It’s the Akron Pride Fest today and though Jim is out of town I decided to go on my own. With Senate Bill 1 making it so the University can’t have a place in the parade or a booth, I got a late start as just a festival-goer instead of a participant.
I parked in the deck – that super expensive parking pass for work finally good for something – and entered the venue from one end. And, oddly, there were no protesters there.
I walked down one side and stopped by a booth where I knew some people, then made a loop around the far end to take my picture in front of the giant pride flag.
Which is where I found the protesters, milling about with their dumb signs, and getting in the way of group photos. I shook my head as I walked past and didn’t engage. It’s just so dumb and mean-spririted and pointless.
The music was good and I decided to get some lunch. I sat on the lawn at Lock 3 while I ate my chicken tenders and fries – I’m not adventurous – and then ran into a couple more people I knew when I was done.
I ended up not buying anything but lunch and not stopping at many booths or talking to many people. I’m just not good at large-scale socializing.
But, I was there and it counted.
(and I’m trying to avoid the comments…)