"Delightfully Queer" Picnic or Just Another Austin Nonprofit Circle Jerk?

Ah, another day, another Austin nonprofit throwing a picnic that promises to be "delightfully queer" and "human-friendly"—because, you know, we were all worried it might be a robot-only event. Future Front, the organization that apparently went from interviewing 50 whole people to hosting a Pride picnic in Pease Park, is at it again, proving that if you rebrand hard enough, even a blog called "Boss Babes ATX" can evolve into something vaguely respectable.

Founder Jane Hervey, a UT journalism grad who clearly missed her calling as a corporate buzzword generator, says the group is all about "creative thinking, collaborative community design, and experimental DIY energy." Translation: They throw parties and hope people show up. And if you’re wondering where the money comes from, don’t worry—it’s mostly from "individual community donations" (read: your aunt’s Venmo) and grants that may or may not evaporate depending on which way the political wind blows.

Hervey, ever the optimist, insists that "culture can’t be engineered," which is rich coming from someone who literally engineered a culture shift by rebranding her org after the pandemic. But hey, who are we to judge? If there’s one thing Austin loves more than overpriced tacos, it’s a good ol’ fashioned identity crisis masquerading as progress.

So grab your picnic blanket, your dog, and your existential dread about the state of arts funding, and head to Pease Park this weekend. Because nothing says "community" like standing in a field with strangers, pretending you’re not just there for the free snacks. And remember, as Hervey so wisely puts it: "If you tap into it, you’ll live here forever." God help us all.