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The Guy in High Heels

Dupont Circle was thrumming with life -- and drums -- Sunday afternoon.
The day was beautiful, drawing out a crowd to perch on benches and sit on the steps around the fountain in the circle for some people watching.
I took a short cut through the park and almost stumbled across a person wearing a long, black dress with sparkly decorations and a nice pair of strappy black spikes.

The person turned around.
"Hi," he said.
I certainly said hi back since a friendly face can be rare in the city.
He was a middle-aged man with salt and pepper hair and a stubbly growth of beard.
After I walked past him, it sunk in that I had been exchanging pleasantries with a man wearing a snazzy black dress, sexy heels and no makeup, wig -- nothing like that.
So I turned around to take a second look.
Among other things, Dupont Circle is known as an enclave for the gay and transgender community. Some sort of protest was going on around the fountain, complete with skilled drum playing, rainbow signs and constant announcements that I couldn't quite make out.
I think I got the picture though.
The guy in high heels swayed over to talk to another guy, and I felt a small pang of jealousy.
He could walk better in spikes than I ever could.
I looked down at my flat, ballet-style shoes, sighed and trudged off.

Posted by Trish Choate at 12:03 PM | Permalink