On Sunday, June 30th, as an intern for Ed Murray’s mayoral campaign, I had the privilege of marching in the Pride parade along with the rest of Ed’s supporters. My first Seattle Pride.
I was immediately swept up in the jubilance of the occasion. Everyone there seemed proud, supportive and happy. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face.
A Seattle kid through and through, I have grown up surrounded by LGBTQ culture and influences — not just books, movies or television, which tends to paint a narrow picture of gay men as effeminate, flamboyant characters.
"Often I'm stereotyped as the cute little twinky boy," said James-Robert Lim, 30, at Pridefest. Lim (below) went on to explain that his fashion choices, hairstyle and small stature often lead people to assume that he would be drawn to more classically masculine partners. “In reality,” he said, “I’m quite the opposite: I like being a guy.”
