Gay Pride Parade

[Kid Quasar]

Someone tell me... What's the point of it?

[SpacerX]

raising awareness and promoting tolerance. that and making the streets look fabulous.

[Greggers]

Every single day is a Straight Pride Parade.

Every time a couple walks down the street with there baby in a stroller.
Every time a man and a woman kiss on a park bench.
Every time you hear wedding bells in the distance.
Every time someone turns on the TV.
Every time someone reads the newspaper.

You cant go a day without being surrounded by the "heterosexual" flaunting there life without even knowing they are. There is ONE day a year, and this is only in some parts of the world, that you can hit the streets and see all the different forms of gay life. Gay marching bands, Gay choirs, PFLAG groups, every single form of gay sub-culture. Its one day were we dont hesitate to hold our parters hands or give them a kiss in public. All we get is this one day to be proud and load. Every other 355 days of the year we go out in public and watch the "Straight Pride Parade" roll down the streets, unaware that it is even going on. Well i for one am tired of being quieted for my difference. If people dont take a stand, that just gives the "normal" people the right to step all over us. If you dont make a fuss they are going to take advantage of that and quiet you. Well, gay people have just as much right as straight people to be themselves and be proud of it. So next time you have a chance to go to a gay pride, i suggest you take that chance. If you want to be accepted by the world, show the world your there!

[olides84]

Here's a good discussion of it recently:

http://www.emptyclosets.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=19479

Or read what Greg said

[Lexington]

Pride is the opposite of shame.
Gay Pride is the opposite of Gay Shame.
It is our way of saying "We are not ashamed of who we are."

Lex

[littledinosaurs]

its the best way for youth (and non-youth) to find dates!

Besides parades are fun in general, at this one you can feel free to be yourself without constantly looking over your shoulder (unless mass resistance is there :/ )

[Dazed]

Originally Posted by Greggers

Every single day is a Straight Pride Parade.

Every time a couple walks down the street with there baby in a stroller.
Every time a man and a woman kiss on a park bench.
Every time you hear wedding bells in the distance.
Every time someone turns on the TV.
Every time someone reads the newspaper.

You cant go a day without being surrounded by the "heterosexual" flaunting there life without even knowing they are. There is ONE day a year, and this is only in some parts of the world, that you can hit the streets and see all the different forms of gay life. Gay marching bands, Gay choirs, PFLAG groups, every single form of gay sub-culture. Its one day were we dont hesitate to hold our parters hands or give them a kiss in public. All we get is this one day to be proud and load. Every other 355 days of the year we go out in public and watch the "Straight Pride Parade" roll down the streets, unaware that it is even going on. Well i for one am tired of being quieted for my difference. If people dont take a stand, that just gives the "normal" people the right to step all over us. If you dont make a fuss they are going to take advantage of that and quiet you. Well, gay people have just as much right as straight people to be themselves and be proud of it. So next time you have a chance to go to a gay pride, i suggest you take that chance. If you want to be accepted by the world, show the world your there!

greg just made me feel full of pride.
and i know think greg should be a public speaker.

[J Schuelke]

The whole point of it is to prove to the str8 people that we are here, Queer and damn proud of it! It is the one time that we can flaunt what we have and not be afraid because we are surrounded by our brothers and sisters.

[Steve]

Originally Posted by Gin Uh Fur

greg just made me feel full of pride.
and i know think greg should be a public speaker.

just because some one wrote something that is appealing on a site dosnt mean they are good speakers it may be that he is good or even excellent but writing words on a place no one sees how you look like or anything is alot easyier then confronting a lot of people thats way alot of us oer here choose to leave letters

It gives us that one day where we can do in public what straight couples do every day of the year. It is the one do of the year that two people of the same-sex can walk down the street holding hands, kiss in public and show their love for one another without having to be afraid of what others will think because there will be someone to back them up. It is the one day we know we have in a world where every day is used to show straight pride.

[Greggers]

Originally Posted by Steve

just because some one wrote something that is appealing on a site dosnt mean they are good speakers it may be that he is good or even excellent but writing words on a place no one sees how you look like or anything is alot easyier then confronting a lot of people thats way alot of us oer here choose to leave letters

Um...just a tad harsh, dont you think? :P No need to rain on the parade, so to speak

Originally Posted by Steve

just because some one wrote something that is appealing on a site dosnt mean they are good speakers it may be that he is good or even excellent but writing words on a place no one sees how you look like or anything is alot easyier then confronting a lot of people thats way alot of us oer here choose to leave letters

You are what we call a Debbie Downer!
There was absolutely no need for that. Don't be an asshole.

[biisme]

^^^^^ addressing the controversial post:

Originally Posted by Steve

just because some one wrote something that is appealing on a site dosnt mean they are good speakers it may be that he is good or even excellent but writing words on a place no one sees how you look like or anything is alot easyier then confronting a lot of people thats way alot of us oer here choose to leave letters

I think a valid point that can be drawn from this is:

"someone who is a good writer may not be a good public speaker" ------> "someone who can write what they feel may have a hard time proclaiming it by marching in a parade"

I think it was an counterpoint that went a little awry, Greggers, and it appeared more that he was picking on you rather than offering another opinion, which I think he was trying to do.

[Wander]

I, personally, don't really like them much. Pride and shame are not exact opposites to me; I reserve pride for personal accomplishments, like building or writing something where I'm pleased with the results. Not only that, but pride parades tend to be full of guys in giant feather boas or rainbow headpieces or drag, which seem more like caricatures of homosexuals than "promoting awareness".

[Greggers]

Originally Posted by biisme

^^^^^ addressing the controversial post:

I think a valid point that can be drawn from this is:

"someone who is a good writer may not be a good public speaker" ------> "someone who can write what they feel may have a hard time proclaiming it by marching in a parade"

I think it was an counterpoint that went a little awry, Greggers, and it appeared more that he was picking on you rather than offering another opinion, which I think he was trying to do.

Oh, i very much got that point load and clear ^^

I already have plans to be at the parade load and proud this year, and if by then i have a group i can march with i would without hesitation. Im not hiding on EC and guilt tripping people for not being out while i hide in my closet, you dont have to worry about that. Just worry about yourself. And as a wise man once said (this is in general not about me)

"Wise words from a bad man are wise words none the less"

But back to the topic, i think it would be great if there was like an Empty Closets float Im sure there are enough people in a few city areas around the world we could pull one off! Raise some awareness for some troubles teens who maybe watch the parade from home and see the banner or something. This most likely would not work seeing as we are an anon. site for the most part, but would be an amazing thing if it would work...

[joeyconnick]

Originally Posted by Wander

I, personally, don't really like them much. Pride and shame are not exact opposites to me; I reserve pride for personal accomplishments, like building or writing something where I'm pleased with the results. Not only that, but pride parades tend to be full of guys in giant feather boas or rainbow headpieces or drag, which seem more like caricatures of homosexuals than "promoting awareness".

Have you been to a Pride Parade in the last 5 to 10 years? Many of them are overrun with family-friendly stuff and corporate floats. There are definitely still stereotypical elements (most of which I think are pretty fun and/or hot) but Pride parades are increasingly "mainstream" of late.

Being out can be a very personal accomplishment--it's hardly an easy thing to do, even today. Unless someone comes from a mondo-bizarre super-open environment, I usually think that being out is quite something (especially for people who are younger and still dealing with high school shit).