Do people take as much pride as me in being gay? — Page 2

but it's sooooo, gay gay gay!

---

Lesbians don't have sex.

---

rath, I know two here that F like bunnies.......and now that vision is burned into my brain.....ARRGH

---

I don't care what lesbians do, as long as they don't rub my . . . oh, nevermind.

Two HERE, Elph? I thought there were only two of us here at all...and we haven't met.

---

*whew*

---

Jerby - I get the feeling you're usually full of gay pride

DGrant---YUP!

shira--actually, yes, because like the Civil Rights movement, gay civil rights/pride isn't just for those denied rights--it's for all Americans (and citizens all over the world) to not be denied rights based on sexual orientation.

Of course, for you to REALLY have gay pride, you'll have to sleep with someone of the same sex. It's fun!

---

"Your statement bothers me, as it as if you are saying there are good gay people and bad gay people, and frankly......I or, you, have no right to pass judgement on anyone. We may not agree with things they choose to do, but who am I, or you.....to say they are not "respectable" if they happen to have a certain fetish, or for that matter like sex?"

I'm not saying do not deserve respect, I am saying they are not actually about "Gay Pride". Many of the fetishes on display are not unique to homosexuality, but unfortunately, it often becomes the central focus of the parade. Mostly, it is the fault of the press for not publishing more diverse aspects of Gay Pride to the general public. Check out pictures on the web from Pride parades on around the world and 90% of what you see are drag queens, leather, and scantily clad circuit boys. It is difficult to educate the conservatives who are controlling the majority vote now when Gay Pride appears only to be about cross-dressing and cruising.

"This type of thinking is exactly what keeps us from being a united front."

No, that type of thinking is realistic. A more united front would be the realization that being gay is more than just cross-dressing and cruising. I don't think a Straight Pride parade would strictly be slaves, dominatrixes, infantilists, swingers, hookers, etc. I don't have a problem with those, either. They don't need to prove that their fetishes don't define their sexual preference.

I'm all for a united front. But let's face it, most gay references you see in the press and on TV are more about having sex than anything else in life. In the opening of 30 Days, Morgan Spurlock muses what it would be like to live as a gay man for thirty days. He is seen in a stereotypical Village People leather harness and cap. It reminds me how we are viewed by the straight society and it's no wonder that our progress is so slow.

But that's just my opinion and I know everyone does not agree.

---

I'm Irish. You probably wouldn't know it by looking at me. I don't stick it in people's faces. Like most Irish, I work, pay taxes, go to the movies, mow my lawn-- it's just that I do it as an irishman. It's nothing to be proud of and it's nothing to be ashamed of either. I'm glad I'm irish, but I don't go around announcing it. My friends & family know, but we don't discuss it.

Then there's St. Patricks Day. It's repulsive! Everyone dressed as Leprechauns. Green Hair! Drinking beer and eating corned beef! Green Beer! Waving their sheleighlee around! Why do they have to do that? Why can't the St.Pat's parade be a tasteful marching band, some Irish Teachers and the Little Miss Irish? Why do they have to all dress up and act all, well, IRISH?

You see the coverage on the news and you think that all us Irish are drunken leprechauns who Riverdance non-stop! We need to stop all this! It is difficult to educate the conservatives who are controlling the majority vote now when Irishness appears only to be about Green hair and leprechauns. It reminds me how we are viewed by the non-irish society and it's no wonder that our progress is so slow.

Oh well. I'm proud to be Irish, anyway.

Less than 100 years ago bars & hotels often featured signs saying "No blacks, No Dogs, No Irish."

And out of curiousity, ever seen a Mardi Gras Parade? Would you say that is an accurate representation of Catholicism?

Joekv99, your Irish post is fantastic, as is your pointing out that Mardi Gras isn't an accurate representation of being Catholic.

Kudos to you.

---

Well Matt, in less than 40 years, homosexuality has gone from a criminal offense to largely accepted. Viewed in context of other struggles for eqality by minority groups, the rapid progress is extraordinary. It seems to me that we've been able to have parades AND progress simultaneously.

Wasn't it Emma Goldman who said "If I can't dance, I want no part of your revolution!"?

Maybe it was Tommy tune.