The One and Only Golden Gay B!tch
Did you mean Golden Gate Bridge?
Before the world was turned into a state of uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in February 2020, I had the honor, joy, and privilege of visiting one of the gayest cities in the world. The city that captivated me in a way that I’ll never forget. It is fun, vibrant, colorful, unique and, did I mention gay already? San Francisco, California has a special place in my heart, and the Golden Gay Bitch, I mean the Golden Gate Bridge is just one of the most monumental bridges I’ve ever seen.
The memories I made during my first time in San Francisco live rent-free in my head. Maybe the universe already knew that 2020 was going to be a hard year, so I was welcomed into the city with sunny, warm, and adventurous days filled with lots of joy and love. There was not a single cloud, raindrop, or fog, the weather was simply perfect. It didn’t even feel like we were in the middle of the winter. I was visiting from NYC, which on the other hand, was cold and snowy, that meant that feeling the sun hit my brown Latino skin in Cali felt so good.
One of my best friends lives in San Francisco. And he was the whole reason why I visited the city at that time. He gave me a warm welcome at the airport and drove me to the hostel I was going to stay. After a long flight from New York City, all I wanted was to take a shower and rest. Well, who said that’s what I did? I did end up taking a shower, but I went straight to the Castro neighbourhood to have dinner with him. He knew San Francisco more than anybody I have ever met.
We talked about the thrilling adventure to visit the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, and that’s when he told me in his gayest voice that in San Francisco “The gays call it Golden Gay Bitch.” I simply loved it. Our excitement filled the air as he couldn’t wait to show me around and experience the beauty and joys that awaited us in the city. He was very proud to live in San Francisco, so I was lucky and grateful that he was eager to show me around and have countless adventures with me.
If you love bridges, I’m sure that visiting the Golden Gate is on your bucket list. People normally say that SF is boring, which is a completely crazy statement to make because I find the city to be just incredible. Some people will say that “The Golden Gate is all the city has”, but even if this were true, the city would still be worth visiting because the bridge is simply ICONIC. I love the Brooklyn Bridge so much, but the Golden Gate is simply surreal. It is huge. It looks simple but it is authentic. I mean, come on, it is a suspension bridge that connects the bay to the Pacific Ocean. How much cooler can it get? It undoubtedly stands out.
The day we visited the Golden Gate
Before leaving the hostel in the morning, the guy with whom I was sharing the room told me that he was a professional photographer who had been trying to capture the perfect photo of the bridge for over 10 years and never got to be in the city when the weather was that good. “It’s always foggy, cloudy, and gray”. He said. “You’re a lucky boy. The weather is great.” He made me feel as if I had just hit the jackpot. I was so happy that the sky was clear and the day was warm.
My friend picked me up at the hostel in the morning and drove me to a few sights in the city. Thinking back, now that I live in Dublin, Ireland it’s funny how much driving it involves when you’re a tourist in America. After moving to Europe, I find it so weird to have to drive everywhere. But in their defense, the United States is a very big country, and public transport isn’t the best. Sometimes walking from one sight to the other is just not as doable as it is in most major European cities.
After hitting a few sights in the city and learning about its LGBT history, we headed to the one and only GOLDEN GAY BITCH. As we neared the bridge, I was amazed by its majestic structure. The vibrant orange vermilion color perfectly contrasted with the clear blue sky, creating a picturesque sight that took my breath away. “Gabe, it doesn’t matter how many years I’ve been living here, this is my favorite spot. I can never get enough of this view.” My friend said that as we were parking the car and could already see the bridge from afar.
We parked the car and made our way towards the entrance of the bridge. I felt truly renewed and fulfilled in my spirit.
Laughter and joy filled the air as we walked along the pedestrian path, taking in the breathtaking view of the San Francisco Bay. I loved the magnificent architecture. I wanted to live in the moment as much as I could, but I had to make sure I paused occasionally to take pictures. The endless storytelling about San Francisco kept me fully in love with the city. He told me about the countless dates he went on with Californian men, and how he loves the small-town vibe the big city of San Francisco has. “I don’t picture myself living anywhere else, Gabe.” He said.
The day went by slowly. It was as if the time had stopped before my eyes and it felt like we were the only ones visiting the bridge at that moment.
Why visiting the Golden Gate Bridge meant so much to me…
I felt very emotional to be visiting the Golden Gate because when I was in my junior year of high school, I would daydream about visiting the bridge. I’d see a thousand photos of it, and would just picture myself walking across the bridge. In one of my geography classes, we learned all about bridges all around the world and how they were built, and how history changed because people built them. The Golden Gate was the one that stood out and made me want to travel internationally.
However, the possibility of achieving this dream was not really there during that time. I grew up in one of the largest Favelas (slums) in Brazil, so traveling abroad and visiting expensive destinations like San Francisco wasn’t something I thought would happen. My high school years were filled with very uncertain times due to poverty and violence in the Favelas. So, my geography classes were when I would not only learn about other places but also dream of the moment I’d be able to step outside of my reality to finally fulfill my dreams.
Seeing photos of the bridge meant more than just the possibility of visiting a new country for the sake of tourism, it powerfully painted a picture in my head about a different lifestyle and reality that I’d have when visiting the bridge. Sometimes traveling means more than just visiting a place, it represents escaping reality and creating a new one.
Unfortunately, coming from the Favelas never allowed me to see people who looked like me getting to these places and taking up spaces. Representation matters a lot. I never knew a kid that had visited the United States before. My circle of friends and family were of people who lived to survive the daily struggles of life. So I had no idea how to get there. How would I ever visit the Bridge? Whose path should I follow? Nobody in my family had done it before me, so I didn’t know how to actually make it happen.
Poverty makes you blind. It makes you believe that things will never be within your reach. Living in survival mode is exhausting and it does make you believe in the lies of the harsh reality. However, one thing I learned about visiting San Francisco is that everything can change.
I invite you to take a look at these photos above. How incredible is it that life can take so many different turns? Gladly, I am living proof of that. One day you can be at the bottom, the other you are at the top making your dreams come true and doing things you thought you could never do.
Seeing the Golden Gate Bridge through my own lenses served as a reminder that your current state of life is not your permanent state of life and that everything can change and be achieved. Others may take an easier path to achieve the same goals that you have, but that doesn’t mean that you won’t get there. Yes, it may be harder, and sometimes feels like it is impossible, but trust me, as a gay man from a poor family, I have learned that NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE.
Visiting the Golden Gate Bridge was more than just sightseeing. It was me looking back on my days in high school and realizing how much things can change. And change for good.
Back to the bridge…
After hours of exploring and immersing ourselves in the awe-inspiring atmosphere, it was time to say goodbye to the one and only Golden Gay Bitch. (I have to keep calling it like that otherwise I won’t be back).
We had a picnic, just the two of us, and while I watched the sunset, I realized that one of my biggest dreams had just become a reality. Dreams do really come true.
As we loaded back into the car, tired but eternally happy, (walking from one point to the other is quite a lot) I realized that our visit to the Golden Gate Bridge had been more than just sightseeing. It had been a day filled with laughter, adventures, and above all, a realisation that all dreams can come true. The Golden Gate Bridge served as a backdrop to our joy, etching a special place in my heart forever.
As we drove away, surrounded by the golden memories of our visit, I reminded myself that everything can change for good and that dreams do really come true. I learned that day that there was not going to be a single place on the face of the earth that I’d see as an impossible destination to visit. I could get anywhere. Nothing was going to stop me from that point on.
This article is in response to a Globetrotters prompt about bridges.
There were so many captivating stories ( I really loved this theme, thanks Globetrotters), but here are two that grabbed my attention. They are by Bebe Nicholson and Joel R. Dennstedt .
A hundred million thanks to the Globetrotters Team for all your hard work! I truly appreciate you all.
