SF Life: Pride Weekend

Coming from a small town, I (as in Miss Sunny Dee) never knew much outside the walls of spoon fed pop culture, including the generalizations and stereotypes personified by those on the golden screen. What I mean by this is since my town really only had one cultural arena of life (white, middle class, straight, etc.), we relied heavily on pop culture stereotypes to judge those who we had not come to know. I never really agreed with this cultural acclamation, but the only way I knew to go against it was to be "the punk," yet again relying on what pop culture had defined as alternative, such a tangled web.

Anyways, point of this story is when I moved to San Francisco, I was graciously in awe of what various ways people expressed themselves, and how comfortable each and every individual felt in such a welcoming community of people. There was no need to become part of a definition or a stereotype, nor did you have to follow the trends that media conglomerations spoon feed much of the rest of America. It was a melting pot of personae, and it taught me that I could be who I am, and wear the outfits that Chad so wonderfully explains on our podcast.

Me (right), and one of my most eccentrically beautiful friends, Brynna

San Francisco's openness, I often believe, is due to their continuing support of the LBGTQ community. With their acceptance of this vast culture, they are able to look beyond walls of stereotypes, and as one of my friends so graciously put it, make it a matter worthy of ignoring due to its normalcy. I take pride living in a city that allows adults to love and live, and never feel one doubt about their self esteem and safety.

So why do I bring all this up on our Electronic blog? Well friends, one of the very first places I realized how well the gay community was accepted within the larger San Franciscan community was at night clubs where I used to go dance. I remember sitting at the bar and watching how freely everyone looked, and how they dance with whomever they liked, co-mingling with others around them no matter what their sexual preference. I think that's when I realized what a strong power music has over how we control ourselves, and how we break molds of stereotype. Music is constantly taking strides to break the norm and be provocative, and with this movement, instigates others to be more open to things they may not have been open to before. And I think this is especially pronounced in electronic and dance music, where you are provoked by music to move.

As I walked through the Castro on pride night, the streets were alive with Electronic music, and it made me realize that exact power once more. People were all together in celebration of love and music, and it only made sense that the bass coming through that speakers was the driving heartbeat to this amazing spectacle.

Castro, Saturday Night Pride

In conclusion, I love what music (especially dance music) has done to inspire unity and creativity and instigate a flame of knowledge and acceptance, and I am so happy to live in a city that accepts those who are gay, straight, green, blue, or Sunny, and let those of us who may have felt lost elsewhere be proud of who we are.

Party on electro heads, and remember the love that is being spread through this genre of music that counters pop culture, yet still accepts everyone.

And Happy pride to EVERYONE, because being proud of who you are goes much further than sexuality.