Radio hosts Derek and Romaine explain why Dallas is their favorite Pride

Derek and Romaine celebrate their fourth Dallas Pride at Sue Ellen’s Friday. (PHOTO BY ERICA BERGER)

Derek Hartley and Romaine Patterson, who have hosted Sirius Radio's "The Derek and Romaine Show" since April 2003, have been frequent guests in Dallas every Pride Weekend for years. And once again, they'll broadcast their Friday show live from Sue Ellen's. Prior to their appearance, we asked Derek to give us his take on Pride celebrations nationwide.
Sue Ellen's, 3903 Cedar Springs Road. Sept. 14, 6-9 p.m.

You've emceed more than 60 prides in four years. Does anything shock you anymore? The gays, especially the lesbians, will practically kill you for a free T-shirt.
Last year in the parade for Capital Pride in Washington D.C., I got into a fight with one of the spectators. I had a lesbian rush me and try to yank a cluster of Mardi Gras beads out of my hand. I literally had to beat her off with my free hand while screaming at her.
The beads were cutting my hand, and she just wouldn't stop. All for $2 worth of beads. That was demented.

Why do you keep coming back for Dallas Pride? This is our fourth year. Michael Doughman and the folks at the Dallas Tavern Guild have really stuck with us all these years as our show has grown. I love the gay community here. Everyone is so friendly and JR.'s is always a favorite.
I love this weekend because there is so much to do. Most other pride events are pretty formulaic. Dallas gives you the traditional parade and rally, but Gay Bingo, Gay Days at Six Flags and the cluster of businesses on Cedar Springs Road all come together to make for a fun weekend.
While Romaine was working out her schedule around her pregnancy this year, she passed on all but two events: Phoenix Pride and this weekend in Dallas. That's how good it is.

Unlike most cities, Dallas Pride is in September. Good idea or bad? I love that Dallas holds their event in September.
Our Houston listeners get bent out of shape every year that we always come to Dallas and never to Houston. But who wants to go to Houston at the end of June? Never mind that it is the same weekend as a dozen other major events across the country, it's just too hot. I get that people want to celebrate the anniversary of Stonewall, but there was a reason the riot happened that weekend the end of June is a hot and miserable time of year. It angers up the blood!
Why we insist on keeping our celebration on that weekend, especially in the Sun Belt, is beyond me. The last weekend in June is like Sophie's choice.
The Prides would have even better attendance, better performers and more support from corporations if they spread them out a little more.

Is Dallas gayer than Houston? I love that Dallas has a lesbian sheriff and Big D almost had a gay mayor. The anti-gay people are rabid and would rather go over a cliff than do what is right.

Last year, when the gay marriage ban was up for a vote and the Ku Klux Klan came out in support, I couldn't believe it passed. When you are siding with the Klan, you are really fighting on the side of angels, right? It's revolting.

If I wasn't gay, even if I didn't like gay people, a Klan endorsement is the kind of thing that would make me reconsider my position.

Dallas, gay cowboys, "Brokeback Mountain." Derek any fantasies? The men are hot in Dallas. Everyone looks better in a cowboy hat, me included! Of course, I look like a New Yorker when I wear it. But I still look better than normal.
Growing up in the West, cowboys are a great symbol of the openness and relative freedom. Romaine and I both share a love of the Western expanse, the prairies and the dramatic mountains. It's wonderful and the cowboys are a sexy addition.

How can people show their Pride throughout the year? Unless you are Ellen, and you come out on the cover of Time, the coming out process never really ends. I hope people tune into our show and hear two people who are very matter-of-fact about being gay. We don't make a big deal about it. Our show is not political and being gay is not a "struggle."
I hope that encourages people that there is more to being gay than closets and worry and oppression. It's a lot more fun to just be yourself and Larry Craig be damned.



This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition September 14, 2007