Reading bulldyke's essay on Pride made me think about the Pride events I've been to in the last couple of years, and what I liked or didn't like about them. Some friends and I were just talking about this subject a few days ago, and I think she said it a lot better than we did.

I've been to three Pride events- San Francisco + Santa Cruz, CA and Seoul, South Korea. San Fran was impressive just from the scale of it, and there's something impressive about thousands of queer people in one spot at one time. However, the whole thing felt sort of like an excuse for people to get drunk and be outrageous, and that's just not how I feel like I need to be- don't feel like my sexuality necessitates being drunk and half naked walking around downtown. I think everyone should feel good about who they are and who they're with, but sometimes the way people act at major Pride events like this just fuels the right-wing stereotype of how we act all the time.

I loved Santa Cruz's pride though- a short parade with a lot of town support, and a simple get together in the park after where a lot of people had their families. Lots of people, but generally lower-key. It's probably the event I've been to where I'm looking forward to being able to return.

Seoul's Pride was essentially for the entire country, as it's still not widely accepted here, and was mostly a collection of informational booths and culture displays/concerts. It was near downtown, and a lot of people seemed to wander through and not know what was going on before they stopped to look at the various pieces of information. For a country that doesn't seem widely accepting of it's gay community at all, I didn't see any incidents, and most people just passing by would take a brochure, smile, and peacefully move on.

It's not that I want to keep my mouth shut about who I am and who I love...I'd love to be able to tell people about my girl, and love to be able to tell my boss that the reason I probably won't re-enlist is because I want to be able to have a family. At the end of the day though, as my friend says, it's my sexuality, not my personality. I'm going to be modest and myself no matter if I was gay or straight, and it's a simple fact just like I have green eyes.

I just wish it was as obvious and as much of a non-issue as my eyes.

Sunset over the Songtan train line

The first float in the Seoul Pride Parade

Street Food...delicious

Me and one of my friends at one of several women's Universities in Seoul

Between Monterey CA and Big Sur State Park...sunset.

More Here

Had to work on Saturday, so I had Monday off as a comp day. Sometimes it sort of sucks to have weekdays off, because unless one of my friends had to work weekend days too, there's not anyone off to hang out with. On the other hand, I probably get more done that way. Talked to my gf for a couple hours, studied Korean for a bit and watched the Wire (I'm hooked on that show...glad it's finished so I can watch it all without waiting for new episodes). When one of my friends got off work we went to Chili's and had some dinner, then played Rock Band for a bit. Pretty average day.
My girlfriend, C, and I have been together for a year and a half now...she's pretty amazing and I love what we have, even though we've only been able to be in the same city/state for about six months of that time. The little weekends and weeks spaced out make up for the months at a time spent apart in completely different time zones. The world is backward though...when I watch people I know who've been dating for less than 3 month get married and I can't mention the person I love exists.
Maybe someday...

I've been thinking about writing one of these for a couple months now, but every time I think about it, things get busy. Now is as good of a time as any though, right?

My name's Kerrie...been reading this site for almost a year now, since last August or so. Female, 21, gay...I've been out to my family and close friends for almost two years now, but my job doesn't really allow for me to be out, so not so much there and with anyone I don't really trust that much.
I'm from WA state originally, but in the last couple of years I've lived in Monterey CA (awesome!), a short stint in small town TX (ugh...) and I'm living in Korea (cool, for the most part) right now. I'm going back to northern CA next year, and I'm pretty excited for that.

I found this site when I was in purgatory (Texas ;) ) and not in a place where there was really any sort of community, and reading everyone's posts made me feel like I was a part of one. I should have posted a lot sooner, but stuff just always seemed too busy, and sometimes just easier to blow stuff off and not think about what to say or how to phrase things. In general though, thanks everyone, because reading everything you guys have written has helped me feel more connected to a community I haven't been able to be nearly as much of a part of as I'd like right now.
Looking forward to writing occasionally and getting to know people!