Just a small fraction of my co-workers turning out.
I really don’t know if this parade and its related events are relatively new or it has been happening for years. Based upon my research, the foundation to run the activities only goes back to 2011. However, I’ve lived here for 20 years and Austin has never been shy about the openly gay population, it’s the San Francisco/Minneapolis/Key West of the Southwest.
Last night Somara and I got to show our support by marching in the parade alongside numerous Apple co-workers. One major thing I applaud CEO Tim Cook for is his siding with the right side of history: equality and renewable energy are two good starts. Both positions may upset certain elements in America but I couldn’t care less. These factions’ ancestors backed slavery, banned “mixed” marriages, protested voting rights for anyone who wasn’t a WASP male, insisted the sun revolved around the earth, etc. The people I find to be even worse are the cowardly who are afraid to rock the boat because their wallets trump their flimsy morals. So it was nice to participate.
Now I had a small reservation. It wasn’t being seen in public or anything, I’ve been over that crap since high school plus I walked around dressed as Patsy Stone at work and gay bars during Halloween ’95. This parade is for the LGBT residents. I didn’t feel it was my place, I feared I was stealing their thunder. I discussed it with an openly gay person/friend. She responded a bit with confusion. I explained, being there in my mind was equal to be in the LA Kings’ Stanley Cup parade going “Woo woo! I helped them win thanks to being a season-ticket holder! Woooooo!” She gave approval, saying it was fine. The LGBT community needs all the allies with voting power it can get. Can do! I have only missed one important election my adult life and it was due to the transition from North Carolina to Texas.
Overall it was a pretty cool parade. The Apple part followed a samba troop. It took place at night which meant a barrage of lights too. What else? Lots of loud dance music. Local politicians out to get votes. Other tech companies being represented: AT&T, FaceBook, Google and Dropbox. Various Protestants denominatons and I think I saw one Jewish temple; the current Pope says gay people “can’t help, cut them some slack” (baby steps, baby steps). Dragon’s Lair, Austin’s biggest hobby/comic store with superheroes. A Ghostbusters car. It wouldn’t be a Pride parade without drag queens. I admire their skills and attention to detail.