#before y'all think i used the wrong pronouns for the intersex artist i have met her

[justasmallbloginabigklainefandom]

So. Pride 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈

As I said, I went to Pride yesterday. I left my flat around 10:30 and got home around 23:30 so it sure was a day. I went with a lil group and it was a lot of fun. It was a canal float, and some people were on a boat. I also knew some other people on other boats and as someone said, it is so much more fun to watch this float when you know people. Heck, I’ve never cared so much about a boat from a big company before, especially after the person I know talked about how much this company actually does for queer visibility. (His partner, on the other hand, has to handle Corporate Pinkwashing in his Big Company.)

It was a sunny day and after some walking around we found a great spot on the grass, shaded, between trees. Maybe not the best view, but we could move to the front if we wanted to and my rainbow picnic blanket was *chef’s kiss*. Apart from watching boats, we also just had a lot of fun. Sometimes we even discussed more serious topics regarding Pride, cause after all, Pride is a party and a protest and it’s fun that it can be both. So we discussed privilege regarding pinkwashing, kink and sex positivity, queer history and symbolism (and I introduced everyone to my favourite version of the rainbow flag: Gilbert Baker’s 2017 Lavender Flag).

But one thing I kept saying is that as fun as the float is (and it is), the best part is that everyone is so visibly queer. People are decked out. Queerness is so diverse. There are people of all ages, sizes, genders, etnicities etc. I was particulary touched by seeing queer elders, but ALSO by queer kids. And people were just so joyous. As someone said, for once, queerness is the norm. Again, some people were decked out. I saw someone in a unicorn onesie and a rainbow flag as a cape, and someone who straight up worse a rainbow shopper. So many variantions of rainbow clothing. But also people who only pinned a little flag to their shirt. Or had socks with a rainbow accent. Or painted a little flag. Even the littlest things make you feel seen. After the float, everyone goes into town and it’s just so calming to see visible queerness in “normal” settings, you know?

And oh so many flags. Rainbow, lesbian, bi, pan, non-binary, ace, genderfluid, genderqueer, kink, bear.... toothpaste.

Some higlights include:

Someone holding up a sign that says “Nijntje (Miffy) wants trans rights!”

The intersex boat had an artist up front in a purple bodysuit and she was dancing around with huge shiny yellow wings, basically performing the intersex flag and it was STUNNING.

Speaking of WINGS, someone wore huge inflatable rainbow dragon wings. Simon Snow core.

As an asexual who hates being used by puritans, you bet your ass I always cheer loudly when I see a boat full of kinksters. Hope y’all stay hydrated in all this weather!

Speaking of a gatekeep-y puritan’s worst nightmare, there was a boat that flew multiple flags INCLUDING the ace and kink one and one dude in a puppy play mask waved to a small child, who cheerfully waved back and it was very wholesome.

I was also very happy to see MBO/ROC here, cause in my city, these educational institutions are a touchy subject (in the rare occurance that my queer organisation works together with them, we are placed by security since the institutions expect uhhhh violence towards us 😬) so it is good to show that there are queer people in these places.

The LGBT Asylum boat passed a group of Ugandan people, who were showing support for queer people in Uganda, and it was great that they all felt seen.

After the last official boat, a smaller boat with the organisation sailed after the others. It was so cool, cause people started yelling, cheering and applauding. One person screamed “THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!” repeatedly. I don’t think the organisation expected it, cause they were seated but when people started cheering, they slowly got up to wave at everyone.

I also met up with someone I haven’t seen in 5 years or so and I am so happy I did.

Oh, I was interviewed about my outfit. Wack.

We ended the day with ordering pizza in a park and fuck yeah I love spinach on my pizza.

And then, there is always the end. The moment you leave your bubble. Flags are put in bags. Coats are used to cover lavish outfits. Glitter is being scraped off, but I didn’t take off my stuff, mostly out of laziness, and a random dude on the train was so supportive and it was nice, and he asked about the ace flag and the enby flag that others still had on their faces and you know what I hope that guy has a nice day.

There’s probably more, but this is what I think of at the top off my head. I love being queer, y’all. Happy Pride.

#before y'all think i used the wrong pronouns for the intersex artist i have met her #lb 2023 #me doing the actual blogging thing #is that tag still alive? #also i need to come up with new aliasses #pride 2023