With just days to go until one of my favourite times of the year, I'm writing this time on the subject of one of those matters that shouldn't have to exist, but while the need is there then so are we: Pride. Which used to be referred to only as Gay Pride, and then as LGBT pride, but has expanded over the last few years to include many folks within the LGBTQIA bracket and become, in my book, all the stronger for it.
As regular readers of this column will be aware, those of us in the Haus of Spell have always tried to be as inclusive as we can when it comes to our events and making sure that the whole community feels welcome. To that end, mama Wanda's confirmation this week that her famous day-night events on the big weekend are making a return is another opportunity for those of us who want to be a part of something bigger to do so - to celebrate our lives, loves and the friendships we've made along the way.
For the uninitiated, the daytime event is family friendly and held in and around the grounds of the Magic Carpet, the historical book store and cafe in the heart of the wizarding queer community in NYC. It's so good my very square, very hetero parents have a fun time and enjoy the company. I even hear a rumour that Jocasta is being roped in (read, 'persuaded' by our formidable mama) to using her talents to entertain the younger ones, which should be good for a laugh!
The evening-night event, in the other hand, is being held in conjunction with popular clubs Black Magic and Bell, Book and Candle along with our own Haus of Spell. Usually spilling from one to the other, with different ways to spend the evening, this is definitely going to be one hell of a time for those of you who prefer your entertainment a little more suitable for grown ups. Black Magic are taking their turn to host dancing over five floors and Bell, Book and Candle are putting on live music and offering a break for the more relaxed among us. As for the Haus of Spell? It wouldn't be Pride Month if we didn't have as many queens as we can fit in the building from dusk till dawn. It's not often I get to perform on the same night as all of my sisters, and believe you me, it's going to be something really spectacular - see the Pride NYC website (magical subsection) for more details.
But hold on, the regular readers among you must be thinking (and really, stop that, it destroys any air of mystery!), didn't she just say she was off to write a book somewhere? She's packed the cats under one arm and Stella under another and disappeared off somewhere in Northwestern? Well yes, yes I have. And for that reason, I'm not spending the whole of Pride Month in NYC like I usually would, with shows packed in back to back. I'll be there for the big weekend, of course, and just try and stop me from missing the parade! That said, the longer that we've been out here in the peace and quiet, taking it all in, the more we've been able to discover about ourselves, as well as each other. It's been really nice, truth be told, although if you'd told me a month ago how much better my state of mind would be now, I'd have laughed my ass off. The home that Anita has jokingly nicknamed 'Casa Spell Squared' is a content one, that is full of peace.
And really, as we are on the final approach to Pride Month, what more could a pair of queens in love want?