The Circle City Pride Parade was this morning. It was a bright, hot morning — 91F/33C with 44% humidity and fortunately, a nice breeze now and again. I wore my staple fear-of-summer uniform — long-sleeve white gauzy shirt, lightweight jeans, big straw hat.
When you’re so white you have to dress like a missionary at the Pride Parade…
Seven of us in a little crowd and who do the evangelists bring a pamphlet to? Me.
No thank you, my mother-in-law has given me enough Jesus, I’m full, thanks…
I know most people think Indiana is corn and racin and basketball, and we are. But that’s a narrow view of a thriving metropolis.
We are a primarily blue city, surrounded primarily by red rural areas. Our governor is so bass-ackward he gets booed at while throwing the first pitch at Victory Field, signs reading PENCE MUST GO dot the neighborhoods, and there’s even a Facebook Page called Periods for Pence, because he hasn’t got a basic understanding of women’s biology — and between you and me, I strongly suspect he thinks being transgender means that Ken is wearing Barbie’s clothes.
Events like Pride are essential. They serve as a reminder that not all Hoosiers are bigots. Plenty of Hoosiers understand that Hoosier Hospitality extends to all people.
Pride is the embodiment of love. Love for everyone. Love for the people who make up the businesses and churches and groups that not only support equality and diversity of our community, but truly embrace it. Love for all the people who support one another and the evolution of human rights. Maybe most importantly it celebrates love for all the people who’ve lived too long without love, without acceptance.
When the people waved, they waved with love, so I waved back with a pile of my own.
I love you Glitter Girl, Leather Man, Pantless Chaps Dude, Drag Queen, POW, Unicorn, Pegasus, Guy whose tee shirt suggests we all try the sausages, Grandpa Biker with a confetti shooter, Men in cock socks and cowboy hats — I love you all unabashedly. Thank you for sharing yourselves with LOVE & PRIDE. Y’all make me proud to be a Hoosier today.
SoCS ‘mb’ is brought to you by LindaGHill
joeyfullystated 
You got a lot happenin’ in Indiana. Interesting. 🙂
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I’m cracking up at the description of your clothes😂
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Wow! I LOVE that video…! Great post! Thank you!
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Thank YOU! And thanks for the Re-Blog! xo
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It’s a great post. I knew none of those things about Indiana — this adds balance.
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Reblogged this on Art by Rob Goldstein and commented:
We are a primarily blue city, surrounded primarily by red rural areas. Our governor is so bass-ackward he gets booed at while throwing the first pitch at Victory Field, signs reading PENCE MUST GO dot the neighborhoods, and there’s even a Facebook Page called Periods for Pence, because he hasn’t got a basic understanding of women’s biology — and between you and me, I strongly suspect he thinks being transgender means that Ken is wearing Barbie’s clothes.
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Nice article! 🙂
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Thank you 🙂
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You’re welcome! 🙂
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Hurray for Hoosiers, Indiana and Gay pride parades, Joey. 🙂 Love conquers all things, including negative opinions! I never understood what the big deal was?
I had “two maiden aunts” who lived together and slept in the same bed. I think back upon their loving glances and hand holding, no hateful or vile feelings pop up to ruin the smiles of those memories. ❤
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I knew there was a reason I like you, Joey. Thank you for loving others, no matter who they are or what they wear. I wish everyone would be as accepting.
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Love the video and this post! ❤
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Thanks so much 🙂
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Haha! So true. Big cities are generally surrounded by red communities – even here in California.
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I think your attire is just sensible. Especially the hat.
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Thanks, I think so too 🙂
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I missed our parade this year so was happy to share in yours through your words. 😀
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Thanks 🙂
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I’m from Indy, and lately I’m ashamed to admit it. I came down in April to march in the Women’s rights rally with my 20 year niece and her cousin. My family still lives in Indy, and they are all very racist. I got the hell out about 30 years ago, and have enjoyed my life in Wisconsin. We use to be a very blue state, but lately the tides have turned. Our governor is a real dick, and Paul Ryan is from here, need I say more?
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I feel for you, I do. It’s hard to watch the news and read local commentary and not feel like I’m surrounded by racists and bigots all the time.
Having lived in Georgia for seven years, I can say Indiana is MUCH more liberal and open-minded than some places, but it’s still too red for me.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your experiences. It’s always nice to hear from Hoosier ex-pats 😉
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This was great fun to read, and the video is entertaining, and informative. We’re having pride this month in Portland, ME too. Despite what the pious and uninformed might think, loving and accepting our brothers and sisters (even if I don’t know which is which, or care) is how great communities are built. And there’s a rainbow snake almost a block long that dances/marches in the parade every year. Fun, upbeat, loving. Your outfit would fit right in, but bring a jacket. ☔️😄
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I’m glad you liked it 🙂
I hope you’ll share photos of the rainbow snake!
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Quite an interesting and colourful read with the video. Now I don’t envy your bass-ackward Governor 🙂
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Why are the cities always filled with love and acceptance but it never spreads to rural areas? Why won’t people open their minds and/or mind their own business?
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Because the jobs are in the cities, and when you have a job in the city, you’re faced with people who are not just like you. You gotta work with people who are not white, not straight, not Christian, not American, and it teaches you how to relate to people on a human level instead of relying solely on sameness. So, as long as you live in the country where everyone looks like you, thinks like you, prays like you, you don’t have to deal with THOSE people. THOSE people are not YOUR people, hm?
I think the internet helps…some.
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The internet can help but I see it can hurt as well.
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A great show of pride! 🙂
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It was 🙂
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That’s wonderful Joey, I wish more people not to say all humans would want to celebrate with them, for them as well.
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Me too.
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You think you have it bad in Indy, get looped in with all the cow towns in southern Indiana! Most of the area is culturally in the stone ages still!
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Oh no, I don’t care much for southern Indiana, and it doesn’t care much for me.
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Don’t group me with the ass backward folks (the majority at least)
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I don’t. I’ve found a few kindred spirits in those parts, but they’re rare 🙂
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southern Indiana is basically Kentucky and you know how it pains me to say that!
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Hahaha, yeah.
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I wish there was a *love* button, because I’d be banging it all over the place right now.
I don’t know if this link is going to work or not. My son (left), his partner (right), and my “adopted” son (centre) at a recent triathlon.
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Thank you! That’s a nice lookin family 🙂
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