My Gay Belt
As everyone knows, gay people have "gaydar" and we can all instantly recognize each other and pass on the secret handshake. Nevertheless, as an extra aid-to-recognition, I have this belt I usually wear to hold up my trousers. It's woven in six lovely rainbow colors, the rainbow of gay pride, and it works like a charm as a secret-club symbol.
To my embarrassment, however, I often forget that I am wearing it, since I nearly always have it on but don't spend a lot of time regarding my own waist. So it sometimes takes me a bit of time to catch on when some person — male or female — looks me in the eye and says with great significance: "nice belt!" I'd like to respond sooner with the secret countersign, but at least I can now blame my tardiness on advancing age.
This morning I went to have some blood drawn. My phlebotomist was a charming young lady, and she wasted little time in asking "Are you wearing the belt for this weekend?"
Oh dear, this was a bit of an obscure variant on the question, but I was pretty alert this morning for a change.
"Is it that time of year already?" I asked. We both know we were talking about June, the time when gay people in America celebrate Pride Month.*
It was, indeed, that time of year, if slightly early. But, scheduling dates for major festivals can be a challenge, especially if it's a gay pride parade and festival. There is, of course, a major drawback to holding a gay pride festival the day before Memorial Day: no white shoes allowed!
She allowed as how she was looking forward to partying. There was some party she was planning to go to, which I don't doubt is typical, that wouldn't even heat up until 11pm and would last until about the time the sun comes up. I thought it sounded good in principle, but Isaac and I can barely manage to stay up until midnight on New Year's Eve anymore.
We had a nice discussion about things she doesn't get to talk about much in her workplace. When I left, she said "Have a great weekend!"
"You, too!" I said. "You, too!"
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*For those who don't know, June is Gay Pride Month to celebrate the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, which began on 27 June 1969, the same day as Judy Garland's funeral in Manhattan.