By Bruce LaRue

Special to the Post

The organizers of the Charlotte gay pride parade recently turned down a request by Gays for Trump to participate in the parade. While we are not privy to the exchange that took place, I can envision a conversation reminiscent of an old Abbott and Costello bit. To wit:

“Good morning. Charlotte Pride parade committee.”

“Hi, we’re interested in entering a float in the parade.”

“Super. You are gay, right?”

“Yes, we are.”

“Marvy, Glad to have you. What is the theme of your float?”

“Gays for Trump.”

“Hmm, that’s different.”

“Yeah, we get that a lot.”

“No, I mean we can’t let you participate in our parade.”

“Why not? We are gay, just like you. We wish to show our pride, just like you. And, we are different, just like you.”

“We despise Trump, and would never allow a float supporting him.”

“But, what about diversity? The gay community historically has been all about diversity, right?”

“This is different.”

“How so?”

“It’s not the same.”

“Yeah, I know what the word ‘different’ means, and I know what it means to be different. I know how it feels to be looked at differently and treated differently, sometimes even by members of my own family. I’m sure you can relate. I know how it feels to be discriminated against by straights. Being discriminated against by other gays is a new kind of different.”

“Don’t be silly. Gays are not capable of discrimination.”

“Okay then, are we at least capable of harmful bias?”

“I guess so, as long as that’s not the same as discrimination.”

“As long as it’s the right kind of different? Is that your problem with us? Are we not the right kind of different?”

“Yeah, you guys are a different kind of different.”

“And, to be in your parade, we would need to be the same kind of different.”

“Bingo.”

“So, we don’t fit your self-perpetuated stereotype. We won’t be flamboyantly prancing about in ab-fab costumes that would make David Bowie look like Jed Clampett. It sounds like your brand of diversity is selective and conditional. Are we too different or not different enough?”

(Pause) “I don’t know.”

“(Sigh). Third base.”

“What?”

“Second base.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Never mind. I give up. Ta-ta for now.”

“Toodles.”

Bruce La Rue lives in Mt. Ulla.