It's Raining Men - Southern Decadence

Labor Day weekend brought three days of rain.  Non. Stop. Rain.  Not that something like a tropical storm or a hurricane could put a damper on the Southern Decadence celebrations.  In 2008 when Hurricane Gustav was approaching the city, the only party still going on was Southern Decadence.  While deciding whether or not to brave the rain this year I checked the festival's website and its statement "It's raining men" was too funny for me to not go to the parade.  Here's some of what I saw. 

(...) Mardi Gras

If I wrote that there was a New Orleans event with music and parades; with beads being bartered for sights of skin; with crowded streets, costumed people and a general abandonment of good taste; you'd probably think "Mardi Gras."  And until you saw the pictures or I added some commentary on the demographic profile of the revelers, your thought would be correct.

Southern Decadence is often called the Gay Mardi Gras.  The comparison is fairly accurate, at least if you're talking about the Mardi Gras activities that take place on Bourbon St.  There's the same bold, alcohol induced lasciviousness in both events.  The main difference being the much higher ratio of men to women during Decadence, and maybe the notable difference in the number of genuine compliments on women's outfits coming from men.

This is not a story about gay people.  It is not a story about guys in dresses.  It's simply a story about people being free to do what they want, about people being free to do what makes them happy.  On this island in a sea of southern conservatism, these people got their party.

Maybe someday I'll write about my first encounter with Southern Decadence.  Friends came into town and a hurricane was only a day away...

Related article:
My earlier commentary on the people trying to bring negativity to this day.

In between 1 and 3...

I wish I could recall where I heard this, but here is a very simple approach to life.

(1) You're born.

(2) You're alive.

(3) You die. 

In between 1 and 3, don't be a dick.

Easy, eh?  Unfortunately, people are able to dig up all sorts of excuses to be dicks toward one another.  These guys, for example, are dicks.  

I could go on at length about the issues I have with this sort of people, but I'm not going to waste my time on hateful attention whores with a warped worldview.  That sign alone demonstrates how completely ridiculous these people are.

Thumbs up to the counter protesters.  

A great interchange between this guy and one of the protesters. 

Hateful protester --  "Fuck off"

Counter protester -- "Thank you! How very Christian of you!"  

Remember, in between 1 and 3, don't be a dick.   

P.S. I'm posting this on 9/11 to illustrate a point.  Religious extremism can take many forms.  These guys are completely sure that they're right -- just like those guys that took down the planes nine years ago.