, equality, acceptance and tolerance. Opinions have been expressed both pro and con. Money has been raised, with more to come, through your views, ratings and comments here on Gather, to be donated to the organization, AIDS Rochester, which offers services to all residents of the city; homosexual, bisexual and heterosexual.
We've touched on the serious side of things and taken a light-hearted look at all things gay. Much support has been expressed toward those who are different in preference alone, yet like everyone else in being loving human beings. Stereotypes have been shattered in learning homosexuals are not all the same. We come from all walks of life with a variety of mannerisms and characteristics.
When you hear the word 'gay'; it invokes many different responses. Some think of gay as being happy. Others envision feminine acting men and masculine women, which are part of the stereotypes we've shattered here. "He's a fag. He acts and dresses like female." "She's a dyke. She dresses and acts like a man." "They're confused as to which sex they are."
Truth be told, pretty much every gay person knows what sex they are. 
A few aren't all that happy being the gender they were born and decide to make the change to the opposite sex in some way, becoming a transsexual and living as the opposite sex day in and day out, dressing the part on occasion as a transvestite or having hormone therapy and operations to physically change to the other sex as a transgender. Part of the gay culture includes those who simply perform portraying the opposite sex; some, quite convincingly.
They are the drag queens and drag kings, or, as some prefer to be referred to as, female and male impersonators. They don't live their lives as the opposite sex. They don't dress the role on a daily basis. They do this solely as a form of entertainment; some making a living at their craft, others picking up tips from their audience as a way to purchase the items they need to continue performing. Outfits, makeup, wigs and other things needed to transform into their on-stage personna can be quite expensive, as can transportation costs and entry fees into various pageants on the local and national levels. 
Performing drag is quite a complex undertaking. It takes in quite a bit more than simply throwing on a 'Halloween costume' or wearing one of your mother's dresses. It can be, and usually is, quite a cost financially. Elaborate wigs are purchased, top of the line makeup is used and elegant outfits need to be purchased; bras and panties, nylon stockings, high heels, gowns and accessories. I could never do this because of my looks alone...I wouldn't be very convincing.
I don't have a face that could be transformed into a pretty woman, not to mention my ugly, knobby knees. Not only that, where would I find a size 16 woman's shoe? Even if I had two legs, could you see my trying to walk across a stage in heels that size? No doubt, I'd trip and fall like Miss U.S.A. has done the past two years in the Miss Universe pageant; tumbling into the audience and breaking my damn, fool neck. No way could I be an elegant female impersonator. I'd have to go the other route and become a 'campy queen'; one who portrays a character that makes it quite obvious my act is nothing more than comic relief.
I'll bet you haven't even realized when you've crossed paths with a drag queen at times. Some of them are quite convincing. I even have to admit I've talked with drag queens in the past and they truly come across convincingly as very beautiful women; their appearance, voice and mannerisms. If not for the fact they have an Adam's Apple, which all males have, though not always that pronounced; I would have continued to believe they were real females. The Adam's Apple is a dead giveaway they're really a guy. If not for that, you'd never know the difference. With others, it's quite obvious they're a wolf in women's clothing. They can be quite a 'mess' and look like a train wreck waiting to happen.
Simply add alcohol and wait for them to crash. I saw one queen's performance where 'she' had a little too much to drink and took a tumble off the back of the stage, falling into the huge Christmas tree that was a part of the set's decorations. The crowd errupted into hysterical laughter, especially when she crawled back up on stage wondering what just happened...with a string of lights from the tree wrapped around her ankles. This was the same queen, who, when passing by a mother and daughter in a hotel hallway on another occassion, heard the little girl turn toward her parent and ask, "Mommy, WHAT is that?" 
Not to make fun of these performers, as many of them do an excellent job imitating famous females in the entertainment world; Cher, Madonna, Britney Spears, Carol Channing, Joan Rivers, and many, many others...even Dolly Parton. That's right...Dolly...with her huge boobies.
How do they do THAT??? Most use baggies of bird seed or balloons filled with water as 'falsies' inside their bra. Some have enough natural 'heft' in their upper chest to use duct tape to 'pull things up and together' to actually create cleavage, some, so much so, it looks like a canyon. 
What about the other 'part', you may ask, when they wear skimpy outfits where you can see almost everything. Again, duct tape. Everyone knows all men can fix anything with that magical invention. After shaving their chest, arm pits, legs and nether region; they tuck Mr. Happy Hoo Hoo between their legs and tape it in place. Ouchie, ouch, OUCH! (Another reason I would never be able to do drag.) After all is said and done, voila...instant lady. (When ripping that tape back off, I'd be too afraid of doing a home job sex change.)
There are those who take their performances very seriously...and do a great job at entertaining the crowds. You can judge their success by the number of dollar bills members of the audience come to the front of the stage with and 'tuck' into various spots; most of the bucks going between those fake boobies. These 'gals' also take great pride in selecting just the right stage name to reflect the queen they portray.
Here in Rochester, we have the likes of Aggy Dune, also known as 'The Duchess of Drag' in that 'she' has been performing for quite a number of years, Ambrosia Salad, one of the comedic, campy queens, the quite plump Darienne Lake, who named 'herself' after the nearby Six Flags Darien Lake Amusement Park, Heather Skye, who adopted the moniker of 'her' favorite vodka, Mercedes, Maya Douglas, Samantha Vega and Samantha Sulay, Gi Gi La Rue, Lucy Lamour, Kasha Davis, Eve Black, Paige Turner, Pandora Boxx, Cookie Crisp, Annie Rexic and the list goes on and on. Many of these 'ladies' will be performing at various events throughout Gay Pride Week.In just a couple of days, our 'Streets of Pride' celebration will come to a close for another year. Once the dust settles, or powder, as in the case of the drag queens and kings, plans will immediately begin to lay the groundwork for next year's observance, which promises to be bigger and better as the movement continues to grow annually.
The struggle for acceptance on behalf of all homosexuals will continue until the day arrives where we all are treated equally as human beings. The work of community organizations, such as AIDS Rochester, goes on, as well. As I have been doing all week with my posts, the money I earn through this article will be donated to that group to help in whatever little way it can in educating the public, preventing the spread of this deadly disease and assisting those who have already contracted HIV to live healthier in the life they have left.
Your comments are important in raising the total that will be contributed, so please 'give' generously on the thread below. Spread the word...spread the love. Happy Gay Pride!
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Comments: 89
Thanks for posting at Scores 4 Everyone.
I love the drag kings too, but I'm not as familiar with them.
I have been waiting for tomorrow since last year's parade! I hope the weather behaves!
At the ImageOut Film Fest when they showed clips of Kasha, she was there, and I wanted to meet her, but was too shy. STARSTRUCK! She's too hawt.
Also, I love the tap dancing mad girl. Scott and I like to imitate that. Can't remember her name.
I work for another company now, and I have a male staff member who always wears female costumes at work. I think that's why he comes back every year. It's his excuse to dress like a girl in public. I know he dates girls, so i don't know what his deal is. None of my business, but we love him. He's a dear.