Indy Pride Parade 2022 sights and sounds
Thousands attend the Indy Pride Parade on Saturday, June 11, 2022 along Mass Ave in Indianapolis.
Mykal McEldowney, Indianapolis star
Clothes have the power to create conversation.
Fashion has played a key role in how people express themselves for centuries, and Pride fashion is no different. Glamour, diversity, and comfort in one’s own skin are all contributing factors to the evolution of queer fashion and expressionism during Pride festivals, whether it’s short shorts and a crop top, a flowy rainbow dress, or a full dress.
Glamor and opulence, such as edgy, metallic and flowy clothing often associated with femininity, are still very much in evidence at Pride festivals, said Michael Weston, president of the Indiana Fashion Foundation.
Weston said a significant part of Pride’s origins can be traced back to the Stonewall Inn and that it was one of the first gay bars in the late 1960s, acting as a safe space where people could dress however they wanted.
Strawberries, chicken, beer and tacos: Summer food festivals you should know about
“Expressionism in general, how we show ourselves, how we are seen, makes a big difference in how people perceive us,” Weston said. “From there, the basis of Pride was being able to express yourself, and fashion and style were so closely related to that. People who dress in drag or androgynous, things like that. [are] kind of part of the conversation about what Pride is.”
Blair St Clair, The Indianapolis star of RuPaul’s Drag Race herself said just 20 years ago that Pride was something many people in the city didn’t want to acknowledge. St. Clair, also known as Drew Bryson, said many people dress boldly and vibrantly, not only to show pride in who they are, but also to bring more attention, awareness and acceptance to the LGBTQ+ community.
“At one point, it was about putting on a show, making a statement, making something not only heard but seen,” St. Clair said. “Today, it has evolved because Pride and queer people have become widely accepted, much more so than 20 years ago.”
A key player in this change is the fashion industry itself, which, according to Weston, used to be highly regarded in terms of dictating what was fashionable at any given time. However, with the rise of social media and the rise of diversity and body positivity, this is no longer the case.
“I think what’s happened is that people have gotten much closer to accurately expressing who they are because the rules are moving,” Weston said. “I think that’s what I love about Pride, which is a safe space where you free yourself to be exactly who you are and express yourself in the most accurate and authentic way. ”
For many, Pride isn’t just a safe place to express themselves, it’s also a safe place to explore and try new things, said Ben Asaykwee, an Indianapolis-based writer and performer, in an email to IndyStar.
“Some of us will be dressed in whatever we feel most comfortable with and feel really represents us, and some of us will be glamorous just to celebrate freedom and love,” they said.
Photos: Inaugural WonderRoad Music Festival kicks off at Garfield Park in Indianapolis
Although the fashion and clothing styles seen at Pride festivals today tend to focus more on being proud of who you are, St. Clair said she feels much of fashion still reminds of things that are used in years past.
Because much of the Pride originated from underground spaces, many people still had to hide who they were, St. Clair said. Most people who didn’t present themselves as women didn’t feel comfortable going to the store to buy a dress and then wearing it to underground nightclubs or Pride festivals, she said.
“They weren’t wearing the best of the best makeup products, they weren’t wearing the craziest clothes,” she said. “They were gathering things that they could safely find and buy in public.”
St. Clair described early Pride fashion as a “hodgepodge” of things found in other people’s closets and second-hand makeup from mothers, sisters, and friends: the brighter, more colorful, and sparkly, the better.
That’s still true today, only in updated versions, as St. Clair said, acceptance and access to better makeup and clothing has only increased over the years.
In addition to the traditional outfits that pay homage to Pride from years past, another thing one might notice each June is the increased diversity in clothing and fashion at Pride, as well as the lack of clothing, Weston said.
“I think people have leaned more toward an individualistic style,” he said. “I’ve seen much more revealing clothing because I think the more comfortable people have become just being who they are and the more society has progressed, I think people have become more comfortable to say ‘hey, you know, this is me, this is my body”.
There are still plenty of opportunities for people to go outside the box regarding what would normally be worn in a public setting, Asaykwee said in an email to IndyStar. However, they said many members of the LGBTQ+ community now have families of their own, and most people respect that.
“In the last 10 years, things have definitely gotten a little more familiar,” they said. “Also, the world has changed and now there are other opportunities to express yourself, so the pressure is not so difficult.”
Although the climate in Indiana continues to change for LBGTQ communities, acceptance at the local level in Indiana may leave room for hope. A week before IndyPride, St. Clair said he attended Terre Haute’s first Pride on June 4 and was pleasantly surprised by the turnout for the event.
“You see people from all walks of life attending Pride,” he said. “It’s not just for queer people by queer people. I think a lot of people assume that Pride is for gay people to celebrate themselves, and what it is is that we’re celebrating everyone, for allowing us to live our lives and celebrate ourselves for who we are in a safe space.”
One thing guaranteed to be in Pride: rainbows.
“Sure it runs the gamut, but you’ll definitely see rainbow-themed color palettes scattered everywhere, from rainbow swimsuits to rainbow eyeshadow,” Asaykwee said. “It will be a beautifully vibrant and colorful day to truly represent those it celebrates.”
Contact IndyStar reporter Chloe McGowan at 740-739-1090 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter: @chloe_mcgowanxx.
Source: www.indystar.com