Jersey Pride

I don’t expect all Prides to be like that of San Francisco’s or New York City’s. I know there are smaller Prides out there that shouldn’t be compared… smaller Prides that have its own flavor and uniqueness.
I came to Jersey Pride with that attitude.
This was my FIRST Pride since my move to the east coast and it’s in the state I reside in, so I was excited! I was disappointed, not because it’s small, but because, in my opinion, it lacked creativity and energy. It was a lazy Pride, but hey, maybe that’s the intention!
One side had the stage (the only stage) and a large grassy area to layout and picnic. Like I said, a lazy Pride. It was cool though. I got to see Lisa Lisa! You bet I got up to dance for her!
The other side had the food and merchandise vendors. I really wanted a souvenir of some sort, but there were more merchandise for dogs than there were for humans. I get it. We love our pets, but damn, really?! This is not Pet Parent Pride! Or is it?
Other than the musical performances, there was nothing else creative there. Other than the fact that there were musical performers at a gay pride event, there wasn’t really anything «gay» about it. It felt like a chill music festival. It did not feel like PRIDE! No costumes. No nudity. No drag kings or queens. No art. No freelance performers. No makeshift performers. No creativity, period.
I don’t know what else to say. It was just lacking. As a music festival, I’d probably give it a higher rating, but to review it as a PRIDE event, I was pretty disappointed.