Does anyone else think pride parades go too far?

I attended my first Gay and Lesbian Gay Mardi Gras this year and loved it. It is mostly well accepted in Sydney.

As for appropriate, what is appropriate? Who gets to tell who what is the appropriate lifestyle and culture and such?

 

Personally, I have evolved my position on this. In the end, I hold two diametrically opposed ideas on the subject.

Personally, I am generally a conservative (i.e. holding to traditional attitudes and values) person that likes people to behave with at least a modicum of decorum and to lead generally "wholesome" lives. I berate my sister for wanting to wear her shorts too short :lol:. As a result, I also dislike many of the ostentatiously lewd, lascivious, and licentious behaviors that are a part of perhaps some gay parades. Though, inevitably, it is that part that gets portrayed in the media over and over again :dry:.

I want a gay parade I cam take my mom and grandma to.

In essence, for those reasons, I think gay parades sometimes go too far*.

That is my personal position and will probably not change. It is based on my own personal philosophy and how I would conduct myself in public and my preferences. That said, I do hold another viewpoint.

In essence, I feel that we shouldn't really think that gay parades go too far, provided they remain within the bounds of what is considered "legal" (a loaded term I dare not delve into at this time :lol. Some people may be afraid of gay parades because they "tarnish" the image of our community. They feel that their own status as "heteronormative" folks gets cast into question when (straight) people see that some "gay people" are flamboyant possess "undesirable" traits (e.g. feminine, flamboyant, limp-wristed, etc.) and then perhaps typecast all other gay people the same.

Unfortunately, the true ignoramus is not that twink on top of the float with a unicorn outfit and a Speedo covering his nether regions. The true person who is ignorant is that who typecasts the behaviors and actions of one/some gay person(s) to all the rest. We are NOT our brother's keeper (unlike Cain :lol: ) and should not be judged by our ascribed status, but by our achievements and individual personality.

Other minorities have suffered the same quagmire that the gay community faces. On the one hand, they wish to be accepted as full members of society with all the privileges and benefits thereunto appertaining, but realize that there are unwritten codes they must follow that members of the majority do not have to follow. You see, members of the majority are never really judged as harshly for the same "offense" as members of a minority group.

How many times have you been bombarded over the course of a day by lascivious advertising, movies, personal displays of affection, and other forms of heterosexual sexuality? Did many bat an eye? If we were to expose someone to the same kind and degree of sexual displays, but in a homosexual context, many heterosexual folks (who had no trouble being exposed to the same kind of sexual conduct, albeit heterosexual) would cry foul. There are always double standards.

It is for those reasons that I applaud members of the LGBT community who push the envelope and show how unfair our behaviors vis-a-vis the heterosexual community are judged. I am all for the personal liberties of all to do as they please, so long as the rights (not any "imaginary" right to "not see icky things") of others are respected.

In conclusion, I DO NOT like many of the ways that members of the LGBT community display their sexuality, but I am also proud that we get the chance to go out there and show we are more than our sexuality and not a monolithic culture. As a minority group, we should fight for the equal right to exercise our lives in the same manner as the majority group without fear of judgement or ridicule. We should fight double standards and try to enfranchise our community to reach parity with the heterosexual community. But we shouldn't try to reach equality at the backs of others within our own community and feel we must fit a mold to be accepted.




*I have used qualifiers because I've never gone to a gay parade. My experience is limited to what is presented in the media. I saw a picture of Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and wanted to throw up :lol:. That said, I really wonder how many people who criticize gay parades have ever been to one.


Typed at 2:31 AM. Better get some sleep :lol:.

 

Parades are not really my scene but I can understand why the extroverts among us would want to go all out in celebrating pride and I totally support that. I mean, the LGBT community has been pressured into being invisible for so long why not subvert that in a fun, friendly party ride: If people are really dumb enough to not see past the stereotypes of "all gay people are promiscuous, flamboyant, whatever" then that's their problem imo.

 

I don't think they go far enough, to be honest.

Two more blocks, and we'd be at my favorite pizza place.

Lex

 

^^^ THIS is what Pride parades are about.

 

I'm in two minds myself.

People should have the right to feel comfortable in themselves and if pride gives people an outlet for that great. Happy people is obviously nice.

BUT...

I still do question the relevance of the whole naked side of things to gay pride. Now I get the drag queens due to the Stonewall link, but I do struggle to see the connection of exhibitionism, fetish display, leather etc to gay rights. You get a lot of straight people into these subcultures as well so they aren't exactly inherently gay. I mean, great, advancing sexual freedom and your right to wear leather/next to nothing, all well and good...but I can't help but feel these are separate issues to gay rights that have "jumped on the bandwagon" somewhat.

For example:

I see the freedom to be able to talk about your same-sex partner in work without challenge or fear consequences to be a fundamental right.

Being free to talk about your preferences of sexual practices, love of kink, porn viewing habits or sexual attire in the workplace without challenge or fear consequences on the other hand? Personally no, I don't think thats quite the same thing and would see that as a tad inappropriate. Now fair enough to those who think this should be perfectly appropriate, campaign away - but I don't think its a gay rights issue.

Now I'm perfectly willing to accept maybe it just a case of "straight people have their exhibitionists, kink lovers and fetishists...here are ours" or "f**k it, I'll wear nothing a thong for a day as I can do it without fear of getting arrested" with no hidden agenda. That does make sense. However I can see the argument from the other-side who might feel this bit of fun might not necessarily advance gay rights. I personally see gay rights as a big party rather than a platform...I don't think it "helps" the gay rights movement in anyway but if it cheers a few people up and gets people together fair enough.

 

Just went to yesterday's Pride Parade here in Montreal.

Given the reputation of my city as "risqué" you would be thoroughly disappointed! There was ZERO nudity as far as I could tell. I saw precisely one younger man with a bottomless jockstrap, and that was it.

This is in stark (naked?) contrast to what I saw at the World Pride in Toronto earlier this Summer! :eek:

This has become a family-friendly affair, festive, colourful and fun. There were quite a few young kids on the floats and in the convertibles passing us by. And to echo Lexington's post, probably just a little too tame and a little too well-represented by corporate and political interests.

I am not arguing to be provocative just to be provocative, but the issues are not around being able to parade around naked, there are still homophobes and our "family" is suffering in other countries. A provocative gesture with the intent to bring these issues to light would, to me, be praiseworthy...all that is required is a little imagination.

So my tally: 15 months gay, and been to three Pride parades...

 

This is amazing ^^ :eusa_clap

 

now my question is how to get that idea in float form:badgrin::badgrin:

 

I'm totally grunge on this

And word @AnGentleman

 

I use to feel the same way. That is until I saw this youtube clip of Harvey Fierstein talking on the subject.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_OQeA3GiRw

 

actually who ever is ok with his sexuality and proud of himself he wont think they have gone too far though i hate naked people i mean we are not in American pie i know we are proud of our bodies but being naked in streets is just having no point although i have nothing against it and to people who say straight people dont do it in Denmark there is a day that people drive in bicycles naked around the cities
but anyway the whole being naked is acting like an animal cause we dress because we are humans other wise if its ok to be naked why bother dress anything and be naked like animals all the time we already have fur and hair on our bodies even women unless we shave it so why do we dress if its so okay to be naked in public ??
no offense though please dont get me wrong its just an opinion im not calling people animals but they are just trying to act like one in this behavior im sorry if anyone feels that im offensive

 

I thought this until I realized this was internalized homophobia and biphobia.

 

Pride Parades don't go too far.. the rest of society doesn't go too far enough

 

I see women and girls and young girls just as scantily clad at most concerts, live events, city events, and bars on the weekends as I do see scantily clad gay men at pride events. It's the few times a year when people can be who they want without having to deal with any bigotry.

I've never had an interest in going to one, partly because they are during the day in Texas heat and also because I am not really a parade person. I also hate traffic. With that said, the pride parades in Houston are often really well done and attract a crowd just as diverse and scantily clad as any other venue.

You should see how the straight, buff, hot guys dress during the halloween bar hopping event (montrose pub crawl) omg so horny...

 

Wait people are butt naked like how they were born?

 

If there were a straight pride parade, do you think it would look like a bunch of Amish people walking down the street calmly? No, it would be just as outlandish and naked as the gay pride parade. It's a parade! There would also be people dressed t-shrits and jeans also just like in the gay parade. Lots of people don't like the nudity, but that's not a gay thing. That's human thing. And unless the straight parade were specifically religious, it wouldn't be any different.

 

It's called mardi gras where women get beads for showing their breasts, I've also thought of it as straight pride.

 

Lol mardi gras. Well I think that is for all kinds of people. And yes, it is quite wild. Something I haven't been to yet, but REALLY REALLY want to!

 

Whenever I hear the "if Pride was more calm, they would accept gay people more", I hear "if she would not have had a mini skirt on and a few drinks, she would not have been raped"......