Fall, my favorite time of year.  For me, it means finally getting a break from the blazing, hot weather.
It means cold, crisps air and sleeping with the windows open.  It means Octoberfest, fall crawl on 4^th ave, the beer festival, wine tasting, Fright Night, haunted houses, picking pumpkins and for the gay community it means Gay Pride.

It was Gay Pride in Tucson October 18th and Rainbows were everywhere!  For those of you who missed it, I highly recommend you mark it on your calendars for next year.  Every year Reid Park is full of music, food and festivities.  Opening for those early risers, it was already buzzing when I got there in the afternoon to help promote GayTucson.com and the paragon party.

I don't mean to brag...well, maybe I do...our booth was definitely busy!  We were giving away anything from lube and condoms to a WII fit and a vacation in Mexico.  I hope you all signed up for the drawings. (You know how much I love the lazy days in Mexico and you will too).

The GayTucson.com booth was in a prime location on top of the hill and in front of the stage where we could see and hear all the fabulous talent.  It was like an explosion for the eyes as people are not afraid to be themselves and let it all hang out…literally.

From the drag queens as tragic as Courtney love to the fabulous Madonnas.  From the little 16 year old boy wearing nothing but a g string that he has not grown into yet, to the heavy set guy in the shortest cut off jean shorts bending over for the world to see. Apparently he missed the memo that jean shorts came and went with the Reagan era.

After Pride in the park, we gathered all of our free stuff and went to the hotel to get ready for Pragon, the first, pride afterhours party in Tucson.  A big thanks goes out to everyone involved in making this possible.

It was so elegantly decorated.  Think of the nightclub Pure in Vegas.  It was decorated in that glamorous fashion.  Everything was white with tall, glowing tables and extravagant beds to lounge on.  DJ Jeremy rocked the house till after 4am.  (See photos).  People danced till dawn to the best dance mixes.  We had rooms at the hotel so we continued the festivities till deep into the morning hours.

Gay Pride in known though out the world for uniting people and celebrating a culture.  It is a time where people unite and support the ongoing right of gay liberation.  It is a safe time when people can be heard and take pride in who they are.  It is also a time when straight people like me can express support for people to be who they are. In the words of Karen Walker, Gay, straight, bi, thi…

I am always so proud to participate and educate others that may not understand.  And what better way to do this but in the forms of festivals and parties.

Cheers, Fruit Fly