Pride On and Off the Plaza

Q&A with Santa Fe HRA's Richard Brethour-Bell

Get ready for the rainbows, the glitter and the gyrating. Back downtown for the third year again after a foray to the Railyard, Santa Fe Pride’s 2016 celebrations this weekend are taking a few cues from bigger celebrations, with a five-part lineup on the Bandstand. SFR caught up with local organizer Richard Brethour-Bell, former board president for the Santa Fe Human Rights Alliance and also a regional director of InterPride, an international organization of Pride organizers that helped him visit Pride parties in other communities.

SFR: Some objected to our use of the word "humble" to describe Santa Fe Pride. What do you think about that?
RBB: I don't have any problem with that word at all. I think we can be quite sensitive at times, but I think there was nothing wrong with the word "humble." That didn't imply that it was insignificant. But when you compare it to LA Pride or New York Pride or San Francisco Pride, I think "humble" is a pretty nice way of describing our Pride. … It's a small town. I think we get a lot of people from California, from Texas, from New York, who move here. This is what they are used to, these bigger Prides. So when they come here and see a smaller one, it can be an adjustment for them. Last year I think was probably the most successful Pride that we've had in Santa Fe. Because our tickets to the festival are free, we really don't know how many people were there, but the city told us that they would estimate a crowd of approximately 3,000 people. So for us, that's pretty good. For 3,000 people to be on the Plaza in a four- to five-hour period, that is pretty good. I am hoping that we have that if not more this year.

Pride began as a commemoration of the Stonewall riots, where people rose up against police actions targeting gays. Is today's pride for the gay community or the community at large?
I think what happens with marginalized communities is that when we are threatened in any way, we close ranks. And I understand that. We need to regroup and figure out what our next move is going to be. But we certainly don't want to exclude our allies. Or even people who are just interested. ... We have to also keep in mind their images of Pride are probably Prides from San Francisco and New York, and those are not necessarily Prides that you take small children to. So I can understand some trepidation. With our Pride, it's much more family friendly, family oriented. We certainly encourage straight people to come out to our Pride.

There's been a lot of talk about gay clubs as sanctuary [see Music, page 23, for more], and Santa Fe's last gay club closed a year ago. Do you think that is particularly bad for our city?
I do think it's a bad thing. I think the reason why we don't have a gay club here has more to do with the apathy of the LGBT community. It goes back to feeling these things are not necessary because we have reached certain rights and privileges that we don't need it anymore. But I have always found that a gay club is a sanctuary. It's a place I can go and dance with my husband and hold my husband's hand. There are clubs like Skylight who want to be inclusive and welcoming, and I think that's great, and I think they should exist. But for some of us, we still feel a little bit more comfortable in a gay-identified club.

Is Santa Fe a place where you are still going to catch some heat for holding your husband's hand?
Yes, it is. I think people are surprised to hear this, but I have mentioned before that at Prides in the past, I have been verbally assaulted. Here in Santa Fe, on the Plaza. Last year I wasn't even holding my husband's hand, and we were walking down the street, and someone yelled, "Fag" from a car. I have talked to young people who are attending school, and they are saying they are still being harassed, whether they are transgender or they are gay and open or simply being suspected of being gay because of their mannerisms. They are still receiving harassment. So even though Santa Fe is quite liberal, the harassment aimed at members of the LGBT community is still present. It's very real.

What would you like to see the people of Santa Fe do to work on addressing this, to change that?
I think we need a more united community, and this can't just be a gay thing. The civil rights movement wasn't successful simply because of black people. There are other groups that were involved. We can't do this all alone, and so we need our straight allies to confront hate speech and hate teaching when they hear it, whether young or old, and say, "That's not cool. That is unacceptable. It's not funny, it's not a joke. It's not anything to laugh at. This is dangerous behavior and dangerous talk, and we can't have that here." We have to speak up.

Santa Fe HRA has had struggles for some time back. What is effect of that?
Quite honestly, we do not know the future of HRA and of Santa Fe Pride, and I have said that if the LGBT community wants this, they have to be involved. I know of other organizations that have folded because of lack of support from within their own community, from within the LGBT community, and that is a very real possibility for the Santa Fe HRA.

Pride 2016 Schedule

Friday, June 24

Friends of Dorothy
5 pm, free,
Cava Lounge at the Eldorado Hotel & Spa, 309 W San Francisco St., 988-4454
Putting on Pride isn’t cheap. Join like-minded friends and neighbors for a night at the bar with no cover, just bring a donation (large or small, but preferrably large) for the Santa Fe Human Rights Alliance.

Glitter
8 pm, $10,
Skylight Santa Fe, 139 W San Francisco St., 982-0775
Music by DJ Oona Bender and the Go-Go Girls (Sierra and Boi Tasha) and lighting by Luis Lopez come together to entertain during the Queer Women’s Dance Party.

Saturday, June 25

Santa Fe Pride Parade
1 pm, the Roundhouse, down Old Santa Fe Trail, then north along Lincoln Avenue to Federal Place and into the Plaza

Set up with the family along the parade route that starts at the Roundhouse and ends on the Plaza, with a party to follow. Support your community and show your love with the train of celebration, sure to feature sparkle and fun.

Santa Fe Pride on the Plaza
1:30 pm, Plaza Bandstand

Gather ‘round the obelisk right after the parade for headliners Fantine and Scarlett Santana, performing on the Bandstand back-to-back-to-back with Jessie Lawrence, of American Idol fame. Local entertainers include dancers from Studio Nia and a performance from Bella Gigante.

After Party
9 pm-1:45 am, $20,
Skylight Santa Fe, 139 W San Francisco St., 982-0775

The Pride party doesn’t stop, it just moves down the street to Skylight, where the 21+ dancing can continue into the wee hours with DJs Melanie Moore and Oona (see Music, page 23).

Sunday, June 26

Pool Party
2-6 pm, $10, The Lodge,
750 N St. Francis Drive
Santa Fe’s heat wave is likely to last through the weekend, so spend it near some cool water and a great party vibe. A limited number of tickets will be on sale Saturday at the HRA booth at Pride on the Plaza.

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