I was in my teens when I discovered my sexual orientation but it wasn't until I was 31 before I went to my first pride event.  Twenty-two years after the Stonewall Riots organizers for Long Island's first pride day event were forced to take legal action in Federal Court against the Town of Huntington because that town refused organizers the necessary permits to hold the event.

The Federal court sided with event organizers and on June 9, 1991, about 2,000 of us showed up on the streets of Huntington to celebrate both the court victory and our pride in who we were, where we came from, and where we were going.

Many pride days have come and gone but none have compare to that day in 1991.  It was a day of personal empowerment where I was able to celebrate openly my true life with so many others.

Understand, back then I was no wall flower but the only public exposure of my true sexuality was exclusively limited to the bars, beaches and private parties.

A couple of years after the completion of my seminary studies and my decision to remain in Philadelphia, I found myself participating in the annual pride parade on the Bike Stop float when I encountered a right-wing radical hate group disguising themselves as Christians. This encounter once again stirred that pride I first felt in 1991.

This pride I experienced, an overwhelming empowerment of righteousness, took over and I confronted these anti-queer protesters with arguments in order to counter their "Christian" lies, confronting, head-on, their underlying belief that unrepentant queers should be put to death, plain and simple, without exceptions.

Many years have past since that day in Philadelphia. Nowadays I still find myself empowered to speak out against injustice, hypocrisy, and lies while trying to give voice to the truth of our rights to full equality in all things.

I have discovered this to be the true meaning of pride and of the modern queer rights movement which was sparked by riots against the unjust treatment of queers in 1969 at the Stonewall Inn in New York City.  It is flamed by the actions and memories of the likes of Barbara Gittings and the early pioneers of our queer civil rights movement.  Through protest, demonstrations and outspoken frankness, they gave a definition of queer pride which we need to recall, embrace and act upon.

Rather than parties and shows, rather than beer and dancing, perhaps we would do better for ourselves by taking a stand this Sunday by showing our unhappiness with the continued inequality that we queers are forced to live under. 

We would be better off if we gathered to oppose the hate speech that will be directed at us, especially our youth. Hate that will be disguised as "Christian love" by false Christians who through selective literalism bend goodness into evil and embrace the belief that we should be extinguished!

Just as we were willing to gather in the thousands to protest against the passage of Proposition 8, we must also be willing to stand against hate speech.  The anti-queer right-wing fundamentalist protesters, who will be present outside of Penn's Landing this Sunday, will not be happy until we are either all "ex-gays" or we are all dead.

We already have our martyrs and we surely should not wait for others to be killed before we take a stand against that speech which leads some to murder. Turning our back on these protesters, which appears to be the response of too many community leaders, will neither silence nor marginalize them.

Our only response now must be to gather in strong numbers in opposition to the anti-queer protesters who directed their hate speech at us, and towards the Philadelphia Police Department who continually facilitate these hate-speech zones so close to our events causing the anti-queer protesters to be right on top off us and in our faces.

Comments: james@QUEERtimes.net

 

 

 

Okay, what could be gayer than National Picnic Month?  That's what July is designated by an act of the United States Congress!  So, all you graduates of Martha Stewart Homosexual Finishing School--please take note!

The husband-and-wife team, Mitch and Jennifer London Prensky of The Global Dish Caterers and Supper, 826 South Street, named to Philadelphia magazine's "Top 50 Restaurants, 2009," is kicking off their own observation of National Picnic Month, appropriately enough, on July 1, 5-8 pm, with a special Happy Hour, featuring Sly Fox Beer and a dozen different modern interpretations of Deviled Eggs, at $1 apiece or foodies can order all 12 varieties for $9 and, for another $3, picnic-lovers can add a can of Sly Fox Beer, such as Pikeland Pils, Phoenix Pale Ale or Royal Weisse Ale.

For information, call 215.592.8180; or visit phillysupper.com

What bona fide foodie can resist authentic Maine lobster?  Certainly not owner David Einhorn who has been carrying on his love affair with the popular crustacean since 1971 at his family's restaurant, off Rittenhouse Square, at the always popular, Seafood Unlimited, 270 South 20th Street, Philadelphia, where they're currently featuring several summer lobster special dinners.

On Tuesdays, diners can indulge in a succulent and summery lobster dinner at a substantial savings with 1-1/8 lb. lobster, served with corn and house-made coleslaw for just $19.50, 1-1/2 lbs. for $27.50 and 2 lbs. for $34.

On Saturdays, diners can opt to add ½ pound of shrimp or oysters added to lobster dinners for just three additional dollars to the Tuesday night prices, with the added course for just $22.50 and 1-1/2 pounds for $30.50 and 2 lbs for $37.

Once known more as a fish and seafood retail store and a take-out eatery, Seafood Unlimited has also evolved into a stylish seafood bistro.

For information, call 215.732.3663; or visit seafoodunlimited.com

The al fresco dining craze has now spread to the suburbs. Chef Abde Dahrouch, the Terrace at Pond, 175 King of Prussia Road, Radnor, is bringing summer al fresco dining to new heights with specially prix fixe offerings at $19 for lunch and $29 for dinner.

While Bistro Cassis' and Pond's indoor a la carte dining are no longer offered, it's all about the grill menu for the summer season.

For lunch, diners choose one appetizer and one entree from a tantalizing selection of menu items created by Dabrouch that includes such appetizers as Mixed Greens, Hearts of Palm, Beefsteak Tomatoes, Shallot Lemon Dressing, Sweet Corn Salad with Black Beans, Scallions and Tomatoes, Fresh Mozzarella, Roasted Peppers, among others; and entree selections such as Grilled Sea Scallops, Capers. Lemon Vinaigrette, Marinated Teriyaki Salmon BLT in a Brioche Roll, Marinated in Kobe Beef Burger, Vermont Cheddar Cheese, Applewood Smoked
Bacon, with choice of either French Fries or Red Bliss Potato Salad.

For dinner, diners can choose one appetizer such as Chilled Gazpacho with Crab Claw and Pepper Vodka Marinated White Bean Salad, Tomatoes, Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Lemon Confit, Ahi Tuna Tartar, Diced Avocado, Lime Cilantro Dressing and Charcuterie Plate, Gherkins, Old Fashioned Mustard, Country Toast; and one entree such as Moroccan Ahi Tuna, Toasted Tomato Black Olive Vinaigrette, Coriander-Cumin Chicken Breast 10 oz. Pork Chop, Homemade Jalapeno Barbeque Sauce, 12 oz. "Cowboy Steak", Marinated Fresh Herbs and Martin's Provolone and Parsley Chicken Sausage.

For information, call 610.293.9411; or visit pondrestaurant.com

It's hard to believe that Lisa M. Reisman et Cie, Rittenhouse Square's extensive print gallery and well-edited boutique, is only celebrating its second anniversary as the place has become so integral to the city's retail scene.

On June 17, Reisman is marking their anniversary with the opening of the exhibit, La Fête du Savon - an effervescent collection of a rare blend of extraordinary design, original research and good clean fun and a special reception, 6-9 p.m., on June 17. Guests will enjoy summer punch and a selection of decadent pastries will be served, free and open to the public, and with a closing event on or about July 31 when the exhibit ends.

"La Fête du Savon presents Art Nouveau and Art Déco chromolithographic labels created in Fin-de-Siècle France for the soap and perfume industries. Dating back to late 19th and early 20th centuries, this exhibition explores the coquettish allure of vintage French commercial art from this early stage of graphic design history, and the culture that created a demand for such imagery," said Reisman.

"These labels provide a look into the glamour and aggressive elegance retailed to the élite women of Belle Époque Paris, and this exhibit places these items within modern context as a means of translating their impact," explained Michael Hartman, the exhibit's curator.

"Considering that they were designed and produced as ephemeral objects, both the level of artistic detail and that these pieces even survived is impressive," he said.

Reisman said that works displayed will be accompanied by interpretive curatorial text. All original examples from the exhibit, which are professionally framed, will be available for purchase.

She announced that an additional four specially designed exhibition posters, suitable for framing, will be available for just $20 each.

For more information, visit lisart.com