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Posted on 06/15/2002 12:11:22 PM PDT by Diago
This past weekend was the Cleveland Gay Pride parade and festival. This was my first time attending, having only been to Seattle's previously, during my trip to the West Coast last summer. I was a bit nervous about the idea of marching in the parade, even if it was with the Gay and Lesbian Catholic Ministry, so I opted to help watch our table at the festival during the parade and snap some pictures of the group at the end of the route.
Our table was one of the best out there, IMHO, with a lot of literature and resources available. I minded the table with Bruce, another member of the group, while everyone else was marching. Surprisingly, we had a lot of visitors from early on, and we continued to talk to a lot of people throughout the day. We had a good conversation with a high school age guy and his mother. He is thinking of entering the priesthood, so we directed him to the priest with whom I talked last year about coming out to my parents. A lot of people were surprised to see our ministry, especially with official sponsorship from the Diocese of Cleveland. I hope that maybe our being there will help to bring a few people back to the Church who had left, as well as helping our ministry to grow.
While I was sitting at the table, I told Bruce that I expected to see at least one person from another part of my life that I wouldn't expect to see at Pride. Lo, not five minutes later, this girl that I knew somewhat during high school goes walking by. I caught her attention and we talked for a few minutes before she went along her way. I also sighted a guy who looked like someone from the distant past, but I was not exactly sure....I never knew him well back then, and he looked to be with his GF at pride, so I didn't think it was worth the effort to approach him only to find out I was likely mistaken.
Since I was at the table, I didn't get to watch the parade, but I got up and took some pictures as they were coming into Voinovich Park. The catholic group had a very nice sized contingent. There were a whole ton of other religious groups as well, making a very strong showing. I was personally very impressed with Cleveland Pride overall. Sure there were the occasional wild ly dressed drag queens and whatnot, but in large part, I think a family atmosphere was maintained. Drinking was confined to a beer garden area, so the rowdiness level was very reasonable. I personally had a number of pleasant conversations, both at the Catholic table and about the festival. I resisted the urge to spend too much, and only bought a few buttons to wear at such events. Towards the end of the day, I got talking to the VP of the Pride committee at random. That must be a very busy job, organizing such an event....he was trying to recruit me to help out with Pride for next year. I'm considering it, but with my time commitments it's probably not very realistic, plus, I don't feel I could do it justice until I am out to my parents....I'd feel a bit hypocritical. He did say that they had somewhat over 10,000 people this year, which is a few thousand more than last year. I'm very happy to see this event growing, as that bodes well for the atmosphere here in Cleveland. I did hear that there were a few sign waving religious protesters along the parade route...maybe 6 or 8. I guess they had their children out there waving signs....instilling them with a bit of hate. Bah, hate sucks.
Oh, did I mention that I am in the same video as a pornstar?! Ha Ha! It's not really as exciting as I make it sound. The Grid nightclub had Matt Rush, one of the newest stars for Falcon Videos as a special guest at Pride. They were taking roaming video at the festival to play later at the club, and as they scanned past the sexy pornstar they continued on to catch my feet at the edge of the view while I was sitting at the Gay and Lesbian Catholic Ministry table. Our table was almost across from The Grid's table, so we got to watch Matt Rush shirtless signing autographs and posing for pictures most of the afternoon. I felt so uncouth sitting there ogling a pornstar and trying to be a respectable representative of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland at the same time (not like I was the only ogler at our table however). I actually went over and got an autographed picture and shook his hand. He looked like he had such an incredibly thin waist, but I think it was actually that his upper body was just so huge... built right in all the right places... Heh....I felt like such a little girl swooning or something....like Mickey when he gets in giggly schoolgirl mode I suspect. The Stonewall Democrats had the booth next to The Grid, and they had some mighty fine shirtless guys sitting at their table too.
After we took down our table at the pride festival, 7 of us from the Catholic group went out to Snickers for dinner, which is the place that Mickey went with Julie and I when he was in town. This time I ate a bit more frugally and didn't break the bank. We had a really good time at dinner talking the evening away. We also had the same waiter that we had last time....the cute one with attitude. It was less crowded this time, so his attitude was a bit more fun and well adjusted.
After dinner myself and Bruce went to The Grid for some continuing party time. Matt Rush was supposed to be performing there at 1 AM, so we were going to stick around for that. It turned out that Bruce isn't much about dancing, so we just sat and talked for a while. Eventually, Brian [Halderman?}, who coordinates a lot of stuff for the ministry, showed up. He and I danced for a while until the show began. I have to admit that he's a good dancer...he was fun in that he wasn't so entranced in himself to forget to smile and talk to me occasionally....some people get like that, which sucks. He also seems to know a good fraction of everyone....I met a few of his friends during the evening. The Matt Rush show wasn't all I was hoping for....it was just a single song, and our view was somewhat blocked by the tall people who were at the very front by the stage. We eventually left and headed over to Twist in Lakewood. I've been meaning to check it out to see if it might be someplace I could take Brian and Matt when they visit. We only stayed a short time as it was approaching 3 AM, so I have not decided if I think they'd like it....guess I'll have to go again......hehe.
I was still so totally hyped up during my drive home, and continued to be very awake for a while after that. The whole Pride experience was once again totally energising for me. I felt exactly the same way last summer in Seattle. When I start to feel very alone in my day to day life, it is nice to have that experience of being surrounded by so many gay people, just enjoying life separated from all the little fears and stressors that that surround us on a daily basis.
It's not that I need to be surrounded by gay people all the time, but still being closeted in my home and work environments does take a toll, I realize. There is an amazing weight lifted when I am in an environment where I can just be myself, like with my friends. But, I still need contact with other gay people as well....It has been over 18 months since I've been in a relationship. I don't know that it's normal to feel this alone, but I really do. I guess that I can see why so many people get into meaningless physical relationships, just so they can feel loved and needed for even a brief time. Ah, but enough of this sad talk.
"Literature and resources" about WHAT? Cornholing? I wonder if the parishioners know that their tithe is going for subscriptions to "Leather Biker Hunks" and "Poof, the Magic Drag Queen."
I minded the table with Bruce
Too cliche ...
we continued to talk to a lot of people throughout the day.
Soliciting?
A lot of people were surprised to see our ministry, especially with official sponsorship from the Diocese of Cleveland.
I'll bet they WERE!!
I hope that maybe our being there will help to bring a few people back to the Church who had left, as well as helping our ministry to grow.
Uhhhh, yeah, Padre. I'm sure your pews will swell with recovering rump-riders. You'll probably need to add a wing.
Summa Gloria Dei.
Cleveland Diocese Logo: Decapitated Dove inside a Rainbow Colored Triangle [not a joke]
Embarressed? Hell NO! Defiant Diocese of Cleveland Promotes Gay PRIDE Interfaith Service
Gays defending faith and selves [Openly gay Diocese of Cleveland employee set to join Marianists]
Diocese of Cleveland Website featuring the Gay Pride Rainbow Triangle
If you feel like doing something, why not e-mail Auxillary Bishop Roger Gries:
Or, more importantly, forward this info to a Catholic journalist you know and ask him to help expose this scandal.
The one thing we have learned from the ongoing scandal is that the only way to stop something is through public humiliation. I hope any freeper with conacts in the Catholic press will use them to help expose and end this blasphamy.
Sure, it can't be wrong if everybody is doing it.[/sarcasm] My first question is who is the Bishop. It's time to flood the bishop's desk with protest letters.
For interviews requests, general information, or any other media needs, contact Bob Tayek, Director of Media & Public Relations via email Bob Tyack or phone: (216) 696-6525 ex.4460 or (800) 869-6525 (in-state long distance).
As I have noted to others, Christ picked Peter as first Pope, and Peter betrayed Him three times. Christ picked Judas as one of his first apostles, and he betrayed Him with a kiss. As individuals, we can't get to distracted by all this. We cannot use others unfaithfullness as an excuse for losing our own Faith. Remain faithful and pray.
Our table was one of the best out there, IMHO, with a lot of literature and resources available. I minded the table with Bruce, another member of the group, while everyone else was marching. Surprisingly, we had a lot of visitors from early on, and we continued to talk to a lot of people throughout the day. We had a good conversation with a high school age guy and his mother. He is thinking of entering the priesthood, so we directed him to the priest with whom I talked last year about coming out to my parents. A lot of people were surprised to see our ministry, especially with official sponsorship from the Diocese of Cleveland.
"...especially with official sponsorship from the Diocese of Cleveland."
There is no doubt that somewhere there is a check from the Cleveland Catholic Diocese to the Gay Pride Parade. There is always a price for a table at these events especially for sponsors.
Why don't they dismantle these groups, throw them out of the church and forbid them from using the Catholic name?
This article was written a year ago and is only an excerpt from this guy's long ramblings. (Check out his site below.) If you look at the links above, last month the Diocese of Cleveland posted on its website information promoting this year's Gay Pride Parade. One piece of info on the Diocese website was that it would have an information table at the parade.
I wish this was a farce. But here in Cleveland...it is the norm.
Your excellency:I wanted to inform you that the participation of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland in the Cleveland Gay Pride Parade in 2001 was a source of anguish and shame. The Gay and Lesbian Office of your diocese should be dissolved, and you should embrace the proper Catholic program for helping those with Same-Sex Attraction (SSA) which is COURAGE.
Your Gay and Lesbian Office and website is an affront to any Catholic who is loyal to the Holy Father and the Magisterium of the Church. You would do well to pull that part of the diocesan website, stop using rainbow symbols and can the logo. It would be even better if you and your staff went through a conversion of mind and spirit in order to obediently support the Pope and teach in line with the Magisterium and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
There are multiple places on the internet that detail the involvement of Diocese of Cleveland personnel in acts of homosexual promotion. The scandal attendant to these websites and what they represent make it clear that your diocese is a welcome place for those who engage in homosexual acts as well as support the use of homosexual pornography.
It is only a matter of time before various media sources will train their eyes on your diocese. When they start looking and digging, why not show them a diocese in conformity to the teachings of Pope John Paul II instead of a diocese that is almost anti-Catholic in its systems and practices.
I hope to learn of a radical reshaping of your diocese in conformity with the Holy Father and the Magisterium of the Holy Catholic Church.
Faithfully,
Siobhan
cc:Bishop Roger Gries, Mr. Robert Tyack
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