Today is Sunday, June 4, 2023. Today Elliot and I met our friend “Gene” here at our apartment around 11:15 and walked to the subway to take the R to Jackson Heights for the New Queens Pride Parade and Festival running along 37th Avenue. This celebration was taking place on the occasion of the festival’s 30th anniversary.

After getting off the subway, we made our way to the first Starbucks we could find where I ordered a Chocolate Java Mint Frappuccino. While I waited for my drink to be prepared, Elliot was already talking to a young visitor to Queens, Gabriel, and his sister, Sophia. Don’t ask who they were: they were standing in the coffee joint and were pounced upon by both Elliot and Gene. I was just amazed over how Elliot could so effortlessly talk to a stranger like that. Eventually, I got my drink and I joined the foursome. I later learned that Gabriel was visiting from Puerto Rico and his sister was helping him settle into an apartment in Queens where he was doing a residency in psychiatry at Elmhurst Hospital.

After we said goodbye to the good-looking new psychiatrist-in-the- making and his very attractive sister, we made our way toward 37th Avenue where we found a spot near the barricade where we could watch the parade. The weather was not inviting; it was actually very cool and cloudy the whole time we stood and watched the parade, where Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez flitted by with a contingent of marchers, Melinda Katz the Queens District Attorney made an appearance, and even Senator Chuck Schumer walked by speaking into a bullhorn in which he revealed his endorsement of the Marriage Equality Act that was passed in the state some years back. He kept on mentioning that he has a gay daughter who is now married to her partner as a result of the legislation that he endorsed.

In addition to these political participants at the march, there were the usual number of floats and organizations that made their appearance during the parade. There were the police officers who marched as part of the Gay Officers Action League (GOAL) at the beginning of the festivities, members of CBS, ABC, and AIDS Healthcare Foundation, several marching bands, and many individuals dressed in outlandish outfits. There was one man riding on a rubber chicken that I thought was quite bizarre. He had on a white cowboy hat.

After standing for almost two hours, we decided to break for lunch, so we walked over to an Argentinian restaurant on 80th Street and 37th Avenue called La Boina Roja (the “red beret”). The restaurant was small inside and, when we walked in, there were few customers having lunch. We sat next to a wall and looked at the paper menu in order to make a decision as to what to select for our midafternoon meal.

For an appetizer, I selected crema de esparragos, which is cream of asparagus soup. For my main dish, I ordered pollo al Frances, which is chicken in lemon sauce. This dish was accompanied by a salad and ripe plantain. Needless to say, there was a lot to eat here. I certainly took home a doggie bag after drinking my coffee at the end.

From the restaurant, we walked back to an area where crowds surged passing by booths selling merchandise and food. A stage was set up where some drag performers danced and twirled and lip synced to popular tunes. Here I was met by a photographer using a long lens who asked to take a picture of me wearing my anti-MAGA hat, “Make America Gay Again,” that I wore all throughout Donald Dumpf’s one term and retired after Joe Biden became president. For this event, I decided to wear it one more time. Only about three people came up to me to say they liked the message behind the cap. At least no one misread the caption on the hat and voiced their disgust over what the hat purportedly said.

Thank God there were no violent incidents at the event. At least from what I could see.

Elliot at this time separated from Gene and me and went home. I also took my leave of Gene and walked to the subway at 74th Street and took the F home. We asked Gene to come home with us, in order to lengthen the merriment of the day.

When we all congregated in the living room, I made tea for Gene and myself. I then played Marc Maron’s recent HBO comedy special that I watched the other night for Gene’s edification. I thought his special was laugh-out hilarious, as he tackled with impunity many bleak subjects like mortality to abortion. He even threw in a joke on the Holocaust that was a little cringeworthy. Other topics he took a comedic scalpel to were dementia and being childless. At one point, he talked very movingly about the death of his last girlfriend, Lynne Shelton. This taboo subject did not even escape his mordant observation.

After the special ended, Gene decided to call it a day and I walked him to the elevator to bid him adieu.

So have a great week.

Stay safe and be well.

Here are dykes on bikes.

Here is a police car retrofitted for Pride.

Here is CBS’s float.

Here is one marching band. I believe there are all women in the band here.

What a feather in her cap!

Here is Senator Chuck Schumer and his bullhorn.

Here is the back view of that guy riding a chicken.