A Day at the Parade
Ruby Does Drag

By Ruby Lips
June 7, 2002
I look forward to Gay Pride Month Parades all year long.  When I came out during high school, way back when Schwinn bikes were the way to travel, there were no parades. The only way to find other boys to kiss was to see who else was wearing a pastel yellow shirt on Thursdays. Finally, one day the dark closet door opened and the flags and cheering crowds outside were for US, and I haven't missed a Gay Pride Parade since. 

Last Sunday finally, I marched - IN DRAG from head to foot right down to lace panties (oh yes!, all part of the costume). What a thrill: there is something about a gay crowd of thousands and thousands that just loves to see an old mustachioed man in a dress, wig, and boa, covered in glitter dust! They go wild! They cheer the bravado and freedom of gay spirit.  The parade was in Queens in Jackson Heights. The international mix of neighborhood residents love it, bringing their entire families, lining up along the route ten deep, shoulder to shoulder with thousands of Gay people - their sons, daughters and brothers. I marched with a local gay community center.   Its good community relations; if someone who looks like their old uncle can prance around having so much fun and making them laugh, it must be OK. I camped, vogued, and posed, pulled up the side of my dress to show my lace panties (that drew a roar and thunderous cheers every single time), blew kisses, and shouted "HI MOMMY" to every elderly woman, they loved it. I never knew I could have so much fun being totally silly.