I always win

Let me state at the outset: I support the idea of a gay pride weekend. I used to participate. But I think it has become way too large. Nearly 10 years ago, I moved to Church/Wellesley , thinking it would be great to be in the middle of it all &mdash including pride weekend. The novelty wore off . I live at Pride Ground Zero; I'll own that. I have choices: I can participate, I can leave the city for the weekend, or I can move. However, the letter sent to me by Pride Toronto made me chuckle. It's well-intentioned, and it's great to provide street closure information to the community. But there is some language that, to me, conjures up images of stress, combat, and violence. It talks about traveling "the gauntlet of Church Street". Like running the gauntlet . Funny... that's exactly what a crushing crowd seems like to me if I'm not under the influence of intoxicants ! And there's a reference to passing "through the crosshairs of Church ...

For gay hubris day gay pride day 2004, I did my laundry. In 2005, I left the city for the weekend. This year, I'm flying to Winnipeg for a wedding. One of these years, I hope to get back into a "pride mood." For now, I've had enough of: the performance stage near my apartment that makes the building vibrate for 2 days the crushing, gawking, flip-flop-wearing, sunscreen-slimy crowds the overflowing portable toilets with the interminable lineups the excessively cautious beer garden rules (also with interminable lineups) Here is a picture of me in 1997, when I had a great time at pride. (It should be noted that I didn't live right in the heart of Church/Wellesley then, so I had a place to "escape" to if I needed a time-out.) Who's that person next to me? I've digitally altered his appearance, but I can tell you that he might be one of my favourite "aunts." Have fun. Wear condoms. I'll see you Tuesday.

On a local Toronto station over the weekend, I caught part of an interview with Cameron Diaz. She was talking about self esteem, and how her parents probably gave her too much of it. I agree with her. I dare you to watch The Sweetest Thing and tell me with a straight face that there's zero per cent of Cameron Diaz in her hubristic character. (God, that movie frightened me. And reaffirmed my sexuality at the same time.) I have too little self esteem. In this respect, Cameron Diaz and I are different.