The first Pride that Margot and Guinness were with us, Tom and I took them to the parade just as we had Stevie and Pete in years past. Big mistake. Guinness was fine with it, but Margot was terrified. We hadn’t known until then that loud noises–like say, Dykes on Bikes and sirens–scared her, because she hadn’t yet started to show her fear of thunder. Lesson learned. No more Pride for the girls.
Last year, Tom was exhausted on that Saturday, so he stayed home with all the dogs while Tim and I walked to the parade and met up with Rhonda and Lindsey. This year, Tom went with Rhonda and Lindsey, and Tim and I planned to catch up with them later. I asked Tim if Rex could go, and he seemed a little iffy about it. So while Tim was getting ready, Rex and I did a little something to show him that Rex really, really felt proud:
Completely secure about who he is, Rex borrowed a bandana from Margot and Guinness.
Since Tim really doesn’t do the dress-the-dog thing, I knew we were taking a chance. But Rex’s whole body was taut with anticipation. Somehow he’d gotten the idea that this night was really going to be about…REX PRIDE!
Tim couldn’t resist Rex’s excitement, so off we went. Here are scenes from what I think is still the only nighttime Pride parade in the country.
I’m here, I’m Rex, where’s my parade?
The dogs represent.
The people who help the dogs and other animals represent.
Houston Humane Society
The friends and families represent.
(PFLAG Houston)
Another proud friend.
The drag queens represent.
The churches represent.
(Bering Methodist)
The bunnies represent.
(Bunnies on the Bayou)
Rexford G. Lambert: Lesbian magnet. (I could have taken a hundred photos like this.)
The organization where Tom volunteers represents.
AIDS Foundation Houston
The fantasies represent.
The banks represent.
Where are my beads, woman? I need more beads!
Kind stranger agrees to help Rex get beads.
Much better. Thanks.
The horses and cops represent.
May I have this dance?
The queer media represents.
OutSmart Magazine
The Dems represent.
The Asian takeout book covers represent. No, wait…
When you got the beads, you get the babes.
Lindsey models the free underwear she caught, wonders if something’s missing. Hmmm…
Rhonda demonstrates the fine art of making a penis from a bandana.
Lindsey uses the bandana penis. Crowd remains unimpressed.
Rhonda totally thinks I don’t know she’s grabbing Lindsey’s package while I’m taking this photo. Rhonda is totally correct.
Lindsey discovers that men’s underwear doubles as cell phone holder. Changes setting to “vibrate.”
Rex lets Margot wear his beads.
Guinness gets parade lei’d.
Proud and tired.
HAPPY PRIDE!
What a wonderful set of pictures! Rex looked like he was having a great time.
A night parade is a great idea. I’ve gotten deep-fried too many times at the daytime ones down in Florida.
Oh, it’s just too miserable in our climate (and yours) to be out there in the heat and humidity of the day. A rain actually cooled things off yesterday instead of just making it more humid, so it was a good night for it.
I need…
(a) A Rex.
(b) A night-time Pride Parade.
(c) To figure out why I’m teary-eyed.
(d) Beads.
(e) To be able to sleep that comfortably.
“I need…
(d) Beads.”
Show me your boobs! =)
Happy Pride!
Be careful. The next time Rex is bad, you might get a crate of bead-wearing dog from Tim.
Thanks for the pics, as ever, Becky!
I would love to have a group gathering for a Pride parade somewhere some year. Doesn’t that sound like fun? Who knows what David and Shannon would do to entertain us along with the parade? 😉
Everyone comes to H-town next year!
David and Shannon should probably be IN the parade. They’d look great doing the Queen wave from a convertible, no?
I can hear the crowds now. “Who is that pretty girl sitting on the back of the convertible with Bea Arthur?”
Wonderful photos of Pride Becky!!! I think Gary would love Lindsey’s underwear! And the red ones that the guys were in, too.
Rex looks so comfortable with all that attention. Good dog, he’s handsome.
Glad you all had a great time at Pride. I hate it that I missed ours, but I think Gary did it justice.
Happy Pride to The Compound and all their friends.
Thank you, and back at you. =)
You totally didn’t see me grab Lindsey’s package? Even after I said, “Look, I’m grabbing Lindsey’s package?”
Great photos! Next time? We’re hanging out with you guys.
Did you really say that? LOL. It was a good spot. If they don’t move the parade downtown, I’m totally going there next year. Whereupon we will probably discover it’s become the favored spot for baby gays who drank too much.
I like that parade at night! And I’m glad you cleared up the “package” mystery so quickly.
These are some very, very, very nice photos. Millions of Thanks Yous.
(And while I’ve got you, I was looking up something for Todd, and came across this surprise!)
You definitely just made my Pride happier. : )
Well, now you know where I got the name for my Texas town. You’re like a detective.
rex the chick magnet! too cute!
that looked so fun 🙂
It was fun. And SO MUCH cooler (in temperature) than last year. The parade didn’t have as much in it, but a good time was had by all.
oh nice – ours is in sept. and the past years that i’ve gone have just been ridiculously hot.
Wow! Looks amazing !!!!
Rex really does have ‘human’ expressions!! Love the “more beads, woman” one.
Glad you all had such a good (if exhausting!) time.
Rex always makes me laugh. The day that Tim agreed to take him and teach him some manners was one happy day for me, even though I think Margot will always grumble about it. A princess needs a pea, though, to know for sure she’s a princess. She should be glad for Rex, too.
oaky… let’s see.. I LOVE:
1) the “bracelets” on Guinness in “Dogs represent”
2) Lindsey’s Unicos. All they throw in Nashville and Louisvile are beads and candy. I want to go to aparade where they throw cute undies!!! LOL
3) Asian takeout bookcovers.
The pic of you, Tim and Rex is my absolute favorite of all, though. What an adorable photo!!!
HAPPY PRIDE TO THE HOUSTON CONTINGENT!!!
(psssst, that’s not Guinness in “Dogs represent,” it’s a big ol’ sweet Rottweiler who probably hated those bracelets but they were so cute!)
Thanks, and happy Pride to you, too!
My bad… I saw “a black dog” and automatically went to Guinness. LOL
It’s okay. Sometimes SHE thinks she’s a Rottweiler, too.
Oh.. and I forgot to mention… Louisville’s parade last weekend was at night… well 7 pm but it was still daylight.
What a great day! I love the photo of you and Tim and Rex… do you think you could print me a copy ?
(stupid freaking modem wreaking havoc with everything I do online)
Yes! =) I’ll be glad to. And thanks. You should have been here with Dash.
Oskar says he would like to be Rex’s Pride Pal, however he draws the line at beads. Great pics, I didn’t take any because I didn’t want my camera to drown.
Cool, Night Pride!