The TG Contra… What is Pride and Where should it be held
By: Colby Kluthe, Editor- MetroEast NEWS
Pride Celebrations in St. Louis is not only a long-standing tradition but also among the nations largest pride festivals boasting more than 100,000 visitors in recent years. As a community advocate and as someone who has served in leadership capacity with pride organizations (Metro East Pride of Southwestern Illinios) I have a unique understanding about decision-making and forces which will undoubtedly stir up controversy among community supporters, business owners, and government powers that be.
I was in no way surprised at the recent announcement by Pride St. Louis Inc. plans to move the festival to Soldier’s Memorial in downtown, uprooting its decade long tradition of a festival in Tower Grove Park. I also remember as a youngster when the festival had a “long held tradtion” of being in the central west end neighborhood, which at the time was the epicenter of the LGBT community.
In 2012 It is also very clear we are no longer a community which is centered in one neighborhood. The move to downtown was an option I heard was coming several years ago, and from my own perspective it was a move I actually expected to take place last year. Nonetheless we who call St. Louis home find ourselves in a struggle between what we find most comforting and familiar and the natural angst about the upcoming move to downtown. I know that regardless of the location of Pride in 2013, our community will once again come together to exemplify the very best of who we are and take the opportunity to share it with our traditions both respected and growing into the future. The community outrage and dialogue is very much a part of the vitality of Pride and citizen input and leadership will be needed regardless of whether the festival is held in Tower Grove or any other location. Pride was never about the location, but rather coming together as a family and celebrating all of who we are as a community. Tower Grove Park has served us well in years past and while I wholeheartedly support efforts to keep it there, I would be lacking my own convictions if I did not call it as I have always seen Pridefest- Tower Grove. Ready—Here GOES!
Pridefest Tower Grove has always been difficult to find parking or access using Metrolink service. But most obvious to anyone who hasn’t attended a streetscape festival (As downtown would be) Tower Grove Park creates an environment of social “clicks” that to an outsider would almost appear we have a segregated festival. This group over here, and that group over there, and festival goers who are generally bunched up with those they already know. It has been my observation that this tendency always follows the same path, despite concerted efforts in planning and redesigning the festival grounds in recent years. I have said for many years that St. Louis pride is perhaps the most segregated pride in the nation—an opportunity that a new venue offers our community to frankly get to know each other again for the first time.
The other and I think final point I want to make about this controversy is that as someone who helped establish a pride festival tradition in a more conservative community than the City of St. Louis, I cannot tell you how many times we heard from civic leaders “wouldn’t you be more comfortable in a park” was to me only a way of saying “we would be more comfortable if you ‘gays’ were isolated in a park rather than our streets where ‘non-gays’ have to see you.
Now I am being a bit exaggerated in my words but the point remains, and the time has come for our festival to “Come Out” to our city.
We no longer need 120 acres of land in which to hide, and standing shoulder to shoulder on our city’s most prominent festival grounds is not only an opportunity but a responsibility we have to one another and to the next generation of allies and queers in the Gateway City. We must take our place and hold our heads high as we parade wherever the festival is held. Here is where I think I stand in this debacle… I support Pride St. Louis and the need to move downtown, However I also recognize that participation for todays small business has decreased in recent years due to the large amount of money it takes to become a vendor at Pride St. Louis.
Now I am being a bit exaggerated in my words but the point remains, and the time has come for our festival to “Come Out” to our city.
We no longer need 120 acres of land in which to hide, and standing shoulder to shoulder on our city’s most prominent festival grounds is not only an opportunity but a responsibility we have to one another and to the next generation of allies and queers in the Gateway City. We must take our place and hold our heads high as we parade wherever the festival is held. Here is where I think I stand in this debacle… I support Pride St. Louis and the need to move downtown, However I also recognize that participation for todays small business has decreased in recent years due to the large amount of money it takes to become a vendor at Pride St. Louis.
Too many business owners do not have hundreds or in many cases thousands of dollars it takes to simply put an advertisement in the Pride Pages and be a participant in the festival each year. Therefore I wholeheartedly support the grassroots movement underway to hopefully make pride more accessible to more than the major corporations that fund and support Pride St. Louis. I hope that Pride festivals of the future can find room for all players big and small, and an environment that fosters both unity and inclusion of all people. I acknowledge that Pride St. Louis has a long history of serving the needs and growth of the festival and maintained an event free of charge for all to enjoy. I hope the 2013 board of directors can lead our community forward into the future in a manner which all participants feel both valued and accommodation.
Send Comments to: danielmccreeorg@gmail.com
MORE INFORMATION REGARDING THIS GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT: http://www.facebook.com/KeepPrideInTowerGrove
Tower Grove Pride Organizational Dinner
January 6, 2013 at 5:00pm
