Birmingham doesn't do many things right but the year I participated in their gay pride festival, I was rather impressed. About 2,000 people showed up for the Highland based event, a respectable group. Numbers aside, the quality and atmosphere of the event were first rate. I marched in the parade with friends, mugging for the television cameras for all of Birmingham to see. A buddy and I got our picture taken with Clitty Carlisle. I met an Alabama legend, the immortal Liberty Belle. Best of all, I got to revisit with old friends from when I once lived in the tragic city. I was pleasantly surprised.