Panama Gay Parade off the political radar

By Your Man in Panama
THE CURIOUS, activists, musicians, church goers, and a contingent from the U.S. Embassy. turned out for Panama’s Gay Rights walk at the end of June, but not a serving politician in sight.

In other cities the Gay Parade attracts score of thousands of spectators, and politicians from mayors to lawmakers and aspirants for the highest offices,make much of the opportunity to show their faces and participate in what can sometimes be a two or three hour extravaganza.

Panama’s event on Via Argentina is a much more modest affair, and is treated with due modesty by the powerbrokers. In a city where political banners are unfurled at the drop of a hat, the promise of snack, a ham, a turkey or some other 

enticement, the thought of a stroll in the sun with some potential voters was too much.

There was also a blood bank underway in a park on the parade route. Not too many politicians there either. Maybe reserving their supplies for the blood sports within the legislature.

Balboa Union Church members were there in force with the clear message that their doors are open to all, but on the political front 
only activists from  the newly registered  FAD Party were bold enough to appear with their fellow citizens who were joyfully celebrating the latest U.S. 

Supreme Court rulings on Gay marriages.

They all  shared in a fun filled afternoon kicked off by Mary McBride and her traveling quartet at Estatus, a roadside restaurant. Sponsored by the U.S. Government the group was near the end of a 17 country tour where they performed and presented workshop and seminars to young dancers. They left Panama last week for a similar outreaching and performing gig in Costa Rica.
The night before, at the  Villadaz Theater, in Plaza De 

Francia, Casco Viejo, they had headed a show of talented young local dancing groups they had encouraged, ending with Mary’s own unique renderings of songs ranging from spirituals to Chuck Berry and the Rolling Stones. Something for all tastes, and it was FREE.

Free too on the day of the parade. The politicians didn’t know what they were missing. Next year there will likely be some new faces in the corridors of power Maybe they won’t be so shy. A vote is a vote.