Pride Gets Queer

This past weekend's official Pride festivities, hosted by the Austin Gay and Lesbian Pride Foundation (an organization launched from and sharing board members with the local Austin Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Com­merce) was Austin's most controversial since 2002, when the AGLCC first launched its Austin Pride Parade amid complaints of censorship and gaps in representation of Austin's many LGBT communities. This year, however, groups concerned with AGLCC's management and the tame tenor of the mainstream Pride festivities took matters into their own hands with QueerBomb, a march and party held the Friday night of Pride. Prior to the march, Council Member Randi Shade delivered the mayor's official proclamation of QueerBomb Day to a crowd of about 1,000 gathered on Brushy Drive. The following day, Council Member Laura Morrison delivered the mayor's official proclamation of Austin Pride Day, while both council members rolled in the official Pride parade that evening. The Austin Chronicle's Pride Guide online will be continually updated with links, photos, and videos from the fest and invites readers to share links and media as well by visiting austinchronicle.com/gay or e-mailing gayplace@austinchronicle.com.