Stepping Out

Nearly three decades after their Stonewall Inn ancestors poured into the streets to battle baton-wielding policemen, queers in Minneapolis and St. Paul lined up along Minneapolis's Hennepin Avenue on June 28 to witness a riot of color and a celebration of gay liberation during the annual GLBT Pride/Twin Cities festival.

The weather gods -- notoriously fickle in Minnesota -- looked on fondly as a steady stream of PFLAGers, leathermen, religious groups, Dykes on Bikes, student groups, employee organizations, musicans, drag queens, and politicians passed by. Bystanders clamored for the beads, candy, tchotchkes, and condoms passed out by marchers, then reveled in the washes of disco, swing, and brass-band music that rolled over the crowd with each new float and phalanx. The oppressive swelter of closeted queer life in 1969 seemed nearly forgotten. Even police officers had joined the parade.

a. Miss Richfield leading her precision go-cart team

b. The men & women of the North Star Gay Rodeo Association strut their stuff

c. State Senator Allan Spear and State Rep. Karen Clark catch some rays and lots of applause

d. Beware the Tykes on Trikes!

e. DFL-endorsed gubernatorial candidate Mike Freeman presses the flesh

f. The Hot Head Swing Band jazz things up from atop the Q Monthly float

g. The Pelvis himself makes an appearance

h. The employees and patrons of District 202

i. Minneapolis City Council member Jim Niland and wife Liz launch Mardi Gras beads

j. The Gay Bowlers Association spared nothing in constructing their float

k. One small step for man ... the Minnesota AIDS Project float

l. The Rainbow Families standing tall

m. Your parents, brothers, cousins ... PFLAG marches on

n. No one does it like the 90s

o. Where sun block has never gone before

p. You were always curious about him ...

q. The brave women of the Minneapolis Fire Department

r. Q Monthly Senior Account Executive Judy Romine holding our Out At The Office Award

s. Editor Joel Hoekstra, account executive Judy Romine, and columnist Ken Darling taking up space at the Q Monthly booth