I was 5 years old when those brave drag queens at the Stonewall Inn in NYC fought back in June 1969. Thankyou girls.

Pride in the Park this Saturday. Not seen much moaning on blogs about it this year (last year was like World War 3). Usually it's all "been-there, done-that" "it's all just so commercial" "too many orange muscle queens" "why do they all have to act that way", etc etc. Well, that's too bad. I don't deny that all of that is there, and probably not just here in London but every other major European city too. But somehow, overall, it's such a great day to hang out, and see all the other queers (and 'supporters'), and, pardon the cliche, Celebrate Our Diversity. I laugh at it, but I mean it. The whole event has gone over-the-top commercial yet I always manage to notice those cute hand-made signs ('Hull poofs picnic area'), the bad but joyful dancers, more and more obscure professions with offical Gay Clubs, and of course, the cliche-bashing realization that most of us are ugly, unfit and tacky dressers. I love it all. Despite Jeremy Joseph having the musical tastes of a 13 year old girl and despite paying £3 for a lager (and £20 to get in) and despite there being no alternative stage this year (last year Suede, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, 80's Matchbox B-Line Disaster and The Cooper temple Clause all played live), despite all this I know it will be a great day out. I know we will piss ourselves laughing at the line dancers and ballroom dancers, point at drag queens with their heels stuck in the mud, shudder at the bass coming from the disco tents ("are they all mad or on drugs?", "both dear!"), enjoy the punk rock and electronica at the Popstarz and Cock tents, cheer/boo Ken Livingston, drool at the five-a-side and volleyball boys and sing along with 60,000 other fags to 'Tainted Love' when Soft Cell shut the thing down at 10pm.
It's a long way from the Stonewall Inn to a Royal Park in the centre of London (especially in high heels) but it was a journey worth making.

Here's a picture of Me, Darren and Rob at last years event.

Shoulda mentioned earlier but the above piece was inspired by BJ and a piece he wrote last month (I stole half of it actually).