Dissent Means Austin Gets Two Prides
0Austin, Texas saw two Pride parades this year. One was the official event, organized by the Austin Gay and Les�bian Pride Foundation; the other was a breakaway event put together by QueerBomb, a group that accused the Austin Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce of being "non-inclusive, capitalist, heteronormative, safe and unchallenging."
The split came about, reported local newspaper The Austin Chronicle in a June 4 article, after the Austin Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce--which in previous years shared Pride's organizational responsibilities with GLBT right group Equality Texas--formed the Austin Gay and Les�bian Pride Foundation and took on complete responsibility for the event. The change led to a shakeup in leadership, with businessman Chad Peevey being installed as the President of the Chamber of Commerce and the chair of the AGLPF board.
Talent that had been signed to the event was also affected, with a local songwriter told that he could not perform for the Pride event because he had already agreed to perform at another function that subsequently became part of the QueerBomb slate of events.
Comedian Sandra Bernhard had been looking into performing at Austin Pride, but the Foundation decided that they didn't want her brand of humor: "We reviewed her act, just like we would any other act, and found that it was too vulgar for a family-friendly event," Peevey told the local media. "Austin has always had a family-friendly Pride event, and for some reason people are really catching on to that this year, and some seemed to take offense."
QueerBomb sought to provide an edgier alternative, reported local radio station KUT 90.5 on June 4. "QueerBomb is a very radical celebration that is bringing people to the streets that don't necessarily fit in with the scene of the Long Center and with Pride," that organization commented. Said QueerBomb member Paul Soileau, who is a drag performer, "This parade is an example of how diverse this community is in Austin, and how inclusive this celebration is. You'll see tonight that there will be so many different breeds of people and different fashions and fabrics of expression" during the QueerBomb parade, which took place the evening of June 4.
The Austin Pride parade took place on Saturday, June 5. A host of other events were scheduled to take place that day as well, including a 5-kilometer "Fun Run," reported local newspaper the American-Statesman.
Local politicians and sports teams were part of the Pride parade on June 5, that newspaper said, but the city's lawmakers also gave a nod to QueerBomb, with the city mayor declaring June 4 "QueerBomb Day."