I’d like to take a moment to soapbox. Breeaathe… okay.

I don’t know why they call it Twin Cities Pride, all the events are in Minneapolis. Yes, there was the sixth annual picnic event at Como Park but everyone knows the advertising dollars go to booster the big kahuna parade and Loring Park extravanganza where visitors will see the sponsors in full glory. This year, a few less top level sponsors and a lot more “copper level” ones.

A sign of the economic times is also apparent this year. Saturday’s music stage features Exposé, Kat DeLuna & Kristine W. Kat DeLuna is probably the best known for
Whine Up, a club beat that plays often (“OOOH YEAH”). Kristine W is also popular for house beats of the ’90s. These headliners are nothing like just a year ago when R&B quartet En Vogue and singer Deborah Cox graced us with their fame. With relatively low-key acts this year, tickets have increased to $15 at the gate from $10.

Fortunately the local music acts are there to make it worthwhile. Tori Fixx has built himself as the top queer hip hop and R&B act in the region. The introspective and shy artist won’t claim any fame to interviews. Why he isn’t highly regarded in the local hip hop scene is strange. I’m not sure how many Rhymesayers artists have been on an MTV network (LOGO) or the Tyra Banks Show by simply releasing a record. Additionally, DJ Red Richards himself is a big name throughout [the Kingdom of] France and has corporate products falling over themselves for his sound design.

Of course who cares about specifics, it’s a celebratory event that attracts a regional Midwestern attraction — so no need to lament its rather State Fair quality. We recognize the fact that people drive from as far as Marshall (home to the western chapter of Lutherans Concerned) and Iowa City (which has only one LGBT bar to speak of) to come here. And, we hope they adore our sin cities as much as we do.

This year’s theme “Our Rights, Yours Rights, Human Rights” is aptly titled for the ongoing debate on greater gay and lesbian rights in the United States. We saw this revived recently with California’s Proposition 8 and with Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. For domestic state issues, Minnesotans might not have realized their Scandinavian brethren in Norway legalized “gender-neutral” marriage and Iceland elected a publicly lesbian prime minister, both events taking effect this year. It may be prudent to say now that fully realizing their suffrage is a question of how not when.

Debates and protests aside, for twin city locals, the Loring Park festival is a big pull. Where else can you shop variably cheap trinkets, jewelry, and knock-off sunglasses. You can’t do this in Uptown. Others make it a weekend to lay ungraciously about the lawns of Loring, soaking sun while half-clothed and poking fun at fairgoers who oft-times appear touristy.

Just for one day we have our own Central Park mass of humans in nature! The local economic effect and presence of 1950s era traffic inundating next to Downtown is a refreshing reminder that Minneapolis can look like a real city at all hours of the day. It’s generally after the festivities that the Twin Citians emerge, flocking to their nightlife.

See our Minneapolis Pride Guide 2009