A question for the Gays, the Lesbians, the Transgenders, etc. out there...- Page 2

[canmark]

Posted: 6/24/12 at 6:55pm

Very recently there was World Naked Bike Ride day, where men and women in cities all over the place were peacefully riding their bike around stark naked. Much more was on display (by straight and gay people) than in any Pride Parade. What's the big deal? Breasts, penises? Everyone either has one or has seen one.

Example, Los Angeles:
http://www.laweekly.com/slideshow/world-naked-bike-ride-los-angeles-2012-nsfw-37063908/

Toronto:
http://www.blogto.com/city/2012/06/photos_of_the_world_naked_bike_ride_in_toronto_2012/

And I do wonder why the people who complain there aren't enough "normal" people in the Pride Parade are not the ones marching in the Parade to begin with. If you don't see yourself represented, then you only have yourself to blame (I'm not referring to any particular poster here, I'm speaking in general). Get our there and represent! But, you know, the heavy lifting is (and has always) been done by the activists, the drag queens, the Chealsea boys, etc., the people who put themselves out there in public to be cheered (or jeered) so that there can be equality for all. Don't look down on them. To paraphrase what was mentioned above, if a drag queen or an assless chaps-wearing leather daddy doesn't have equal rights, then none of us do. And while neither drag queens nor assless chaps-wearing leather daddies are my thing, I thank them for fighting for my rights. And I'm thankful that some kid might see there is hope for himself or herself in this world because people of all walks of life can be free to be themselves in public, in broad daylight, and not have lurk in the shadows and hide and be ashamed.

If you don't want to go to the Parade, that's fine. I myself haven't been in a few years. But I don't understand the disdain.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 6/24/12 at 7:21pm

I said "tiny" because I was being sassy. Duh. :)

[binau]

Posted: 6/24/12 at 7:29pm

I recently watched the (famous?) Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade in Sydney and there was a young guy who looked like he was overdosing in an ambulance...I don't know how to describe what he was wearing but it looked like a g-string and glitter etc..

Anyway, some young heterosexual guys were walking past and shouted that he had it coming being dressed like that (wtf, why did they even come to the parade?). Kind of sad.

I think it would be easier for people to 'accept' homosexuals if they did otherwise follow their gender role, but they shouldn't have to be 'accepted'.....we are so strongly socialised about what it means to be a 'man' and a 'woman' that I wonder how long it is going to take to change attitudes...

Updated On: 6/24/12 at 07:29 PM

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 6/25/12 at 10:51am

I was unable to make it to the parade yesterday, as some of us were remembering one of our tireless supporters, iflit.

But here's the thing about the parade. I understand the aversion to the hyper-sexualization showed in the media of pride events. But that's just not my experience of the parade (and I've been going for nearly 20 years). I've marched with The Matthew Shepard Foundation. I have had friends on the Lavender Light Choir float. A friend yesterday was on a float for the gay hockey league. Last year, I had tears in my eyes as we cheered for Governor Cuomo and Mayor Awful and all the others who worked so hard to bring marriage equality to NY just two days before. The only reason I'm truly sad to have missed yesterday's parade was because I missed the first year out servicemen and women could march openly. And yes, amid all of that, there are hyper-sexual people and floats and blah blah blah. But that, to me, is what pride is about. It's about being both fully sexually realized and well as a contributing member of society who may get freaky, but who isn't a freak.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/25/12 at 11:28am

Well, certainly not you.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/25/12 at 11:42am

I went back to the parade this year for the first time in several years. My partner & I took a straight friend who wanted to go but never had. She hooted and hollered at the boys in jockstraps and joked about taking off her blouse. Afterward at lunch she was looking through her pictures and talking about the drag queens, and a several dozen person contingent that all wore HUGE balloon outfits and the scantily clad guys. And she said "it's kind of like Mardi Gras only this parade was mostly politicians, and churches and schools."

So I guess, like the gay community itself, you see what you wanna see.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/25/12 at 11:46am

And incidentally- at the Chicago parade EVERY single politician I could think of that represented that area was in the parade: The Governor & Lt Gov, the mayor, the county officers, the police chief, the congressman, the state reps.

And just about every media outlet was there: Lots of radio station floats, Google had a float, all the major local TV stations had floats- usually with their best-known local personality smiling and waving. Things sure have changed.

Updated On: 6/25/12 at 11:46 AM

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/25/12 at 1:06pm

Here's a screencap of the Facebook page of my local paper. This, at least to me, seems to be a good reminder about who Pride is still needed. You'll note that few, if any, of the people complaining are complaing because the oversexualization of Pride seems to be at the expense of the "good" "normal" gays; indeed, it seems to me that people just don't like it because of the damn homos.

Updated On: 6/25/12 at 01:06 PM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/25/12 at 1:29pm

And they still whine there's no Straight Pride parade. Stupid bitches.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/25/12 at 1:45pm

I appreciated the lady who said that she hated gays and that they needed Christ. None of that faggy "Love the sinner, hate the sin" for her!

[Addison D.]

Posted: 6/25/12 at 1:49pm

Yeah--ol' Tammy really exudes the Christian ethos. Love Her!!!

Seriously, though, thanks for posting this--a great snapshot of what's 'out there'.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/25/12 at 1:53pm

And another thing!!!!


Float driver bails on pulling AIDS group float in Gay Parade Updated On: 6/25/12 at 01:53 PM

[Addison D.]

Posted: 6/25/12 at 2:05pm

Out with Anger, In with Love....

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/25/12 at 2:29pm

No problem, Addison. I do think that sometimes people get a little myopic, and don't realize that gay life in metropolitan cities on the coasts is often a lot different from gay life in the Midwest and other places.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 6/25/12 at 2:47pm

This is not to cast any shade on the original poster whatsoever, but does anyone else hate the when the term is used "the gays"? (Or "the lesbians", etc) For myself, I am gay (obviously) but would never refer to myself as a gay. I first noticed it with comics like Kathy Griffin (who I like) who makes a point of having a shout out to "the gays".

I guess it would be the same with people saying "to the Asians"--which they do, but it just rubs me the wrong way.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 6/25/12 at 2:51pm

And Phyllis that's a great screencap--and I agree completely. The whole attitude that happens about "why isn't there a straight pride parade" is so eye rolling--and really if people want to make a straight pride parade, go have it!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/25/12 at 2:51pm

I got yelled at for saying "The blind" wasn't offensive, so don't look at me.

You can always fall back on alphabet soup: LBGTQ&SO

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 6/25/12 at 2:52pm

As to 'the gays,' I think a lot of times it's been said very tongue-in-cheek, a la Ms. Griffin, and thus it doesn't bother me. If it's said with not a hint of irony, yes...my hackles would be up a titch.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 6/25/12 at 3:07pm

No, that's a good point--and I guess I am less offended when people talk about the alphabet soup (good description) community, 'cuz that's what I think we are. I know when Kathy G and others use it it's out of affection--but when I see it used in the media, and it seems to be more and more, I clutch my pearls.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 6/25/12 at 4:00pm

How you feel about something is up to you, and no one else...

Being offended over the word "the" is a waste of time, though.

The Blacks, the Jews, the Gays... See?


I did receive a wonderful call from an old friend who was enjoying Pride so much he wanted to call and tell me how much he missed me.

That's what Pride should be about. Like a reunion with old friends!

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 6/25/12 at 4:25pm

Agreed.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 6/25/12 at 5:37pm

"I feel no need to make judgments on the consensual sexual practices of other adults"

Neither do I , until it's done out in public, where everyone can see you.

I guess it depends on what the definition of "it" is. If it's merely assless chaps or general affection, I'm not bothered.

If it's sodomy or fellatio in front of children, then, yes, I think the police should intervene.

(FWIW, the laws against nudity are strictly enforced during the Palm Springs parade. It's held on Sunday morning and several churches let out as the parade passes. There's plenty of flamboyance, but the parade organizers take great care that children getting out of church or otherwise attending the parade aren't confronted by nudity or public sex.)

Updated On: 6/25/12 at 05:37 PM

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 6/25/12 at 5:41pm

Eric, Kathy Griffin uses "the gays" ironically. She knows perfectly well that attaching the direct article to the adjective is a usually a practice of the ignorant and homophobic.

(ETA: Sorry, I see from a later post that you were aware of what she is doing.)

***

Diva,

You wrote:

Being offended over the word "the" is a waste of time, though.

Where were you when I posted a reference to "the autistic"? The board went nuclear! Note to all: I have learned my lesson! Updated On: 6/25/12 at 05:41 PM

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 6/25/12 at 5:47pm

Whatever happened to:

SILENCE = DEATH

?

It's just as true today as it was in 1982. Though it really isn't the habit of my generation, I think straight people need to see MORE guys kissing, not fewer.

[Addison D.]

Posted: 6/25/12 at 8:32pm

For the record, I used "The Gays, the Lesbians, the Transgenders" with some feeble attempt at ironic humor, although subjecting it to group dissection and discussion does seem to have revealed it as a pretty meager gesture, humor-wise.

I also omitted "the bisexuals" because I don't believe in them...