Galveston, Texas has a 50 year old town event called Splash Day. While it truly was once upon a time a straightbeach party, over the past three decades it has grown into a big rollicking gay southern extravaganza on par with Decadence in New Orleans or Gay Day at Disney.
When President Bush was visiting Galveston he asked the crowd “Do you still have Splash Day?” and got a laugh. “You have to be a baby boomer to know what I’m talking about.”
It’s hardly surprising that a man who hasn’t partied in Galveston in many years wouldn’t know that this has become a gay beach party, but his next comment was priceless: “I’m not saying whether I came or not on Splash Day. I’m just saying, ‘Do you have Splash Day?’”
I’m mildly surprised that the State of Texas doesn’t sell hunting licenses for Splash Day. When is Gay Day for Disneyworld? Maybe I can take the Shibblets on that day and use it to explain alternative lifestyles.
Every single time I hear that man speaking off the cuff I simply cringe at the thought of what might come out next. I don’t dislike him, I think he’s actually well-intentioned, but Jeez he’s like a little can of nitro on the paint shaker of eloquence.
Assuming he doesn’t know that Splash Day has, er, changed its focus over the years, what the heck does his coy little remark mean? “I’m not saying whether I came on Splash Day. I’m just saying, ‘Do you have Splash Day?’” Who would care?
