and I marched in the Orlando Gay Pride Parade today. It was hot as hell, but it was fun and for a good cause. We also worked the table for the Human Rights Campaign.
Very tired now… and that Chimichanga isn’t settling down the way it ought to (too much info?).
I’ve heard a lot of that. Seems to me the organizers did a great job of organizing, but maybe could have done a bit more advertising. Still there were far more vendors than previous years and the crowd was having a great time.
There was a pretty decent turnout with people strewn throughout the parade route (from Thornton Park area to the History Museum). We even had religious protesters.
But I don’t think the parade organizers coordinated enough with downtown businesses. They could have really had a huge event if they had done so. There were a couple of bars/restaurants along the parade route that were not open for business… and if they had been, they would have made an absolute killing.
That said, the event itself seemed better organized overall. My stint at the HRC booth was better organized as well and there were far more volunteers this year than last time.
Cool. But, yeah, organization – especially publicity – doesn’t seem to have been their forte for the past few years. Maybe they just figure that, by now, everyone knows about the event or something – which is really pretty stupid since it’s no longer in June like the rest of the world. I’m glad the HRC seems to have their act together, though, which isn’t really surprising.
It is chilly and rainy here.
I would take chilly and rainy right now. 🙂
–sam
i didn’t know that was happening today. i would’ve come out and supported.
I’ve heard a lot of that. Seems to me the organizers did a great job of organizing, but maybe could have done a bit more advertising. Still there were far more vendors than previous years and the crowd was having a great time.
–sam
Unfortunately, I had to work today or I would’ve been there. 🙁 I’m glad you could make it, though. Was there a decent turnout?
There was a pretty decent turnout with people strewn throughout the parade route (from Thornton Park area to the History Museum). We even had religious protesters.
But I don’t think the parade organizers coordinated enough with downtown businesses. They could have really had a huge event if they had done so. There were a couple of bars/restaurants along the parade route that were not open for business… and if they had been, they would have made an absolute killing.
That said, the event itself seemed better organized overall. My stint at the HRC booth was better organized as well and there were far more volunteers this year than last time.
–sam
Cool. But, yeah, organization – especially publicity – doesn’t seem to have been their forte for the past few years. Maybe they just figure that, by now, everyone knows about the event or something – which is really pretty stupid since it’s no longer in June like the rest of the world. I’m glad the HRC seems to have their act together, though, which isn’t really surprising.
Here’s the story on the sentinel website…
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/orl-loc10gay105oct10,0,2585393.story
–sam