It was one of the best decisions of my life. If you weren’t smiling, you’ve watched way too much Fox News. Two-dad families chatted with two-mom ones their kids romped nearby. But hundreds of gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, transmen and women, queers - and equally importantly, their allies and friends - gathered for an afternoon of music, speeches, face painting, rainbow waving, and fun. Rain moved the town’s second annual Pride celebration indoors, to Staples High School from Jesup Green. The real estate has changed - the Brook is now, Krazy Vin’s is Earth Animal, and the state police barracks is Walgreens - but Westport is still a welcoming place for LGBTQ people. That says something about the progressive ethos of Westport. Think about that: a gay bar, strip club and state cops, all within a few yards of each other. Directly across the Post Road was State Police Troop G. Directly across Cedar Street sat another bar - a strip joint. In addition to being an important social and emotional center of gay life, the Brook occupied an intriguing physical space.
