Says Slog-tipper Dan Savage, via this lengthy text message from Sweden:

At Stockholm's pride festival. It goes on for five days—in a fences off area of a city park. Ticket that covers five full days: 1000 Kronors ($150). A one-day ticket is 450 Kronors. The parade is free—to participate, to march, to enter. The group that stages pride makes the $$$ from the festival. And it's all very professionally run, because they can afford to hire and pay for professional staff.

Imagine the shitstorm if Seattle's pride organizers charges $65—to say nothing of $150—to get into the festival. Imagine the shitstorm if Seattle pride charged even $5.

Everyone in Seattle complains about pride being mismanaged, about debt, about amateurs running the show. But no one wants to pay to support pride.

Pick one, Seattle Queers: Bitch about the debt and the incompetence or bitch about paying to get in. But you can't bitch about both.

One of Sweden's biggest radio stars is on stage, opening the fest. She's not wearing any pants, and is wearing a strap-on dildo.

Discuss.