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Pride Flags

Sunday, June 28, 2009 marked the 40th Anniversary of Chicago’s (and other cites across the country) Gay Pride Parade.  The first Pride Parades came in 1970, one year after the Stonewall Riots of June 28th 1969, when gays and lesbians took a stand against New York City Police at the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village, thus starting the Gay Rights Movement in the United States and across the world.

One would hardly call the parade a parade at all when it first started in 1970. Then it was just a modest group that marched the sidewalk of North Halstead Street, shouting and calling for gay rights.  But, they returned year after year and the celebration grew and grew. So large, in fact, that it totally takes over North Halstead, with the sidewalks being for spectators. So many spectators at times that metal barriers are linked together to keep spectators at bay.

Other major cities such as New York City, San Francisco and Toronto also held their parade this day.

From Chicago's Gay Pride Parade 2000

Aside from this being the 40th Anniversary (to the day) of the Stonewall Riots, this year’s parade also had the first Transgendered Grand Marshal, Chicago’s very own and actress Alexandra Billings, who remarked, “This is a great day for solidarity and a fabulous day for sequins”. This year’s featured participants, in no particular order included members of The Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame, The Lakeside Pride Band, Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weiss and Gay and Lesbian members of the Chicago Police Department, Equality Illinois, representatives from GLADD,  The Jane Addams Hull House, The Chicago Gay Hockey Association, Dykes on Bikes, and The Chicago Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. Veterans marched, some in full uniform. As I mentioned, gay and lesbian Chicago police officers participated in the parade and it has been said that in the beginning of the parade telecasts that they not televise the officers to protect their identities, and now they ride toward the front of the parade every year and proudly televised.

Crowds danced along with performers in the parade, many of whom made statements in support of gay marriage. Politicians who walked the parade say it is a hot-button issue for the state.

Of the many politicians who marched in the parade was our very own Governor Pat Quinn, who when asked what the Parade, and Pride Day meant to him, replied, “I believe in tolerance, and I think everyone in Illinois and the Land of Lincoln understands that everybody counts. We want everybody in and nobody left out.”

Newly elected Fifth District Congressman Mike Quigley (D-IL) celebrated his 27th Chicago Gay Pride Parade and said “It’s a beautiful day and a beautiful time for equality”.

State Representative Sara Feigenholtz (D-12th District) exclaimed “It’s my favorite day of the year!!” She was joined by first time parade attendee State Representative Susana Mendoza (D-1st District).  Greg Harris (D), 13th District Representative in the Illinois Legislature and a strong same sex marriage legalization advocate said he wished some of his downstate colleagues would be as supportive of the community and its goals as Chicagoans.

Nettelhorst Elementary School parents marched near the front of the parade, leaving behind a wave of bubbles. One kid-filled wagon was topped with a sign that read: “School is out and so are my dads.”

A large, well organized police presence appeared to mingle well with the crowds and reported no major problems .  Fire Department paramedics dealt with heat related issues, but thankfully for the cooperative weather and strong cooling breeze, their services were limited.Halsted merchants were happy with the great turnout and the wonderful weather.

Pride Balloon Fishy

I personally have yet to attend a Pride Parade, but have watched the coverage for the 6 years it has been televised here in Chicago on ABC 7.  The coverage is weak at best, half of the time the commentators have no idea who is marching in front of them, and the parade is never televised live, but rather late at night, and for an hour minus commercial breaks, when the actual parade to my knowledge lasts over 2 1/2 hours.  Why can’t the parade be televised live as it’s happening like any other parade?  Why bury it late at night when people are usually asleep on a Sunday night?  I guess we still have a long way to go, at least here in Chicago before we receive equal rights. Sorry Mr. Governor, but I feel left out.

FYI:  Of all the parades in Chicago, the Pride Parade is the 2nd largest parade. The largest?  The Bud Billiken Back to School Parade.

Guess I’ll be going to next year’s Pride Parade.

But, aside from that, Happy Anniversary Chicago Pride!  Forty Years and Still Going Strong!!!

Until Next Time

Michael Queenstown

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Now I’ve heard everything!!

Picture it: Bridgeport, Connecticut, June 24, 2009.  Yes, 2009!!

Now picture a 16-year-old boy lying on the floor of a small church. Strange you say? In most cases, probably not. But this was no ordinary chruch and no ordinary 16-year-old boy. For you see, this 16-year-old boy was on the floor of this small Connecticut church writhing and convulsing as the church elders were exorcising the “homosexual demons” from his body!!

Yes, I said “homosexual demons”. They were exorcising. From his body!

One woman yelled, “Rip it from his throat!” And, “Come on you homosexual demon! You homosexual spirit, we call you out right now! Loose your grip, Lucifer!”  Now, I would probably find that a sexy pick up line in a bar someplace. I mean, really, “homosexual demon”? I’ve been called worse.  And I DO have a homosexual spirit.  And I’m almost willing to bet my “homosexual soul” that Lucifer has nothing to do with it.

I say these things in jest, only because I find these proceedings particularly horrifying.  A 20 minute video of the exorcism was posted on YouTube by the Manifested Glory Ministries, but the video and account have both been deleted.  I’m sure you can find it on other video sites  if you really look hard enough. It is horrifying to say the least.

The video is being called “abuse” by gay and youth advocates, who are demanding an investigation.  A church official denied this week that the teenage boy was in anyway hurt or that the church is prejudiced. REALLY???

The Reverend (and I use that term very lightly) Patricia McKinney,  co-founder along with her husband, of the Manifested Glory Ministries, reportedly told the Associated Press: “We have nothing against homosexuals. I just don’t agree with their lifestyles.”

I can understand you not agreeing with the homosexual lifestyle. But then in this blogger’s opinion, I don’t think you can also say in the same breath that you have nothing against homosexuals. I mean, especially if you were exorcising so-called “homosexual demons” from this 16-year-old boy.  No?

And of course, the church declined to make the video available for broadcast by the Associated Press.  No big shocker there!! But to give you an idea of what the video contained, picture church members standing the boy up by holding him under his arms while organ music is playing and yelling things like:

“Come out of his belly! It’s in the belly–Push!!”

Now I am really confused. Is he possessed by “homosexual demons” or is he having a friggin’ baby?!?

Later the video shows the boy back on the floor breathing heavily and apparently puking into a bag.  I would be too, if someone was forcing something, “homosexual demon” or not, out of MY belly!!

It is hard to say how often similar exercises occur in churches nationwide, but Kamora Herrington, a mentor at True Colors (an advocacy group for gay youths) says this kind of thing is fairly common and “happens all the time and this was not an isolated incident”.  Robin McHaelin, executive director of True Colors says that the organization is aware of five cases in recent years where youths in the program were threatened with exorcism.

Reverend McKinney denies the ritual was an exorcism, but rather a “casting out of spirits”.  Last time I checked, lady, that was called an “exorcism”.  She said the church took care of the boy, providing him clothes.  “He was dressing like a woman and everything. And he did’nt want to be like that.”  Or maybe YOU did’nt want him to be like that??  McKinney also said the boy was 18. The boy admitted he was actually 16, but would comment no further on the incident on the advice of his pastor.  What a surprise.

Exodus International, a Christian group (that’s bad already) that believes gays can become straight through prayer and counselling, does not advocate the church’s approach, said Jeff Buchanan director of church equipping.   Boy, this just keeps getting better and BETTER!!

McKinney also has a weekly radio show and on Wednesday she talked about being “persecuted” but said nothing about the video specifically.  “I’ts been a hard time for me, but I’m looking good and I’m standing strong because when you have a mandate like mine you’re not going to say what you want without the adversary coming after you,” she said. “If you are a true prophet you’re not going to be popular with the people”.

If you are a true prophet, you WILL be popular with the people.  Gays are included in “the people”.  No amount of prayer, counseling or exorcising can make a gay person become straight. I wish there was a way to exorcise the “prejudiced demons” from a person’s spirit.  Now, that’s a religion I could live with!  How many people walk among us with minds so twisted by their religion that are a danger to others?  I shudder to think.

Until next time!!

God Bless!

MQueenstown

Follow me on Twitter at MQueenstown@twitter.com and at blip.fm/MQueenstown

“I’m proud of my sexuality. I embrace it. I’s just another part of me,” is what American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert reveals in an in-depth interview with Rolling Stone Magazine, due to hit the stands on Wednesday, June 10.

In this blogger’s opinion, following the “is he or isn’t he?”  controversy as I have, I have to say that his timing was absolutely right.  No sense of coming out publicly during the run of American Idol, for fear that the topic of his sexuality would overshadow any of his performances.  The fact that so many pictures and articles of him: some in drag and others sucking face with another man didn’t already fuel those fires on the internet never took away anything from the fact that this young man truly has a God given gift.  His voice.

As he tells the magaine, “I don’t think it should be a surprise for anyone to hear that I am gay.”

Trust me, hun, no one was.

After the American Idol finale, he was so tempted to talk to reporters about it, but decided he didn’t want all the Clay Aiken type of publicity B.S.  and purposely decided on Rolling Stone Magazine, so that he could do it on his own terms.   He goes on to tell how his parents found out after finding his gay porn on the family computer,  and about his “crush” on Kris Allen and how nervous he was when he was paired up to room with the American Idol winner.  “I was like, ‘Oh [crap], they roomed me with the cute guy.’ Distracting?  He’s the one guy that I found attractive in the whole group on the show: nice, nonchalant, pretty and totally my type — except that he has a wife.”

DragQueenDiaries.com wants to  thank you,  Adam Lambert for a most exciting exciting season of American Idol and we know you will go far above anyone’s expectations and we look forward to your first cd release!!

Until next time,

Michael Queenstown