Free Speech Issue at Pride Parade?Tommi Avicolli-Meccabyline‚ Jun. 20‚ 2008I was an organizer of Philadelphia’s first Queer Pride march in 1972. Unexpectedly and to our absolute delight, ten thousand people showed up. We were a wild bunch. No beer companies sponsored us, no politicians joined us with their campaign signs and cheerleaders, no city hotel tax funds gave us money. We were free to do anything we wanted. And we did. These days, Pride, especially here in San Francisco, is a huge commercial undertaking. There’s permits, insurance, and lots of rules about barricades and vehicles and just about anything else you can think of. There’s also corporate and other funding sources to underwrite the enterprise. That money doesn’t come without strings. Consider the $77,000 from the Grants for the Arts. Apparently, this year it could prevent queer supporters of Democrat Barack Obama from wearing “campaign-related materials” in their official contingent in the march. |