GPX3

A rainbow is gathering... and I am afraid.

We're sorry for the radio silence this past week but we have been busy as Harry Potter house elves researching and writing a special Gay Pride pull-out in this week's Austin Chronicle on Austin's queer history. LOOK FOR IT! YOU'LL LOVE IT! QUEER ARCHIVES! WE NEED ONE! Enough shouting.

This year's Austin Pride Parade and Festival are being organized by one organization (a first!), the Austin Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.

But we can barely contain our excitement about the Gay Pride festivities this weekend. Yesterday we attended a vendor/participant meeting, and although we behaved like rotten schoolchildren at the back of the bus (we were drawing obscene pictures and making up cheers about assimilation), it was truly inspiring to see so many community leaders all in one space. Beyond this promising foreplay to the official festivities, we here at the Gay Place are uber-excited because we have got some Ree-DONK-you-lus throws for the parade this year. I'll give you a hint: it rhymes with Shmunicorn Shmurse.

So without further ado we present to you the places and spaces that we'll be this Friday and Saturday -or- GPx3 (Gay Pride Game Plan with the Gay Place):

Thursday, June 5

7pm
Multifaith Pride Service. One of the sweetest of the annual traditions. All welcome.

Friday, June 5

8pm
The GPers kick off Friday evening with the L Style G Style & aGLIFF sponsored Majestic Party at the Paramount. They'll be screening one of our fave drag flicks (partially because I wish I was the president of the Guy Pearce fan club) Priscilla, Queen of the Desert! And as if the screening itself weren't enough of a draw there will be a costume contest and dancing (in the Paramount! Whaaaaa?!?) to follow.

10:30pm
After the flick and a couple of dance-offs (which we will WIN!) GPers are going to stumble onto a Fluid Party Bus. That's right. A party bus. Is it just me or do the poles that come standard on city buses suddenly look like stripper poles when they're on a "party bus"? The bus will then take us, and all of you, to the Rusty Spurs for the official Gay Place Friday night party. We may have some things to give away, a little sump'n sump'n and such, as well as some fierce two-stepping movements that will rock your body, mind and soul.

Saturday, June 6

12 noon
Cure hangover from Friday with Mimosas. Somewhere. Anywhere. Ugh.

4pm
The Pride Festival begins, and your venerable Gay Place will be tabling it up. So come by and talk to us, no kvetching allowed, and we'll reward your interest with goodies. Chrondoms anyone? Be safe, kiddos. Otherwise, we'll be wandering the Festival grounds watching the amazing/hilarious/lezbotronic Allie Rolison and Holly Lorka, enjoying the performances of the Austin Babtist Women, Belinda Dawn Carroll and listening to the inimitable sounds of our very own (Go Dacia!) Show Me Tiger! and Grrlz Will Be Boiz.

8:30pm
The Pride Parade begins winding its way from the South 1st St. bridge, down congress and back to Republic Square Park. The GP OBVIOUSLY will be representin' and hopefully the judges (Grand Marshalls Lee Manford, Meghan Stabler, and the folks from ALLGO - Happy 25th!) will award our contingency most/best inappropriate. That's what we're gunning for anyway. Consider yourselves warned!

After that it's anyone's guess where we'll be, probably trolling the bars and streets of Austin. You'll know you've found us when you see this shirt, though.

Sunday, June 7

Recover. Mimosas? Oh! Equality Texas' Sunrise Brunch!

BTW: A full Pride calendar can be found here.