This year, Jim and I marched in the Akron Pride festival parade with the University of Akron team of students, faculty, staff, and administrators. It was nice to see my colleagues and also nice for once to actually know more people than Jim. He’s better connected in Akron than I am and better at social situations.
We got there not long before the parade started so we didn’t have to wait in the sun too long – and got to march along with our girl Zippy – everyone’s favorite kangaroo.
Jim and I joined hands as we set out and wondered at the freedom to do that simple thing as we walked down the middle of main street. We whooped and cheered along with the Zips and had a joyful walk in the sun.
The parade route seemed longer than last time and when it ended we started our walk back along the route to all the vendors and booths. I don’t normally do well in crowds, but everyone was so chill it didn’t bother me as much. We saw a few more of our friends and got pictures of the giant pride flag along the way.
The only damper on the day was a small group of protestors. We had seen them on the parade route – strategically located near the entrance to the venue – and then again as we were leaving.
Three guys, one with a megaphone, and all holding signs. One with a mass of text and a bunch of hurtful and made-up “statistics” – in rainbow colors, naturally. One had the classic “homo sex is sin”. The third had some bible verses taken out of context.
Predictable. And almost cliche. Like the signs were mass produced and the tirade scripted.
They had a crowd of people around them – shouting back at the amplified venom. It was all just so pointless. I mean, nothing they could have said could have changed anyone’s mind. And nothing the crowd could have shouted back would have influenced them. Jim wanted to take pictures – I just wanted to leave.
I don’t understand hate. I understand being annoying or not liking something. I don’t generally like country music – so, I just avoid it. I’m not going to a country music festival with a mic and a speaker and force people to listen to Britney Spears.
So, they shouted at us and some of us shouted back. And it was the only cloud on an otherwise sunny day.
It was Pride Day in Akron and we celebrated with our community.