At this point I believe everyone in each major city has experienced some sort of Pride. People who are into leather can actually wear shirts, and pants without their asses hanging out. The hairy and hirsute “muscle bears” can now go back to being just regular old “bears.” The once-a-year drag queens can store their annual wigs, sequins and heels in a closet or under the bed for another year. About now we don’t even want to think about anything that resembles a rainbow. My friends, we are now entering complacency.

Fortunately for most of us complacency is about as short-lived as Rosie O”Donnell’s stint on “The View.” Most of us understand the dangers of complacency, and when the phase is over, we are ready for another round of leather events, dancing with the bears and drag queens, and riding cowboys.

With all of Pride’s hoopla and merry-making past, it’s unfathomable that after our phase of complacency there are still those GLBT people who are complacent when it concerns our basic human rights. The week before Pride I had the pleasure of being a panelist on the local PBS radio station with Nicole Murray-Ramirez. Although leather and lace are at opposite ends of the spectrum they seem to work well together in the right outfit. Murray-Ramirez has been around since Old Town was New Town and is still one of the hardest working advocates in the community. The other panelist was a woman who, for the sake of this article, we will call Judge, Jury and Executioner Judy, or JJEJ for short.

It’s difficult to describe the shock of hearing a member of the GLBT community say that The Center should not be available to all members of the GLBT community; that the leather community, drag queens and the fringe community should not be seen by the general heterosexual community; and, if we all behaved we would be accepted by mainstream America. JJEJ reminded me of online profiles that read “straight acting” or “white only.” Shocking isn’t it? Like the first time we saw a black Republican. Then a gay Republican. Then a black, gay Republican. It just gets worse.

Let me remind you, my friends, that the downfall of the world’s major empires was the result of betrayal from those closest to their leaders. If we let our guard down and become complacent we run the risk of falling like Rome, while the JJEJs fiddle away as we burn.

Now that Pride is over, the leather community, bears, cowboys and drag queens must keep the momentum going. We are the fringe of the GLBT community and the fringe is the finishing touch and most beautiful part. We make a simple dress a “party” dress. It’s up to us to get the party re-started and never let it end.

I just returned from Lazy Bear, one of the biggest “bear” parties in the world. San Diego was well represented there, and we celebrated enough for all of you who couldn’t join us. We won’t let the JJEJs of the GLBT community stop us this weekend or next. You’ll read more about how much celebrating we did at Lazy Bear the next time you hear from me. Until then, check your online and in-print calendars, bar lists, cultural events and art shows. Keep the party going.

See ya In The Pit.