musclemen in swimsuits: this is a political statement?" I believe that it is a political statement, although perhaps not one with which we would all agree. And it will take a considerable amount of education both within our own ranks and in a political ministry to the straight world for it ever to be fully understood.

The committees that have been planning these parades have had some disagreement on the extent to which these events should be "serious" political demonstrations reminiscent of the peace marches in the '60s, on the one hand, or on the other a campy display of floats, flesh, wigs, and glitter. Those who remember the early marches, which were decidedly more politically conventional, often feel that the parades have been taken over by the bars and co-opted by the "fashionable types." (This charge is interesting, as some of the same people who make it also indicate that they dislike parades because it's all been done before.)

When threats not to participate are carried out, contentions such as the above soon become self-fulfilling prophecies. Withdrawing from a group because it's unrepresentative can only increase its tendencies in that direction. In cities in which bars and baths have in fact "controlled" the parades in recent years it was often so only because noncommercial, community organizations failed to represent themselves in numbers commensurate with their membership and influence.

If you object to the images of gay lifestyles projected by the parades you've seen or been in, staying out from now on will only serve to ensure that your own style will not be adequately represented. If the great gay mass of "just ordinary people in ordinary clothing" are not present to create new images, then all the old images will be reinforced.

WOMEN

These stereotypes include the straight impression that the only homosexuals are men. Gay women have rightfully abjected' tu t'e male domination of most "mixed" organizations, of the parade committees specifically, and of the para. des themselves. Many gays, both women and men, consider drag queens to be insulting and antifeminist. Yet, if gay women do not attend parade planning sessions

and thereby force the men to confront their own sexism, whether massive or residual, the parades will probably remain relatively inhospitable environments for strong, antisexist, profeminist consciouseness. If gay women do not participate in large numbers in the parades, the myth of lesbian invisibility will continue.

We may argue that even the presence of large numbers of lesbians and of gay businesspersons in coats and ties, gay teachers, students, officeworkers, and whatever, does not deter the media from focusing almost exclusively on the most outrageous floats and the most@garish drag persons, So if we are ourselves made uncomfortable by some other individuals and groups, and if news coverage and even the eyewitness impressions of heteros on hand to watch will be selectively filtered to fit only well established prejudices, why bother to participate at all? This sets up a Gresham's law of public relations: "Bad" images will drive out the good.

This is where we must engage in political re-education. We must work with the media to ensure that their coverage of these and other events shall be fair and balanced, and that we are given the same consideration and treatment as racial and ethnic minorities are accor:led. Many gay groups now have media committees to further these goals, and recent efforts in this direction have proven promising.

But first we must set our own house in order. Those who are put down for conforming to gay stereotypes may just as easily put down their accusers for overly conforming to straight models and lifestyles, for being gay Uncle Toms. What good is it to make a political statement to straights if each of us cannot do so in our own way? Although I personally regardsthe parade as primarily a political march, with secondary celebratory functions, it would be no more reasonable nor any more just if I imposed that view on everyone than it would be if the drag persons were to insist that everyone must parade in drag.

WHAT'S POLITICAL ANYWAY?

I may have my own values and tastes, but it's ludricrous to expect everyone to conform to them. Censorship is out of

place in the gay parades or anywhere in a free society. I have opposed moves to censor our parade even if it means having to risk such lapses of good taste as a float representing KY, or a covey of nearly naked men cavorting in a colossal can of Crisco. Who is to say what is political (and thus uncensorable) and what is merely "obscene"? Radical drag, or genderfuck, is clearly a statement about sex roles and is purported to be a liberating personal experience as well. (Remember, we are concerned with the impact of parade participation on individuals as well as with its public effects.) Perhaps the great public show of flesh is actually a protest of the somatophobia (body fear) of Western civilization. The personal is political, and the political is personal.

So some of us may regard others in our parade as continuing sexual objectification instead of fostering personal liberation and interpersonal respect. Others might object to a closety prevalence of straight definition among the more conservative in lifestyle. Still others will find it unpleasant to share space with churchly gays inasmuch as anti-gay religions have oppressed us for so many centuries. Women and men may not relish the idea of marching closely together. All variations on the theme of apartheid suggest themselves, and all are fundamentally ridiculous.

But at least once a year we should be able to set aside these differences and achieve a sense of solidarity and unity. Unity is not uniformity. If we cannot allow each other personal freedom, how can we expect the straight public and straight politicians to do so?

Our diversity is our strength, and it is also the essence of our gayness. We are free spirits, and we must accept, and indeed celebrate, each other's differences. This is our political statement, and it is a profound one. Diversity is life, and the destruction of diversity is death.

If you skipped it this year, come out into the streets next June (or the next time there is any celebration of gay in your town) and be part of the diversity. Be yourself and get high on our strength and our beauty. Most of all, you should participate because the day will be truly gay. Join the festival. Its name is life, and its face is love.

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