Santa Barbara’s Gay Pride Festival

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Having grown up in a conservative, evangelical family, the concept of “pride” has always proven complicated for me. Pride was something to be shunned, something to avoid. Although there never was a shortage of compliments or congratulations floating around the house when a test was aced or a job promotion given, the understanding remained that these sentiments should never slip into the realm of conceit. That’s when you were headed for disaster; after all, pride goes before a fall, or so says the Book of Proverbs.

Gay Girl / Straight World

This mentality has followed me into adulthood, manifesting itself in sometimes odd ways, like the discomfort I feel whenever Lee Greenwood croons, “I’m proud to be an American / where at least I know I’m free” over the loudspeakers at baseball games or 4th of July celebrations.

So, naturally, the warmer months that signify gay pride season is upon us have been known to make me hem and haw a bit. It’s not that I’m ashamed of being gay, it’s just that I see it as a small part of my entire personhood. I’m no more proud of being gay than I am of having brown hair or being a rabid Lakers fan.

And yet …

Squeamish as I may be about what the notion of pride means to me, I still find myself, year after year, driving north and south on the 101 to hit up various gay pride festivals and parades. Heck, last year even found me on the committee to help plan Santa Barbara’s festival. I’ve come to appreciate that, despite my personal issues, gay pride is important because it fosters community and offers an opportunity to celebrate diversity. Even though most gay people are comfortable with their sexuality, many people in the world still hate us simply for being, thus making this yearly conscious effort to promote a sense of togetherness increasingly important.

Like any celebration worth its salt, each pride plays to its city’s or region’s strengths; L.A.’s festival has more dance tents than anyone could ever ask for, while San Francisco, in all of its politically correct glory, hosts pavilions and stages for virtually any sector of the community one could think of (Faerie Freedom Village, anyone?).

Anyone who’s ever looked at Santa Barbara on a map knows that our main draw is the natural beauty of the ocean and mountains. So it’s perfectly fitting that our Gay Pride festival, happening on Saturday, July 11, is situated at Chase Palm Park (236 E. Cabrillo Blvd.), with lovely views of sea and shore. The grassy-knoll setting also provides for a relaxed, family-friendly event that encourages people to stay for the afternoon and lounge in the sunshine, shop the variety of vendor booths, and cheer for the different entertainment acts. I know that I’m more than a little excited for this year’s concert headliner: Tiffany and all her ’80s pop-music glory.

Although the official kickoff to the long weekend of S.B.’s pride festivities was last night at the Canary Hotel, there still are plenty of activities to keep you busy until Saturday’s festival. Tonight, Thursday, July 9, is the second annual girl party, held at Whiskey Richard’s (435 State St.), and features the ladies of LunaBella Makeup Art (lunabellamakeupart.com). At Statemynt (519 State St.) on Friday night, things are sure to get dance-y when DJ Gavin Roy pumps up the crowd at the pre-party. After spending Saturday at Chase Palm Park (11am-7pm) for the free festival, head over to SOhO (1221 State St.) for the after-party, complete with drink specials and DJ Ducky spinning. If Sunday finds you groggy and in need of hangover food, be sure to make Epiphany Restaurant (21 W. Victoria St.) your brunch spot from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. And don’t forget to save at least a little pep in your step for Sunday night at the Wildcat (15 W. Ortega St.) for Robert Mendez’s Red Room.

Sure it’s a jam-packed weekend, but there’s just too much good stuff going on to miss any of it. And I will say this: If you make it to closing time at the Kitty on Sunday, you ought to be very, very proud of yourself.

4•1•1

Santa Barbara’s Gay Pride Festival takes place on Saturday, July 11, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. at Chase Palm Park (236 E. Cabrillo Blvd.). Free admission. For more information, visit pacificpridefestival.org.

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