LA Pride

I finally went to my first pride!!! I had a great time.

I got up at 8 Sunday morning- 15 minutes later than planned- but I was up until 12:30, so I figured i'd sleep in even if just a few extra minutes. I was out of the house by 8:15, gassed up the car, and was on the road by 8:25. I made to my first stop in East LA in 55 minutes. First stop was Mike's Sandwich Shop. It is just off of Soto St. beyond the Sears tower at Washington and Soto before you cross over into Vernon. I got my hockey burger (hamburger, cheese, onion, polish sausage, lettuce, tomato, and 1000 island), which was so delicious. My mom has been going here since the 70s to eat- it's that good. I got back in the car, continued on, and made it to West Hollywood in 15 more minutes. Great time!!! I get to WEHO about 10:30, 30 minutes before the start of the parade.

I stopped in a Starbucks on Santa Monica and as I was walking in one of the lesbian teachers from school was walking out. It is no secret among the staff she is a lesbian, but the kids don't know. Anyways, I was shocked to see her. Of all people I could see it had to be her. She has sort of an arrogance to her and thinks she is better than everyone else. I try to be friendly and say hi or smile. I just smiled yesterday as I was more surprised and couldn't muster a hello.

I got to meet up with blog reader Bruce, his brother, and a friend of theirs as we watched the parade wind through WEHO. Bruce was just as nice as could be, and I felt like I'd known him for a long time, and I guess I have, as I've gotten to know him through comments and things like that on my blog over the past few years. I enjoyed talking to him as we watched the parade.

The parade had lots of people/groups of note like Jane Velez-Mitchell (used to be on KCAL 9 and is now on CNN), Gloria Allred, Kelly and Sharon Osbourne served as Grand Marshalls, PFLAG, Lamdba League/Defense Fund (awesome group that has helped me), and of course some hot boys.

I think we saw everything on the streets of WEHO. We saw guys, girls, drag queens, and Jesus.









After the parade we all made our way down to Mickys for drinks, then to a pizza place to grab a bite, and then to Eleven.

I had to leave about 4 to meet Linda and my parents for dinner. Linda had tickets she won from the casino for the Pomona Valley Mine Company for that night. I make great time. I think I spent more time looking for my car than driving there. Seriously should have looked where I parked- I had an idea, and helped. I knew I was in that huge Pacific Design Center parking structure and on the 3rd or 4th floor, on an end, but I seemed to miss the car everytime I walked that way.

Anyways, I get to dinner about 5:20. I had told my dad where I was going, and he was ok with it. I gave my sister an all out invitation, and she refused saying that it was "too sinful." I told my mom I was going to West Hollywood, and had told Linda earlier in the week I was going to West Hollywood. My mom and Linda would never make the connection, so I was fine telling them... haha. I get in the restaurant and find my family and my best friend there. Apparently he tried calling, but it seems I had no reception all day, so he called my parents, and they invited him to dinner with us. Everyone asked where I went, I said West Hollywood, and the people who knew sort of smiled. And of course I had pictures to show- the PG ones- Jane Velez Mitchell, Gloria Allred, The Osbournes. My best friend made the connection WEHO, a parade, and he asked me later if it was gay pride, and I said yes. He asked if there were any hot girls and girl on girl action there. There was, and I had a pic of girls dancing up close to each other on a float, and told him about the girls with just stickers covering their boobs. Dinner was cool- a lot of talking about my best friend's sister's wedding, his family, my family, and he met Linda whom I've told him so much about... hahaha. After dinner I drove him to his hotel for the night down at Disneyland- it was a nice quick trip down the 57.

Great day overall, and thanks again Bruce!