After the Gay Pride Rally at the capital building, the gay community and its supporters were enthused. This expression of emotion poured into the streets of Madison. The parade started at the capital building near North Carroll Street and proceeded to go to Brittingham Park, off West Washington Avenue.
You could feel the Mardi Gras atmosphere in the air as the Dykes on Bikes, individual
participants, floats, a marching band, gay supporters, and organizations whisked by you. Organizations such as the Madison Gay Softball Team, Ray’s Bar, and Terry Halverson’s travel agency were showering onlookers with various gifts. Mardi Gras beads were tossed to the crowd, along with dance music CDs and advertisement ink pens. Our dear friend Kizmet was fortunate enough to catch candy, a CD, and an ink pen wailed at her.
Along with the gifts sprinkled into the crowd, you felt the Mardi Gras influence when you viewed the costumes at the parade. Whether it was an individual participant’s attire or an organization group’s attire, you were witnessing incredible sights. From a young gay man’s enormous fly strapped to his back and a comical drag queen (who had an enormous bosom; big, vibrant-colored hair; platform shoes; and a metal athletic cup supporter on the outside of his dress) to a float with gay men and women adorned in Village People’s (old disco musical group) outfits (construction worker, police officer, Indian, and cowboy), these costumes were remarkable. This group was shaking their bodies to the Village People’s Hit "YMCA" and doing the hand motions to create the letters of Y, M, C, A.
There was a gay marching band called Lakeside Pride Freedom from the city of Chicago. This band was playing band type of music. They were dressed in light-blue polo shirts and light-colored shorts. Then came the various organizations that support the LGBT community. Some of these were the Quakers, The National Organization for Women, First Congregational Church, and the children of the LGBT community.
The Quakers carried a banner that stated they supported marriage for gay people. The National Organization for Women was marching and passing out stickers that had a rainbow-colored upside-down triangle with the letters NOW printed in the middle, the word "Equal" above the base of the triangle, and the word "Marriage" at the tip of the triangle. And the senior pastor of the First Congregational Church, Curt Anderson, told a local reporter that he was marching, as he does most every year, to affirm his support for people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender and to stand with them in their struggles." He also stated, "It is also a celebration of our diversity and common humanity." There were also children of LGBT people in the parade chanting slogans that supported gay marriage and LGBT rights.
The parade ended at the destination of Brittingham Park. Once there, the participants of the parade eventually join the rest of the gay community to celebrate gay pride. There were food vendors, beer tents, gift vendors, and entertainment awaiting them.
If you are interested attending next year’s gay pride celebration in Madison, WI, you can write and tell the Madison Pride Board members that you want to be put on their email list. The address is Madison Pride, P.O. Box 1403, Madison, WI 53701-1403