I went to the pride parade in Chicago yesterday. It was kind of disappointing. It was so….commercial as opposed to cultural. Home Depot has pride. Southwest Airlines has pride. Jewel Osco has pride. Isn’t that great? Shop at our stores. I would have liked to see some speakers, maybe, a history exhibit, some discussion of current events – AT LEAST some information on all the different organizations that were present. I guess in general more academic things interest me, and parties do not. What I desire is called a “conference.” Parades are not, and should not have to be, conferences.

Also, I was really disgusted at how dirty the ground was. I know they’re going to clean it up, but they really could have installed some recycling bins, handed out condoms for empty bottles and cans – something that encouraged people not to throw their trash on the ground. I feel betrayed when an event for a cause I believe in (literally) steps all over  another cause I care about. I feel that social and environmental justice are very connected.

Yeah, yeah, I’ll get off my soapbox now.