Last night, I went down to the dance party the the Gay and Lesbian Neighborhood Development Association (GLENDA) NW PA had down in Venango County. Several of the folks in that area had been up for the film screening and the PA HB 1400 hearing, and I felt like it would be nice to return the favor. Also, I usually have a good time when I go to someone else's event, and I had a great time previously at the bowling party they had earlier this year.
It was a little rough finding the Coon and Fox Club, but I actually didn't get lost at all! (My sense of direction sucks.) Kathy, the mother who had testified the day before about her teen, came right up and said, "Come on over! We're sitting over here." Everyone was very friendly.
Kathy and her husband were there, but their son CJ had been previously and felt like it was an older crowd, so he didn't go. I was very much amused by first going to a gay event with your parents, and then having them continue going. But everything worked and was fun. Kathy's husband wasn't quite as much into dancing, and I ended up dancing with her a fair amount.
At one point, the DJ was playing Time Warp from Rocky Horror Picture Show. I have lost track of how many times I have seen it and can pretty much sing the entire score from memory, and know most of the lines. Roxanne, who was sitting near me, noticed that I was sort of getting bouncy in my seat and sighed, "Oh for heaven's sake, get out on the dance floor!"
So I did. There were a few people out there, and one very talented dancer who was dancing with what seemed to be his boyfriend. I danced not too far away, but I didn't want to make them feel like I was being aggressive in invading their space. As it happened, the boyfriend and everyone else but the talented dancer ended up getting off the dance floor, so it was just him and myself. We had a grand old time (yes, that probably should have been gay old time), and I was sort of following his lead and trying to balance him out. There are sections with definite set steps, and other sections that are more free form. The folks watching were sort of cheering us on. I felt very self-conscious, but I was having a great time, and everyone was being so nice.
I meant to take photos, but the only one I took was of Tara next to a bear's head trophy. There were also some portraits on the opposite wall. The largest one in the center reminded me of Jerry Garcia. Someone else thought it looked like a potential pervy Santa Claus.
The rest of the evening was great as well, I talked with folks, danced a bit, and just felt glad to be there. I was there until pretty close to closing.
It really made me happy to see so many different kinds of people coming together to be joyful and do good things, especially in area where one think that there might be hostility.
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