Leather Dust-Up Rankles Oakland Pride

The first Oakland Pride parade almost went off without a hitch Sunday, but organizers ended up doing damage control after a newspaper quoted one of them saying some San Francisco leather groups were told not to come so as to keep the event "family-friendly."

Pride organizers were forced to issue an apology Saturday night after a front-page San Francisco Chronicle story included a quote from spokesman Carlos Uribe that said, "We had some leather groups from San Francisco who wanted to come, and we politely declined. We want to keep this G-rated." Some in the leather community took offense, and one person announced via Facebook plans for a protest at the parade. By late Saturday night, however, the protest was canceled after what Pride officials apologized for what they claimed was a "misquote."

What Uribe meant to say, he said Sunday, was that public nudity and sexually explicit material wouldn't be allowed at the parade.

And while the 43-contingent parade did put children and families front and center, later contingents included the drag characters from The Rocky Horror Picture Show and anti-circumcision "intactivists," complete with inflatable penises.

In a brief interview at the festival Sunday, August 31, Uribe said everyone was welcome at Oakland Pride.

"We apologize for that," he said, referring to the Chronicle quote, adding that he blamed the "straight, white reporter" for the error.

Carolyn Jones, the Chronicle reporter who wrote the story, told the Bay Area Reporter that Uribe's original quote was accurate. But she apologized for any misunderstanding. In a phone interview Tuesday, she said that she was shocked that Uribe would assume her sexual orientation and ethnicity as a result of one phone conversation.

"I don't see what that has to do with anything," Jones said. "How does he know I'm straight and white?"

Several members of the leather community, who were aware of the controversy, watched the parade and indicated that groups would like to participate next year.

"I ran Albuquerque Pride and it was very family-friendly," said Pat Baillie, who is board president of the International Ms. Leather Foundation, adding that leather groups were welcomed. "There are trans families and leather families."

She added that the parade "was a good first start."

Beth Elliott of the Alameda County Leather Corps pointed out that her organization has raised about a half-million dollars over the years for such causes as the Charlotte Maxwell Comprehensive Clinic and Children's Hospital.

"The thing about our butts and children is how we work them off raising money," Elliott said.

At the Oakland Pride Breakfast, hosted by Mayor Jean Quan and the East Bay Stonewall Democratic Club, many of the attendees the B.A.R. talked to were unaware of the kerfuffle involving the leather community.

Judy Appel, executive director of Our Family Coalition, which organizes the very popular Family and Children's Garden area at the Pride festival, spoke generally about LGBT families.

"I appreciate how Oakland Pride embraces the diversity of the community and our families," said Appel, who also sits on the Berkeley school board.

There's a balance between diversity and families, she added, but noted that LGBT "families are very diverse."

Parade Rolls On

The cute Tykes on Trikes and Our Family Coalition led off the inaugural parade, followed by several church congregations. The small train from Children's Fairyland was also featured, along with the gay-straight alliance from Chabot College.

Grand marshals, including Sheila E, who headlined the main stage; promoter Joe Hawkins; and youth activist Lirio Zepeda were featured. The Old Lesbians Organizing for Change had a contingent, as did Black Women Organizing for Political Action.

The festival saw one of the largest crowds ever, although official estimates weren't available at press time.