Buffalo Rising Online

Hmmm, what's easier to explain to a child, how a group of people are going to hell or the lyrics to a song about strap-ons? Nonetheless, it was a fun time.

It was really nice to see the rainbow flag flying in front of city hall

Instead of spending hours coming up with "cute floats" and getting obnoxiously drunk at Cathode Ray, perhaps more energy should be diverted into making the City and State political hacks more responsible to the needs of the GLBT community. I find it amazing how impotent the WNY GLBT community is when it comes to flexing their political muscle.

Those bible-thumping rednecks are just doing some good deeds to cancel out all the sins they're going to be doing that night at Cathode Ray and all the other after-parties. That's the real reason they're attending the gay pride parade. I mean, it's kind of out of the way from Virginia or North Carolina or wherever they're from... but if they went to the local dive bar they might run into someone else from church.

Another thing I noticed from the video, seems like there were lots more younger women than younger guys at the parade. I wonder if that's just the video or is Buffalo somehow more of a "lesbian town" than a gay town.

The annual pride march is one of the things that makes me most proud to be a Buffalonian. It's also the best parade of the year.

If you had to make a choice, what would you rather live in? A city run by drag queens or a city run by bible-thumpers? I know what I'd pick.

So this dude goes to Tupperware parties. Maybe he should throw open that closet door.

Gengis: I understand and share your frustration. However, I hope you would treat each person as an individual and avoid knee jerk prejudices because of membership in a particular group. (Ironically, that is the whole purpose of the Pride parade that evolved from the riots on Christopher St in Manhattan.)

What rights do gays enjoy in Buffalo that are not permitted in Virginia or North Carolina? You make Buffalo sound like a progressive paradise such as the Castro, Chelsea or Boys Town. In many ways, I would argue that Buffalo, as a whole, would be Alabama with snow when it comes to gay rights. Imagine the potential for violence if this parade went through South Buffalo or the East Side?

Furthermore, Christian organizations are of immeasurable value in the country as a whole and Buffalo in particular. Do you know how many people are fed, clothed, given shelter by such Christian organizations such as Catholic Charities, Baptist Ministries, etc.? These Christian groups provide social services without discrimination based on perceived "sins."

In addition, many in the GLBT have problems with how contemporary Pride parades have deviated from the original intent of securing basic civil liberties. I find the current parade, while entertaining, to be a contemporary minstrel show nonetheless. How does the "Love Boat" or "big ass drinks" at Cathode have anything to do with securing equal legal protections or establishing understanding and tolerance towards the GLBT community?

DSB: You're right in saying the parade is not the same as it used to be. But the fact is that gay people are more empowered than ever. There's nothing wrong with celebrating like "normals" in public to honor an idea that has come a long way.

Overall it's nice to see a thread where almost everyone on BRO agrees :)

A are there any websites where I can find where local politicians stand on gay rights issues?

DSB: I'm not referring to all religious people as bible-thumping rednecks, just these people who harass the pride marchers, who have no redeeming characteristics whatsoever. Simply put, they live to instill misery on people who they consider to be sinners, whether it's the gays or some high school girl who decides she wants an abortion. They have very little agenda outside of telling other people they are evil-doers. Note that this doesn't refer to many many other religious groups which do a lot of positive things. I do agree with you that Buffalo isn't really that progressive compared to say California, but I do think this in-your-face kind of proselytizing/harassing is more common in the south.

Hey !!Thanks fo the video!! I came out in Buffalo in 1974, and never thought I'd see a Gay Pride parade in Buffalo!WAY TO GO! to all the people who were in the parade AND to all the people that showed up to support it! Wel done! I hope to be there in person one day...when is it usually held? I live in San Francisco, and June is kind of Gay Pride month with lots of events leadig up to the parade on the 23rd. I always say, Buffalo was a great place to grow up.. SO, you all are invited to come on out to SF and join the party!! OH, "the Love Boat" and "big ass drinks at Cathode Ray" represent part of the community..the parade, in any town, is about striving for more rights, AND celebrating, no matter how small, the things in the community that bring us joy and laughter.

DSB, Genghis: Sadly, all of us Christians tend to get grouped together. Here's my story:

I walked past the shouters (and the shout-backers), and ignored all of them, because neither side seemed interested in having a discussion. Still, as a newcomer to Buffalo, this was my first chance to see a Pride parade here, and my dog and I were enjoying a great day out. On the way home, my dog decided to relieve himself, and left a gift on the lawn of Lafayette Ave church. A woman walking by loved this. "Yeah, poop on that nasty church." She shouted. She probably didn't know that I was the pastor of that church, and attending the event. She probably didn't know that we welcome GLBT people in our congregation (along with everyone else!). She probably didn't know that the church is also the sight of Loaves and Fishes, which serves over 100 people every day (and we don't ask who they have sex with before we feed them!)

Nonetheless, a community that, while nowhere near perfect, is doing its best to follow Jesus in the Elmwood Village, became "that nasty church," and somehow deserved crap in its lawn (the same lawn that hosted a whole lot of parade watchers!).

I guess what I'm saying is that its hard for us religious types. I know, its not as hard as it has been and still is for gays and lesbians. Just remember that the vocal minority is just that--way too vocal and very much the minority. All of us need to work hard to avoid painting ANY community with too broad a brush

Genghis: I resentfully disagree with your statements and believe they are not accurate. I have *lived* (emphasis added) in South Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee. Yes, the "South" is governed by somewhat conservative values. However, "Southerners" are no more or less likely to be engaging "in-your-face kind of proselytizing" than what you witnessed this weekend. In fact, most "Southerners" would consider it very *trashy* to be so confrontational. ((Do not forget that the hard core and confrontational "Operation Rescue" originated by Upstate NY's own Randall Terry.))

What do you make your comparisons based on? Are they based on facts or assumptions or experiences? I detect the stench of unfounded prejudices and over generalizations in your initial statement Have you ever been to New Orleans, Nashville, Atlanta, Charleston, Athens or DC? Even in bible beating Memphis, you would be pleasantly surprised.

I argue that Buffalo has *much* work to do in regards to gay rights. It has been my personal experience that native educated professional (emphasis added) gay/lesbian WNYers have the highest probability of leaving this area because of the *hostile* conditions that *due* exist here. The few that do elect to stay often go to Toronto or even (smaller) Rochester for gay social interaction - an absence you recognized in your first post.

Buffalo is no more or less "progressive" as most Southern cities. Again, I would argue that Buffalo, on the issue of gay rights, is as regressive as Alabama and thus my comment that "Buffalo is Alabama with snow." Not too long ago (1980s), Mayor Jimmy Griffin used the power of City Hall to do everything possible to harass (no exaggeration) and intimidate anything that was "perceived" as being associated with "homosexuals." Griffin did so with the strong support of the plurality of people in this city.

I do not intend to be "negative" or confrontational. However, I believe that Buffalo should engage in an open discussion on this topic. Candor is healthy. Facts and citations should prevail over generalizations. Even if Buffalo might not be Jackson, Mississippi, does that mean that we should be satisfied with mediocre conditions that currently exist? Let's discard the Polly Anna attitudes and a "at least we are better than X" defense in favor of honest discussion.

Sure there has been progress. However, I still do not have the same liberties and freedoms that my straight brothers enjoy. Thus my march forward.

Kind regards. DSB

You sad gullible people, those bible humpers were performance artists from Ithaca, they travel around to various "liberal" events and act out as the contrarian view, sometimes they take the guise of KKK or neo-nazi members. Have you ever seen the lone guy posing as a vet across from the women in black? He's one of the co-founders, he's actually a gay costume designer from an Ithaca theatre troupe.

Man--I wondered about that. The sad truth is that Fred Phelps and his lot are so extreme that they have made fundamentalists almost impossible to satirize.

When is the straight pride parade?

Hope I'm not double posting, my last one seems to have gotten lost. DSB: I have lived in a southern state before. Once when I was on a bus, I saw some gay newspaper with the word ABOMINATION scrawled on it. Aren't there even still laws on the books against gay sex in those states? And yes, there are way more evangelicals in the South than in other parts of the country, many elections it's pretty much pointless to vote for a Democrat since they rarely do. I don't care what you say, evangelism by its nature is more about proselytizing than other faiths. That's what that funny word "evangelize" means. Anyhow, I'm not like a huge fan of Buffalo like some people here, but no one has asked me about my relationship with the Lord since I got here.

Can someone educate me about the way that local pride organizations are involved politically or a history of local political involvement? I think I remember a protest in Niagara square a few years ago but i'm not sure. Besides the parade and community services---is there an agressive political effort under way locally? It would be nice to see local politicians pressed publicly about their positions on gay rights issues is the same way that the Conservative party might pressure folks about abortion or gay marraige positions. Where does Old Boi Brian Higgins land in all of this?

Gengis: You never countered my point that some of the most militant socially conservative movements, Randall Terry and Operation Rescue, originated in Upstate NY (and with the blessing/support of then Mayor, Jimmy Griffin).

Alabama is the only state that would have laws that would restrict "limited" sexual activities on the books via the prohibition of the sale of dildos/vibrators. This law was upheld by the federal court of appeals in Williams v. AG of Alabama. Furthermore, the US Supreme Court overruled anti sodomy laws in the Lawrence v. Texas decision and thus there are no states that outlaw consensual homosexual sexual acts between adults. (Note, if you are going to make outrageous statements please be at least informed in your arguments.)

I don't intend to call you disingenuous but I'm suspicious when you state you "lived" in the South yet never named where in the ambiguous "South" you resided.

What about evangelical Tammy Fay Baker? She was one of the most influential evangelicals during the 1980s. She was a pioneer when it came to compassion for people dying of AIDS at a time when science was unsure if said disease could be passed by casual contact. She had strong evangelical convictions but is a compassionate and kind soul to the GLBT community.

What about the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.? He was an evangelical. Do you not believe that he was a tolerant and compassionate man? His closest adviser/organizer was the openly gay Bayard Rustin. MLK was an evangelical that was true to his convictions but yet still had comfortable interactions with gays.

Again, you cite no examples other than overly broad generalizations. Where are your facts? Specific cases? Hell, go into any public restroom and you will find more outrageous writings similar to your "one time" experience of a random sophomoric scribble on a gay newspaper. If that was such a socking experience, I would not recommend utilizing any public restroom on Chippewa St for you might be thrusted into a neurosis as a result of reading some of the many writings on those walls.

Democrats are great and Republicans bad? C'mon. Again another overly broad generalization. Rudy Guiliani expanded gay rights more than any mayor in NYC history. At the time, Guiliani's expansion of benefits to domestic partners was radical. How many current presidential contenders, Dem or GOP, can boast such an accomplishment?

Locally, one of the few areas that would be genuinely gay friendly would be the border town of Lewiston, NY - a town that is one of the most reliable GOP areas in Niagara County. Worry more about hard facts and less about "funny" words. You don't have a scintilla of evidence to even remotely support any of your absurd statements.

Facts are the facts....

DSB: Ok, correction, these states had such laws on the books and would still today if the Supreme Court hadn't overturned them. Forgive me for not keeping up to date on the latest in gay sex laws. The point is their attitude there is what I said. And I did live in Virginia, even if you don't believe me. Falwell's organization is based in Lynchburg, and it's more powerful than Operation Rescue, whatever that is. Virginia hasn't gone Democrat in a presidential election since Kennedy was elected when there were still southern white Democrats around. Yes I know they have a Republican governor, so don't even go there. Their laws on recognizing gay relationships are the most oppressive in the country, even if you don't believe me. I'm sure the same is true for adoption laws etc, but I didn't exactly follow this since I'm not gay.

I actually find it utterly amazing that you are seriously saying Virginia is no worse than Western New York in this respect. And Giuliani is like the most liberal republican around on social issues, he's highly nonrepresentative, as he's from New York City where Democrats outnumber Republicans 4:1, this is the type of Republican who gets elected there. You just have to listen to their stance on gay issues to know where they stand normally. It's not like they hide their views.

I don't exactly know why you are doing this, it's like you have a need to apologize for your worst enemies. It's like all that hatemongering rubbed off on you. Or if there are some things about yourself you're not too proud of, I suggest changing yourself rather than apologizing for people who despise you.

btw i meant Virginia has a democratic governor

DSB,

Your characterization of gay life in Buffalo as regressive is absurdly off-track. I've lived in some of the cities you've mentioned, and for many years here, and I have almost never encountered any kind of hostility in Buffalo toward gay people: either from Buffalo blue bloods, the middle class or the the blue collar. The only time I see it is when a sprinkling of religious fanatics decide to embarrass themselves at a pride rally. Gay people don't have to go anywhere else (certainly not Rochester!!!) to enjoy life openly in Buffalo.

Genghis, for someone who is not gay you seem to be very defensivesive and current on gay legislation. You don't have to hide from this, esp here where nobody knows you, at least most people don't.

I'm straight....I think we should start a STRAIGHT PARADE...WHO'S WALKING WITH ME??????

TimeIsNow good idea but i think you would probably be sued for descrimination. they can have there parade i dont care but the rainbow flags on elmwood make the city look like a joke.

Eric.. my point is that people try to defend Buffalo by putting other places down. That is a piss poor defense - especially when such a person knows little to nothing about what they are talking about. Gengis clearly has opinions that aren't really developed by facts; thus my dissent. I would suggest he/she needs to read and think more before he/she makes such bold statements. In addition, the few facts he/she attempted to utter were downright wrong.

My initial point is that the gay community should devote more energy in securing basic protections and freedoms via flexing their political muscle - something that really hasn't been attempted here. The whole point of the initial Christopher St. parade was that individuals should be confident in who they are and not afraid to demand equal rights. I was outraged by gross over-generalizations that I read above.

Like I said, I would not compare Buffalo to say Jackson, Miss. It is true Buffalo has a large number of gay bars but that is it. Most of my professional gay male friends (all of whom would be considered top tier) sought out relationships in either Toronto or Rochester because of the social conditions that exist here. There is a "velvet underground" that has nothing to do with the clearly established gay venues in Buffalo. I think you greatly underestimate the number of 30-something professional guys that feel the need to travel an hour or more outside of Buffalo to feel comfortable in being in a gay setting. The gay doctors, lawyers, bankers and teachers I know fear living an openly gay lifestyle because of the (potential) negative (and real) professional ramifications they believe may result.

Would you openly walk in a Pride parade in South Buffalo or the East Side? Honestly, I would not. Buffalo is a socially conservative blue collar town - there is nothing wrong with that fact. However, Buffalo tends to be not as progressive as it should be on the issue of tolerance towards G/L. We are no Ithaca on Lake Erie.

Did you not notice the glaring absence of many African American or Latino men? Was such an absence because there are few gay minority men or was it because many said minority men have very real fears about being out in Buffalo? (Current census figures have the City at least 40% non white... how come that parade didn't represent that fact?)

Gay professionals live here because of their family and their love of Buffalo. Gay professional men certainty don't live here because of the gay culture. Improve conditions and you might be able to retain and attract a stronger "creative class."

I do find Buffalo to be a difficult place to reside as a gay man. I'm glad your experiences have been different. There are many others reading this that would agree but they decided it would be easier to live in Boston, NY, SF, etc. There is a group of us that will be leaving Buffalo for Brooklyn's Pride Parade - an event I helped organize several years ago - on June the 9th. Get on JetBlue and join us... you would be surpised who you might bump into.

Again, the facts are the facts...

a straight parade would be sooo boring.

Priezcykniewski, I'm not gay, but my boyfriend is.

Yes, I'm joking about the last one. DSB: Sorry to hear about your "top tier" friends. But given their professions and the fact they have a social life elsewhere I bet they could relocate if they wanted to. There must be some implicit acceptance of their situation. It's like the Stockholm Syndrome... people sympathize with their tormentors after enough time. Rebel! Rebel! Rebel!! Fire that lavender cannon dammit! Ok enough silliness for one day, bye.

MRodgers... has anyone tried to collect such stories to perserve what it was like to be queer in the Griffin days for future generations? I think you might have some really cool stories...

I AM Buffalo... lol.. re-read my posts.. I have nothing against smut or activities related thereto. Sexual venues are important indicators of a healthy and vibrant city. Its the dirty secret that people don't like to discuss in polite conversation. Compare some of the coolest cities and you will find urban areas with some of the most bathouses, sex clubs, strip joints, et al in the country. I personaly am big fan of strip clubs such as Sundowner... If only more people in Buffalo thought and acted like John Waters.... the world would be a better place :o)

Okay, let's not get coo-coo here. It's true that the majority of parades are straight, but you can't classify them all as boring. Doing so only makes the gay community look petty. Let's celebrate diversity, instead of making snide comments, and see what we can do to continue to grow and build our community in a positive light. In other words, let's take the high road and show we are intelligent and mature.

DSB,

I could not disagree more. The broad reductive brush you use to call Buffalo "working class" is one of the oldest. dullest, and most useless canards in the book. ALL cities are predominantly working class (been to Boston lately?), whether you see it or not. And like most cities, Buffalo has a distinct din of classes, persuasions, and eccentricities. You seem deaf to this however, and you malign an entire city because of what seem to me very outdated prejudices.

How do you think a Pride parade in certain areas of Queens would go over? How about in Watts, in LA? Was it not in San Francisco that one of the city's own sons (with "working class" roots) gunned down Harvey Milk, a city supervisor? The point is: you can be gay and happy in Buffalo, or gay and miserable, but I think one's relative happiness depends much more on the individual than the city. If you need a highly self-conscious, ghettoized gay culture, then Buffalo may not be the right place. But that certainly doesn't mean it's a backward or an inferior place. It's not a "move to" city right now, which means we may not need the zealous self-organizing subcultures that huge cities need to help all those isolated people from disparate places connect to eachother. But I can tell you honestly: I know many, many professional gay people in Buffalo, none of whom has to hide his or her life and none of whom feels ostracized. Sure, that can happen here, but it happens everywhere. In fact, the most visible and hostile anti-gay street attitudes I ever encountered were in my years in NYC.

You're ignoring much of Buffalo's character to fit a convenient cliche that too many gay men adopt to explain away their own angst and sense of unfulfillment: the grass must be gayer somewhere else. It's a dull or inexperienced mind that thinks that way. As for going to Rochester, that's just baffling. The gay people I know in Rochester come to Buffalo because there is just more to do here, more diversity, more cosmopolitan flavor. Rochester is a fine place to be gay; so is Buffalo.

But if you have not tapped into Buffalo's fertile and colorful "creative class" (a ridiculous term), then you have not really come to know Buffalo very well. Once you do that, and once you find that Buffalo is a fine and rewarding place to live, then you may find yourself embracing rather than picking at the city. (By the way, I believe Richard Florida coined that abused and condescending term "creative class." He also happened to rank Buffalo as number 2 for up and coming creative cities. )

Eric:

Listen, I love Buffalo. I, like many before me, elected to return to this big little city next to Lake Erie. I define my affection of Buffalo to that of a dysfunctional relationship. Buffalo is the beautiful and charming love of my life but it does have some ugly sides that I wish could be changed. Buffalo often breaks my heart often with self destructive and foolish decisions. I tried to leave Buffalo but the farther away I went the more powerful my urge to return grew.

That being said. You need to re-read and think about what I wrote. I argued that the Buffalo GLBT community needs to assert its collective political muscle and that there is MUCH room for growth and advancement. Its sad that not one of our federal or state representatives has the courage to come out in favor of legalized gay marriage. Its alarming that more attention isn't paid to the growing rate of HIV infection among African American gay men in Buffalo. Or employment discrimination because of sexual orientation - don't kid yourself in believing that such discrimination does not exist. I have argued for self empowerment.

We all have different experiences and expectations. I'm happy that you are content with the status quo. Conversely, I think there is much room for development of the GLBT community in Buffalo. I expect more than just a rainbow flag being flown over city hall. We agree to disagree. The somewhat limited choices for gay men in Buffalo is akin to rain in Seattle; you learn to live with it and embrace the other elements that please you. It is difficult to find other single educated young professionals between the age of 25-35. That is a fact.

The various postings here illustrate my post. When you have a discussion about gay rights and people have no clue about the Jimmy Griffin era, the landmark Lawrence decision or who Bayard Rustin is, you know you are limited in what can be discussed. I'm mystified how the Milk-Moscone killings that resulted from an angry SF Supervisor not being re-appointed to the SF Board of Supervisors in 1978 has anything remotely to do with this discussion. Its like I'm asking you what time it is and you're telling me its raining outside. Very odd.

I find even more strange that you refuse to acknowledge that Buffalo, NY is a working class town but argue that Boston is currently a refuge for the poor. As a candidate, Governor Elliot Spitzer compared the economic situation of Upstate NY (particularly Buffalo) to that of Appalachia - and most of Buffalo's business elite agreed. Its not that we are inferior to anyone. Its because we are a region in desperate need of change...BRO is all about positive change and deviation from the status quo. We are still primarily a region that depends on a manufacturing base. The demise of the American Auto industry or steel industry has little or no economic impact on Boston but sure as hell does on Buffalo.

Its typical old hat "love it or leave it" in your response. Do you believe this is as good as it gets? Why are you content with stagnant conditions that are snapped in time like an old Polaroid? I feel like we are living in an iPod age and some people are still happy with their scratchy 8 track cassettes . Stick to the issues raised: (i.) people of religious convictions and how they may interact with gays, (ii.) avoiding knee jerk stereotypes on an entire class of people and (iii.) should the GLBT community should flex its political muscle.

Eric, this is not personal and I'm glad that status quo fulfills your needs and expectations. However, don't get angry when others believe things should and can be improved.

DSB--thanks for your comments. I'm heartened to hear that you love Buffalo, in spite of your dissatisfactions.

I see Buffalo as a city, not a town, and to define Buffalo (or any city)simply as "working class" is not only simplistic but has that whiff of condescension so many poeple use when reflexively labelling places as white collar or blue collar. Anyone who works hard is working class, but even in the traditional sense of the term, almost all larger American cities are "working class." New York is about as working class it gets, and Boston and Buffalo until quite recently had very similar demographic profiles, as does San Francisco, long known as a working class city before it was drenched in tourism.

The point is that all these places are much more alike than they are different, and I find the way the media, especially the remarkably callow gay media, exagerrate and distort these differences as harmful to cities that are struggling to rebuild themselves.

Sophistication is not about "coolness" and trends, or style and political involvement. Most of the traditionally "working class" people I know in Buffalo are intelligent, open-minded, interesting and thoughtful people, most of them knowledgeable or curious about art and architecture; many accomplished musicians. If they are not all in the vanguard of political stuggles, I cannot see that as a character fault. Generally, they have impressed me much more deeply than the gay men in large urban areas I have lived in; but that's just my experience. There are people of all kinds doing myriad things in Buffalo: Nobel prize winners, machinists, Pulitzer prize winners, painters, scientists, waitresses, professors, film makers, skilled tool operators, students, and many more. Just like other cities. Their profession or job, in my experience, usually tells little about their character or their political or social persuasions.

So, respectfully, I have to stand by what I said, because after living in many cities, most of them larger than Buffalo, I can say without hesitation that one can live a really interesting and rewarding life in Buffalo as a gay person. I simply don't know what you mean by "limited choices" for gay men here, if one judges the city on its size and current resources. Nor do I understand your lament about being stuck in time. I just don't see it. For its size, Buffalo seems brimming with options: there are choruses, tennis leagues, film groups, student groups etc. for gay people. This in addition to the already fertile music, art, and theater culture. Yes, in the legal battles Buffalo is still trying to move forward, along with most other smaller and medium sized cities. But that is a product of New York State more than it is of Buffalo's gay community. Do you remember how many years (was it 25?) that it took a civil rights ordinance that included gay issues to pass in NYC?

But thanks for the exchange. I hope you continue to live and grow in Buffalo. To live in such beautiful place, to be part of its soulful journey back to health, is in many ways a privilege. I feel lucky to be here.

Aloha you have taken the words out of my mouth. Every point I have tried to make has been brilliantly made in your brief two paragraph response. Often people want to hear an echo chamber and not a discussion - thus the scowl response(s) to what I have written...

Too often dissenting viewpoints are downplayed if not demonized. My love of the city is challenged, sadly, because I have an opinion that deviates from the wolf pack. "The love it or leave it" attitude continues to turn off a lot of people- unfortunately, too many have given up and taken that advice. Its difficult that everyone wants to shout an opinion but few are ready to listen and *think* about what others have to say.

Sometimes living in Buffalo is like being aboard the Titanic and a few voices are alarmed that the ship is quickly heading toward a huge ice burg. Annoyed, others get mad at the distraction from their cocktail party and angrily wonder aloud why others cant just shut up and appreciate the view.

I argue that change is needed. Eric is content with the status quo. You decide.

DSB and Aloha, you seem like pretty active people. Here's a thought.............with all you are mentioning here, why not get involved and get people going? That way, you would have the opportunity to affect change so the gay community in Buffalo grows year to year. If you are already active, my apologies. If not, it is one thing to commiserate and another entirely different thing to become active and create change. The Pride organization can do so much without more active members. Go for it, guys and gals, and make things better for the future of Buffalo gay community.