Gay Pride 2005: Cherry Bomb, Dyke March, Trans March
In 1998, a collective of queers in Brooklyn debuted Gay Shame to challenge what Gay Pride had become: more about product placement than queer rights. If you're white and middle class, a gay agenda topped by gay marriage might suffice, but for the vast majority of queer people, issues related to poverty and the criminal-justice system are more relevant to everyday life. Since '98, Gay Shames have taken place from San Francisco to Stockholm. This year, there's no sign of Gay Shame, but that doesn't mean you can't get into the spirit without being inundated with beer ads.
On Thursday night, Cherry Bomb: A Night of Queer Music, offers the most eclectic, inclusive bill around. Says MC Murray Hill, "The energy is through the roof! The idea of these shows is to represent a wide range of queer/queerish performers and put them on the same bill, rather than separating the different scenes. All genders and types are celebrated; we include the ladies, and then some. We've got rappers, rockers, electros, performance artists, and more." The line-up includes Bitch, Karyn Kuhl, God-des, Taylor Mac, Justin Tranter and Jen Urban and the Box. "This is edgy, raw, and features lots of new performers with the old school," says Hill. "It's the new spirit of pride, and fully inclusive."
The past few years have presented a crisis of inclusiveness for the Dyke March, the annual unpermitted march down 5th Avenue that's been taking place since the Lesbian Avengers kicked it off back in 1993. While the website claims "all women are welcome, biological or otherwise," the increasing numbers of trans people wishing to march haven't necessarily felt welcome. The Dyke March is supposed to be a protest-over issues such as ongoing discrimination, harassment and anti-lesbian violence-not a parade. But last year it felt more like a walk in the park. While there's nothing wrong with that, Friday's Trans March will have a more urgent tone. On the First Annual Trans Day of Action for Social and Economic Justice, New Yorkers will march to demand jobs, access to quality education, affordable healthcare and housing. It will start at 8th Ave. & Greenwich Ave., aka Jackson Square, and move to Union Square. It's sponsored by TransJustice, a joint effort of the Audre Lorde Project and the LGBT Center, and it's certainly about time. Cherry Bomb, Thurs., 6/23, Knitting Factory, 74 Leonard St. (betw. B'way & Church St.), 212-219-3132; 8, $15, $12 adv. Dyke March, Sat., 6/25, Bryant Park (42nd St. & 6th Ave.), 5, nycdykemarch.org. Trans March, Fri., 6/24, Jackson Sq. (8th & Greenwich Aves.), 5:30, srlp.org.