What does it look like to be gay in America in 2010? There are some people who insist that if you don't look like a stereotype, you're just not doing it right. But the truth is that our gay lives are simultaneously as mundane as those of our heterosexual peers and more wildly varied than even we acknowledge at times. This documentary project, for which we asked our readers to submit photos of their own lives on one single day -- May 21, 2010 -- is the first of its kind for The Advocate. And the results speak beautifully for themselves. Each picture serves as a reminder -- to ourselves and to others -- that we are undeniable, we are unique, and that no one has the right to tell us who we should love or how we should express ourselves.
Click here to look at Part 1 of A Day in Gay America.
9:32 a.m., San Francisco: Patrick Santana reads in Dolores Park.
11 a.m., Portland, Maine: Staff of Frannie Peabody Center prepare for Maine AIDS Walk.
3 p.m., Pacific Palisades, Calif.: Michael Bowen and partner Gary Lane with Michael's mom, Deborah, visiting from Ohio and Shrine Lake.
3:23 p.m., Provincetown, Mass.: Fei Mok and friend on a weekend trip.
3:30 p.m., Hunlock, Pa.: Ryan Wagner meditates in the woods near his home.
4:30 p.m., Epcot Theme Park, Orlando, Fla.: Timothy Metzner meets Belle at the France Pavilion.
6 p.m., Ocean City, Md.: TJ Sanders and Trevor Hedrick enjoy the sunset at the beach while on vacation.
6:15 p.m., Highstown, N.J.: Mike Hamel and boyfriend Geoff Wertime pause for a photo before Hammel makes his trip back to Fishkill, N.Y.
6:30 p.m., New York City: The Embrace team enjoys a lovely day in Central Park.
6:30 p.m., Chicago: Vernita Gray and Pat Ewart enjoy Starbucks in Boystown.
7:30 p.m., Norfolk, Va.: Ann Wilkinson and friend enjoy a night on the town.
8:07 p.m., Omaha: Nathaniel Poole gives a model pose with a martini at downtown's Blue Sushi.
8:55 p.m., Moses Lake, Wash.: Manuel Venegas and friend Aja after the Mr. Moses Lake pageant.
9 p.m., Anchorage, Alaska: The cast and crew of Mad Myrna's Friday Night Divas Show along with hosts Daphne and Paige (center).
9 p.m., Indianapolis: Joey Wohlhieter III (center with purple tie) celebrates his 27th birthday with family and friends.
9:15 p.m., Huntsville, Ala.: Sterling Fiering and his partner enjoy a birthday dinner with friends.
11:30 p.m., Los Angeles: Rafael Sanchez and boyfriend Mac enjoy a night out at MJ's in Silver Lake.
11:32 p.m., Washington, D.C.: Tyrone Ford and partner Matt Conn with RuPaul's Drag Race season 2 contestant Pandora Boxx at EFN Lounge.