Observable Life

I recently re-discovered this web comic. It is relatively short, in the sense that it ended without thousands of strips.

I found this years ago and it has stuck with me since then. Not entirely sure why.

Car Free Day was yesterday on Main street. The event blocked traffic off for over 20 blocks on one of the main arteries in Vancouver. This is just one of the events, there are two others on other large streets and they all compete. We got to explore many local artists, bands and foods that were just to die for. It was an amazing display of the neighbourhood and all it offers. 

Many local businesses along Main Street take the opportunity to show off their awesome wares and drum up business, others spread awareness for their cause, for most it encourages a sense of community.

It was an awesome weekend. We went to the Pride Parade that he was marching in and cheered him on from the crowd. We also got to see DWV and even caught sight of all three queens out of drag outside the venue chatting. Their part of the show was short but, as always, it was super awesome. My gf and I had seats upstairs behind the stage because the floor was super busy and we aren't too great with large crowds. 

It was a fun weekend and we did some pretty awesome stuff, but the thing I think I enjoyed the most was being around other lesbians and gay guys. My gf and I don't have many gay friends other than my buddy; it's never been a thing we've thought about before. I love my straight friends, they are super fun to hang out with and completely open and accepting of everyone, not just me and my gf. I'm not sure how to put this other than it was nice to have conversations with people where we were all on the same page. We all understood the issues we have interacting with the world and shared stories of the shenanigans we got into while flirting with straight people. 

Don't get me wrong, the differences are slight. None of us have come across any bad homophobia stronger than a passing comment by a douche bag stranger, except my gf (and that was in the south over a decade ago). In many regards, we all are very aware of how lucky we are to be reaping the fruits of the LGBT efforts over the past 4 decades. We live in safe places with awesome and open people; never had our jobs threatened or family's reacting badly to us coming out.

I think I was more tickled that I noticed a difference when we were hanging out in a big group and how the conversations were somehow easier to understand. It made me aware of the filter I put on my mind in other scenarios when the group is predominantly straight. I guess it's just the way I socialize to groups.