It's taken me three weeks to completely adjust to the "Ohreallies," the "Oversized", and of course the "Awesomes" that inhabit this brilliantly unique segment of the planet. Then last week the basic building blocks of Californian society, flower power and freedom of expression, were put on full display.
On Wednesday afternoon the US Supreme Court, before recessing for the summer vacation, handed down two judgements of critical importance to the citizens of San Fran.
They were:
- Every married couple is entitled to all the state benefits accruing to married couples.
- The injunction, given by a lower court against same sex marriage, is invalid.
The local reaction to these two decisions was momentous. On Thursday the county clerk's office began re-issuing marriage licenses and performing ceremonies for "any couple" wanting to get wed.
The news quickly spread amongst the trans gender community and others. By 11.00 am Friday morning the Golden Dome block round the City Hall, was packed. There were those who already had licenses and were lucky to have set that day as the date and those wanting simply to start the process. Of course there were many other curious locals plus nosey visitors enjoying the entertainment, simply witnessing humanity expressing their personal freedoms.
After stepping off the number 19 bus I saw that the party was well underway. The masses along with the hot dog and sandwich vans were already filling the space from the UN Plaza up to Polk Street.
The SF City Hall is a majestic building of statuesque design. This morning its entrance steps had some additional decoration, multiple "brides." Some of these individuals wore white suits and others wore short white skirts, with the majority of the feminine variety also inclined to wearing veils. I quickly noted that their partners on the other side of the marriage vows were somewhat more conservatively dressed, simply adorned in dark suits. The place was noisy and every couple looked very, very happy.
After strolling around for an hour gawking, we finally moved off to do some shopping. Later in the day, the local TV informed me, that the City Hall party had continued throughout the afternoon and well into the evening.
Unknowingly we caught up with it again the following night. When we couldn't drive through the eight blocks from Mission to Market and between 16 and 24th street. They were blocked off to all traffic, pedestrians only.
Of course we parked where we could and went off to see the sights.
Now this was a much bigger bash than the previous day with bodies of all shapes and sizes decorating the sidewalks and streets. Hairy bikers of the 15,000 dollar Harley type mingled with the cross dressers and their petite chihuahuas. Multi coloured rainbow skirts of miniscule dimension caught the eye and full bodied tattoos were often the preferred choice of the bare-chested. The trans gender society was out on the town. It was obvious that I was so overdressed.
"Oh it's just the pre-parade party. The Gay Pride parade is tomorrow, Sunday," I was informed.
We strolled on nearly up into the Castro district with every possible variety of street music accompanying our conversation.
A gentleman by the name of Harvey Milk started it all some 40 years ago, I learnt. Of course, Castro's reputation is world renowned as the right address for those of a same sex orientation.
I have to admit that there is still the occasional urge in my psyche to use words that were commonplace, 40 years ago, words that were used unkindly to describe people of a different sexual inclination. Somehow I have learnt not to use those expressions anymore. But as we continued to walk those crowded streets I marvelled at my self-control. Two blokes walking hand in hand I can manage but two blokes snogging away in public really tests the old self- control. "Mr. and Ms. Bloodredlips", well really, they deserved some earthy comment.
I moved on absorbing the atmosphere and everything that my eyes could register. A moment from my distant Derbyshire past swept through my brain and made me smile.
Dad, how right you were.
On Sunday the party spread even further and grew to an amazing parade of some 200 floats, with 1.2 million spectators lining the streets of downtown San Fran.
Apparently similar parades also took place in other major US cities.
When I learnt this “phenomenon” had expanded so far, Dad’s words again struck home.
“It takes all sorts to make a world."
