Indy Pride Photos: Protesters, Drag, and Churches

This past weekend was Pride in Indianapolis. It was the first time I'd gone to a pride event in several years; I'd forgotten what a fun and empowering event it can be. It reminded me how diverse our community really is.

There were young teens there with their parents (Indy has a big gay youth center), gay and lesbain couples there with thier kids, six foot tall drag queens, completely adorable young butch women, and couples in their sixties and seventies holding hands walking around. And a large number of opposite sex couples too.

The weather couldn't have been more cooperative; the temperature dropped about ten degrees overnight and there were almost no clouds in the sky. Simply perfect, as long as you remembered your sunblock.

There were a few protesters along the parade route. With signs that read "God Hates Gay Pride" and "Jeses Does Discriminate." It was truly a unique joy to watch the drag queens toss them condoms and beads and kisses as they sailed by on their floats. It was clear on which side the love and compassion for difference lay.

What was more interesting to me were the large number of religious organizations particiapting in the parade. There were probably 7 or 8 different congregations that marches with signs about God's love for all people. The best group had some great signs of their own "Jesus affirmed a gay couple (Matthew 8:5-13)," "Ruth loved Naomi as Adam loved Eve (Genesis 2:23, Ruth 1:14-17)," "Jesus said some are born gay (Matthew 19:10-12)," and David loved Jonathan more than Women (2 Samuel 1:26)" (see above). And t-shirts reading "Would Jesus Discriminate?"  It was incredibly heartening to see, living here in what I sometimes see only as a red-state wasteland.

Also in the Parade were the Indy Gay Marching Band (ahh the memories!) and the Indy Gay Men's and Gay Women's Choruses, a huge number of businesses (Pharmacy seems to have a LOT of gay folks in it if the parade is any indication), and of course the bars and whatnot (I'm always a little ambivalent about the alcohol themed floats). Oh, and even the most curious of gays, the Log Cabin Republicans.

Finally, you can't have gay pride without some fabulous entertainment. There were some fantastic drag performers channeling Diana Ross, Bette Midler, Cher and some other fabulous talents. What was most fun was to see the little boys and girls dancing along with the music in their feathered boas and rainbow necklaces. 

Overall a great day! If you haven't been to one or haven't been to one in a while, I'd strongly recommend it, especially in a smaller city like Indy, where the whole community really seems to come together.