Gay/Lesbian/Homosexual pride parades

[Illumina Drathiran'ar]

I loathe Pride festivals, but not for the normal reasons... I went to a parade once, and never again. I spent the entire day wondering how many participants and spectators were registered to vote, or how many had written a letter to their congressperson. I kept thinking that if everyone involved in said parade decided to be activists, maybe things would be a little better. But that's just me.

Yorick- Seriously? Every day is straight pride. Furthermore, it's supposed to be part of being in a community, not specific sexual practices.

[Yorick]

Originally Posted by Illumina Drathiran'ar Yorick- Seriously? Every day is straight pride.

I disagree.

Furthermore, it's supposed to be part of being in a community, not specific sexual practices.

Sure. A community that defines itself by sexual practices.
Take by comparison a Jewish or Christian community which INCLUDES people with various sexual preferences.

[Yorick]

Originally Posted by Bungleau I think that when heterosexual couples get overly affectionate in public, the response is along the lines of "those kids" or "isn't that sweet?". When homosexual couples get overly affectionate, the response tends towards "Gross!" or "Someone should do something about those people". There isn't as much of a tolerance or acceptance of it.

Depends on context and where you are man. In Buddhist countries, any public affection is frowned upon.

And even in the west, people may get told to "get a room" if it's a blatantly public display.

[SixOfSpades]

One point not touched on in this thread is that Pride parades are a misnomer to begin with. How can you have pride in something that you literally had nothing to do with? Can you really stand up and say, "Hey, I worked hard to become gay!" No, sexuality is something that you're either born with or discover as you age. It is not a conscious choice, it is not an achievement, and therefore not something you can take pride in. Granted, it's not as stupid as those people who feel proud of being part of a certain race, but it's pretty close.

A more accurate name would be "Gay Self-Respect." And you can have pride in being brave enough to let your sexuality be known by marching in a Gay Parade--but I don't think the name of "Gay Parade Pride Parade" is going to catch on, somehow.

[SpiritWarrior]

Originally Posted by JrKASperov Mostly the idea of sex with many different people, in particular having sex with people you don't care about/know. Also, the need to flaunt such intimate actions in public, removing the value of sex as an act of intimacy.

I think this is my problem with it. Alot of these events tend to be meat-markets for gay people to hook up. The whole activist approach that was mentioned here is almost missing. I think somewhere along the line something was diluted and almost eradicated from these events, to the point where they are just a display of sex. But you see, I feel the same way about straight events if the same thing goes on. There are clubs I could go to that is just a place for men to hook up with women, and you have the most "primitive" kind of people visiting these clubs. There are parades/events that are just a mishmash of beer + sex with total strangers, who are mostly straight, but it still would turn me off either way and would serve to deter me from ever going.

[Cerek]

Originally Posted by Yorick I actually think they create division. They perpetuate and "us and them" mentality. I mean, how would the homosexual community feel if there was a "straight pride" festival, where married couples flaunted their babies or whatever? Or imagine if there was a "polygamy day". Or an adultery day? Or a celibacy day? Having a day dedicated to celebrating whatever intimate actions one does with someone they love is all a little ludicrous to me. I mean, if people are not to be defined by their sexual preferences, it's up to people to stop defining THEMSELVES by their sexual preferences, and just be "human". But I understand the historical context and why the situation developed. It's just that times have changed.

You said it far better than I could, Yorick. They complain bitterly about their sexual preference being an issue, then insist on making an issue out of their sexual preference. They also insist that straight people "accept" their sexual preference, which is an exercise in futility. If someone disagrees with homosexuality (for whatever reason), it will be impossible to make them "accept" or "agree with" homosexual behavior.

Please not, disagreeing with homosexuality is NOT the same as intolerence, hatred or homophobia. I disagree with homosexuality for personal and religious reasons, however I have friends and former coworkers who are homosexual and I've never treated them any differently than anyone else. The only time it became an issue was when a family friend (of my parents) told me he was gay and had always been attracted to me. I said I would be happy to have coffee with him sometimes, but we would never be more than friends. And I still greeted him with a hug whenever I saw him, because that's how we always greeted each other.

I also don't agree that we have nothing to do with our sexuality. We make our own choices and a lot of our behavior is defined by our upbringing and environment. I don't believe people are born gay, I believe our sexuality is a learned behavior. As for sexual desires and impulses, those can be controlled by adults. During my marriage, I had more than one opportunity to cheat. There was mutual attraction and desire from both parties. The difference is that I chose NOT to act on those desires. The same is true for any adult. We are not powerless to control our desires, but many people use that as an excuse for not practicing discipline and self-restraint.

[Variol (Farseer) Elmwood]

Originally Posted by Cerek You said it far better than I could, Yorick. They complain bitterly about their sexual preference being an issue, then insist on making an issue out of their sexual preference. They also insist that straight people "accept" their sexual preference, which is an exercise in futility. If someone disagrees with homosexuality (for whatever reason), it will be impossible to make them "accept" or "agree with" homosexual behavior. Please not, disagreeing with homosexuality is NOT the same as intolerence, hatred or homophobia. I disagree with homosexuality for personal and religious reasons, however I have friends and former coworkers who are homosexual and I've never treated them any differently than anyone else. The only time it became an issue was when a family friend (of my parents) told me he was gay and had always been attracted to me. I said I would be happy to have coffee with him sometimes, but we would never be more than friends. And I still greeted him with a hug whenever I saw him, because that's how we always greeted each other. I also don't agree that we have nothing to do with our sexuality. We make our own choices and a lot of our behavior is defined by our upbringing and environment. I don't believe people are born gay, I believe our sexuality is a learned behavior. As for sexual desires and impulses, those can be controlled by adults. During my marriage, I had more than one opportunity to cheat. There was mutual attraction and desire from both parties. The difference is that I chose NOT to act on those desires. The same is true for any adult. We are not powerless to control our desires, but many people use that as an excuse for not practicing discipline and self-restraint.

Good on both of you!

[Bungleau]

Originally Posted by Yorick Depends on context and where you are man. In Buddhist countries, any public affection is frowned upon. And even in the west, people may get told to "get a room" if it's a blatantly public display.

Excellent point, Yorick. I was thinking here in the States, where PDA (public display of affection) is tolerated within reason. I was not considering places where PDA is not tolerated, cause for jail, or cause for death.

And I confess to having said (more than once) that someone ought to get a room. And if I think back, there are a couple of times where people told me that, too

Back on topic, I've not been to a GLBT pride parade or event, so I can't comment on what happens at any level. Seeking acceptance by drawing attention to your differences seems a strange way to go about things, but the same thing has been happening for years with affirmative action and other racially-related programs. There may be history lessons waiting to be learned there...

I *was* just at Disneyworld last month at the tail end of Gay Days, an annual event where GLBT people from around the world vacation at Disneyworld. We were concerned about what we might see, but as it turned out, I didn't see anyone out of control in any way... the most I saw of anything was handholding and perhaps a kiss or two, but nothing that prompted my kids (8 and 11) to ask me any questions about it. And they would either ask or comment, for sure.

To me, it comes back to something I tell my kids routinely... I love them, even though I may not like some of the things that they do. It seems that people get caught between wanting to be accepted, and wanting their actions to be accepted. The two don't have to go hand in hand.

[Dave_the_quack]

Originally Posted by Cerek I also don't agree that we have nothing to do with our sexuality. We make our own choices and a lot of our behavior is defined by our upbringing and environment. I don't believe people are born gay, I believe our sexuality is a learned behavior. As for sexual desires and impulses, those can be controlled by adults. During my marriage, I had more than one opportunity to cheat. There was mutual attraction and desire from both parties. The difference is that I chose NOT to act on those desires. The same is true for any adult. We are not powerless to control our desires, but many people use that as an excuse for not practicing discipline and self-restraint.

You're welcome to your opinion Cerek, but I have to disagree on your thoughts that sexuality is a learned behaviour. I certainly don't choose my sexuality, but I do choose not to let others dictate how I should live my life by what is inherently right or wrong in their eyes.

I also disagree when you say that sexual desires and impulses can be controlled by adults - unless by the term 'control' you mean whether or not you act on them. Having said that, I'm still not sure where you're trying to go with this comment. Is is that homosexuals choose to be gay and don't have to be because there is another option? Seeing as how I have absolutely no attraction to females in the slightest that option for me could only be celibacy, and to me that just simply isn't an option. I think most people would agree you cannot control those of whom you have a sexual and emotional attraction towards. One doesn't choose to fall in love, it just happens. If it's forced it's not love.

[Unglaublich Verwustung]

Originally Posted by Yorick Take by comparison a Jewish or Christian community which INCLUDES people with various sexual preferences.

Are you sure about this?

Same-sex unions divide Anglican Church, Gay marriage debate rages on Once a symbol of unity for the Anglican Church, this year’s Lambeth Conference in Canterbury, England is threatening to deepen divisions amongst the church’s 38 provincial members. The conference intends to continue contentious discussions on gay marriage and the ordination of gay and lesbian as well as female priests initiated at the last conference in 1998.