Some people work for a living
Some people work for fun
Girl, I just work for you
They told me marriage was a give and take
Well, you’ve shown me you can take, you’ve got some giving to do
Girl, I work just for you. Me to me. You’ve shown you can take; you’ve got some giving to do. Story of my Kandi life. Love, love, love this song, as well as the fabulous Careless Whisper. There is a great documentary on Netflix about Wham, which was a duo. Andrew Ridgeley was actually the more confident, driver initially of the group. Then George Michael’s talent blossomed and Andrew did something lovely; he got out of the way. Along the way, George realized he was gay and that ended up being his undoing (careless sex). His solo career took off, and he was recently a very deserving Rock Hall (posthumously) inductee. Both of the songs named here are to be blasted on repeat!
June 6, 2026, PRIDE in the CLE brings the high energy and positive spirit Cleveland deserves every year. Pride in the CLE ensures that Northeast Ohio is afforded a Pride event that not only celebrates our LGBTQ+ community but also advocates for the equitable and just treatment for ALL in our community. I have done this many years, I always volunteer for one of my causes (HRC or Plexus) and enjoy being that tiny thread of the fabric of supporting our sisters and brothers to be joyful. I have said this time and again, Pride celebrations are both so amazing, awesome and at times, a bit off-putting. I could do without the leather thongs in public, they don’t help… Every TV camera finds the drag queens, painting them to the general public as who and what we are, instead of them being a part of who and what we are. But I digress, as usual.
I volunteered to help set up and open the Plexus booth. I knew my lovely friend, Jennifer, was herding the cats (mostly her cronies, whom I am friends with) around the same time, allowing me to give my time and then spend time with my posse.
The day, weather-wise, was all over the board. Potential storms were forecasted, thankfully that did not happen. But it was humid and very windy. As a result, my photo session was not the greatest. I finally gave up the last time the tripod blew over, and my hair looked like a shit show (which it did all day). Easily, my worst photo shoot of the year, but I was at least able to document the day.
The day, beyond the weather, was the usual combination of amazing and repulsive. If you CAN do something, it doesn’t mean you SHOULD do that something in public. I was having that exact conversation with someone when a man walked by in essentially only a jockstrap. One, if I did that the next day, I would be arrested (despite I would look much better and that is not at all saying anything). Two, he had no business doing that because he was not at all attractive doing so. Three, if he were trying to make a statement, doing that, looking like that, does the exact opposite. Put on some pants, and a shirt as well!
We parked ourselves (I had friends with me; I know that is a surprise) at the very end of the parade route. We were right across from the obligatory a-hole with a bullhorn, telling is we were all going to Hell, God hates us. All while I watched church after church in the parade… Anyhoo, I interjected myself into the parade to hug those I knew, those I didn’t know, to high five many, to ask the Progressive contingent where Flo was and on and on. No better way for me to spend a day!! Oh yeah, I’ll see you in Hell you literal piece of shit (God loves us all and if you are a Bible scholar, then you should know that, since we are all created in His image and, I don’t know, He loves all of His children). Again, I digress..
At Pride, I collected quite a few hugs. Afterward, at a local gay bar called Twist, it was surreal. Yeah, I am not a fool, I know I was amongst my people. But there were at least four occasions that amazing human beings simply came over to me to tell me I was beautiful. We all can see here that was not the case, but these were acts of love and they did not go tremendously unappreciated! Once such occurrence was frankly heartwarming. I met this wonderful human being, about ten years my junior. Her wife was such a character, about ten years my senior (so you can just imagine how old she was!). Rashad came over to tell me I was beautiful (surprisingly she is a sighted person) and we talked on and off quite a few times. She left with my contact information, so we’ll see…
If your area has a Pride celebration, go. But nothing is black or white. Pride is very grey, but the Mom hugs are amazing!
I always try to never repeat a post title, and I am obviously celebrating the music I love, so I didn’t reuse this post title which was an homage to U2, “Love in the Name of Pride”.
Somebody tell me
Won’t you tell me? (Oh, please tell me)
Why I do the things that I do
Give you money, work to give you money (ooh)
It’s June. Why should we only have Pride in June? Be proud of who and what you are every day, all day!
As I preached to anyone who would have a real conversation with me, love is love. Hate is hate. Hate coming from the right or the left is still hate. Hate is NEVER acceptable human behavior. Yeah, it’s been around since Adam and Eve, but we always need to be better. I sited examples from both sides of the aisle and no one could argue the point.
