Me, Denise, Kristine and the two broods.

I’ve been working hard the last two weeks to get my 40th birthday festivities off the ground or in the mail. It’s been a long planning process of the past year and half but this weekend I took a moment away from the computer. We walked as a family and a big first for the whole family in the San Francisco Pride Parade today. Yes! I spent over 10 years in SF and never walked in that loud parade that I managed sleep through for many years because I needed to go out to circuit party later that evening. I was so self indulgent back then.

The last time we attended a Pride parade was back in 2010 when Paley was 2. Needless to say, nothing really has changed. While it was great to see so many LGBT families in the parade and at the playground in the Civic Center. We are still out numbered by all the straight families at the event. We marched in the parade with Clem’s company, Apple, along with our friends Denis and Kristine who’s daughter is classmates with Paley. I swear to you on my father’s grave, I never saw a gay family in a Apple shirt. We did see a few other lesbian families but still thing we are the only gay couple with kids in the Apple village. The majority of the people with kids were straight. I ask anyone to prove me wrong. I am not saying in the whole company, just at the march.

The day went great! Lochlan was fighting his nap time, tooth and nail. He didn’t crash till we were done with the parade and we made it to the Civic Center. Margot never closed a droopy eye the whole time, at 7:02pm tonight she’s still going. at 7:14pm they were in bed. Paley and her pal Kai had fun but passed most of the time reading in her red flyer wagon. I pushed the stroller but dang, when it was my turn to pull the wagon, those girls aren’t light anymore. Yes I can say that, they’re only 6, they’re not going to get a complex.

We didn’t stick around long at the Civic Center party. We opted to skip the crap food booths for lunch over at the Grove instead. We were lucky because one of my oldest and dearest friends just happen to be walking up to the restaurant at the same time. All in all the march was a great success for us. One Apple employee said there was about 5000 marchers in apple t-shirts. An amazing number. He managed to take a photo from one of the upper floors of Fox Plaza. That white stream on market are all Apple T-shirts.

I told Clem what Apple needs next year is a Drag Queen in it’s ranks, I volunteered. Now it's back to the grind stone. Summer Camp galore!

PS....A little clarification because I think I might have stated my feelings or observations incorrectly in this post. My comment about the number of straight couples, families or individuals is out of observation. I do not dislike or think negative towards their presence. I enjoyed seeing so many straight friends and families at the event. It's wonderful that the divide is showing some cracks. I was merely just observing their sheer numbers in correlation to LGBT numbers. If you have been to the Civic Center party then you understand that the Civic Center is really intense on so many levels. From sheer numbers to the broad spectrum of visual stimulation. I am EXTREMELY grateful that the Our Family Coalition put up a family zone, closed off from all the revelry. I got to talk to and meet several families inside the zone and talk to some of the volunteers. Lets just say outside of the zone a lot of families weren't leisurely walking along.

I't was an amazing day. We a grateful to see so many walks of life attending the event. Again I state, I was not commenting in the negative in my post, I was just pointing out the numbers. I pointed out the number because I was a little sadden by the lack of LGBT families in the Apple group. But keep in mind, this is the first year Apple has ever marched and I am sure there are some families who weren't ready to come out to such a public work event. I respect that but for us as a family (especially down in the south bay) we yearn to meet other gay dad families down by us. But we will always appreciate those who embrace us a family.

Our friend Randy took this shot from Fox Plaza, the seas of white shirts is all the apple employees.

Birthday Grind Break for Pride

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