Has Gay Pride Jumped the Shark?- Page 2

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 6/21/07 at 3:36pm

Don't you mean "ignore it to go shopping," Doodle?

[RobbO]

Posted: 6/21/07 at 3:37pm

you're originally from nyc, bway?

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 6/21/07 at 3:40pm

Why does Pride have to have a day?

I live out loud and proud EVERY day of my life. I don't need someone to tell me when to be proud.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 6/21/07 at 3:45pm

Good for you Diva...it's not that easy for everyone....yet! There will come a day, however

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 6/21/07 at 4:59pm

What usually disappoints me about the parade is the lack of [don't know the word I'm looking for] that's missing. For example, DC's parade had two marching bands (one of which came in from NYC). The band from NYC at least played, whereby I heard nothing coming from the DC group. One of the gyms in town had their aerobics instructor do a dance routine (they were excellent). But those were just two brief pockets of such in the parade, where one would expect a bit more. Does that make sense?

I remember my first pride parade in NYC; I really didn't know many people as I was still new to the city, but it was the first time where I didn't feel like "I was the only one". Which in and of itself is the importance of such a parade or day so to speak.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/21/07 at 5:05pm

For me, the Pier Dance will never jump the shark. Dancing in the sun, as it sets against the Hudson, boys and men from every neighborhood, hot and cute, young and old, tall and short, fat, skinny, buff, every single ethnic background, class, race, religion the city has--all together, dancing to great music, a surprise diva (J-Lo last year), and ending in a dazzling display of fireworks.



That will never jump the shark for me.

[Liverpool]

Posted: 6/21/07 at 10:45pm

i may be the world's worst gay but i refuse, ABSOLUTE REFUSE to do the whole pride thing. This is my first time being in NYC during pride and I could not care less. The idea of a bunch of fairy princesses in short shorts, g strings, glitter, or less, does not represent me and i don't want to be associated with it. There is something very sickening to me about the whole "LOOK AT ME LOOK AT ME LOOK AT ME" aspect of pride that i can't get past. It's just a load of attention whoring from people who have nothing better to do than rub up against each other and be seen because they NEED to be seen.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 6/21/07 at 11:09pm

Tell us how you really feel.

[fflagg]

Posted: 6/21/07 at 11:16pm

Been there, done that. The gay pride parade in NYC is nothing.

If you are under 25, buff, male, white, and horny you will fit right in. Everyone else does not belong.

Go to the beach instead, see "Sicko," visit your parents, pay your bills, read a good book. You'll be better off.

[Liverpool]

Posted: 6/21/07 at 11:20pm

"Tell us how you really feel."

Did i hit a nerve? Oh you aren't the one that's supposed to lead the dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies are you?

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/21/07 at 11:36pm

i started going to PRIDEs when i was 17, back in asheville.

when i moved to nyc, i went to the PRIDEs here, & marched with the radical faeries. i had fun & each year was a new & special experience.

but at this time in my life, theres nothing i hate more than crowds.
but thats *my* issue, not PRIDE's.

i'm happy that PRIDEs can happen, & i wish everyone who goes a lovely time.


(ps. i do think the commercialization of it all is anti-me)

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 12:54am

You're not the world's worst gay. You're just a bitter queen.

Here's J-Lo and the fireworks at last year's Pier Dance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXH-57lNRV4

I'm the one with his hands in the air.

Updated On: 6/22/07 at 12:54 AM

[Liverpool]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 1:08am

bitter? ok PJ, i'll bite, how am i bitter?

[jimnysf]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 1:32am

Bway..Thanks for reminding us what it's really all about. Everyone should go or at least do their best to support it, no matter where they live. As you said, people who live in big cities forget what it's like to be gay in a small town.

[RobbO]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 8:19am

going to pride in nyc and other places has been an empowering event that as dottie said helped me to know that i was "not the only one" which as a young, gay teen in a suburban town i really did not know.

and the best part for me always was the diversity of the crowd. many were flamboyant and many, many more were peers of mine that i would see in school, the grocery store, the bank and, hell, even the clubs. it was comforting to see people just like me that also happened to be gay and proud.

while i may not attend the event itself, it is important to remember where we came from, how far we have come and how much further we need to go.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 8:24am

Thanks, RobbO.

See you at the Pier Dance? ;-}

Updated On: 6/22/07 at 08:24 AM

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 8:27am

RobbO very well said.

PalJoey - you looked fabulous.

Before I moved to NYC, my only exposure to Gay Pride was on the television news. Unfortunately they only focused on the drag queens and dykes on bikes. For the longest time, I thought that's what being gay was all about. My problem was, I wasn't like that and that's why my first Gay Pride parade in the city was such an eye opening experience. In one brief moment, I came to realize the scope and magnitude of the event and having the opportunity to see many different types of people who happened to be gay. It was shortly thereafter that I felt comfortable enough to come out to my family.

Don't get me wrong, I hear what the naysayers are saying, but it really is important to let your presence be known, especially to those who are experiencing this for the first time.

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 8:56am

"I have to say the reason I don't go and never will is I don't really want to see a guy getting a rim job out in public. Weird, skanky **** like that is what keeps me away."

I've been going to the Pride parade many a year here in NYC and have never seen that. I must be going to the wrong parade.

"may be the world's worst gay but i refuse, ABSOLUTE REFUSE to do the whole pride thing. This is my first time being in NYC during pride and I could not care less. The idea of a bunch of fairy princesses in short shorts, g strings, glitter, or less, does not represent me and i don't want to be associated with it. There is something very sickening to me about the whole "LOOK AT ME LOOK AT ME LOOK AT ME" aspect of pride that i can't get past."

Sounds like there might be a little internalized homophobia going on there...

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 9:17am

And how! Imagine the same speech coming from a straight person!

The Irish have their parades, the Latinos...there is no reason to get all apathetic 'bout things. Sounds like Liverpool has a very set way ALL gays must act, look, and behave. It's a big problem with the community.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 9:24am

that 22yr old spoiled brat interviewed obviously was never spit upon, never had "fag" yelled at him in the middle of the Castro, never had "fruitcake" scribbed on his locker in middle school, never had a friend physically assaulted because he was gay, never had co-workers (long ago) leave lewd and offensive notes for him.

That brat has NO idea what so many went through to get to where we are today.

I love going to Pride, just for the sense of communion it is worth it to me.

I've gone to parades all over the world, and never seen anyone rimmed......and I will continue to go until I can no longer stand, or walk, to ensure that brats like him, never, EVER have to go what I went through.

Maybe one day the little pr**k will appreciate that.

Updated On: 6/22/07 at 09:24 AM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 9:38am

I've been going to Pride since 1976. Never saw a rim job in public.

Well, outdoors, at least.

So who else will be at the Pier Dance?

[robbiej]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 10:13am

"that 22yr old spoiled brat interviewed obviously was never spit upon, never had "fag" yelled at him in the middle of the Castro, never had "fruitcake" scribbed on his locker in middle school, never had a friend physically assaulted because he was gay, never had co-workers (long ago) leave lewd and offensive notes for him.

That brat has NO idea what so many went through to get to where we are today."

IF that is true, I actually say THANK GOD. Is it frustrating to see the baby gays not really know their history? Absolutely. But is it also heartening to think that this guy grew up without many of the sh*t we had to go through? ABSO-F*CKING-LUTELY. I'm all for knowing your history. I think it's incredibly important to understand what has been fought for in the last half century or so. But I think it's far more important that a lot younger people are simply not experiencing the kind of deep hatred and humiliations we've grown up with. That's pretty f*cking awesome.

I've gotten a little more laid back in my older years (though THANK GOD the 'younger man' in the new Maupin novel is MY EXACT AGE...I love thinking that I'm still 'chicken' to somebody!) I don't go to the parade as often or for the whole day any longer. But the thing that always struck me was the enormous number of people of color...with their whole families. Sure, there are plenty of muscle boys and twinks in jockstraps (thank god). But these families that came together...with grandmothers and grandchildren...to celebrate one of their own's life. It was and is incredible. We hear SO MUCH about homophobia in the African American community, and I'm sure it is a major issue. But seeing these families...seeing all these different people from very different backgrounds come together to have a great time and celebrate who they are? There's not a thing wrong with that.

[Act0r721]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 10:14am

Public rim job. Chicago Pride. It happened. I'm sure an isolated event, but still.

I still have never gone to Pride downtown, but I did make it to Market Days two summers past and have spent a significant amount of time in Boystown. The whole place just usually gives me the jeebies.

I am proud of being gay, but going to a parade of promiscuity is not how I show it. I grew up in a very conservative town with the top churches per capita in America. I have been called a fag on a street. I have had to fight the system when I wrote an article about coming out and it got censored. I have fought my battles. I don't take for granted our social and political movement, but to me, going to the election booth is a far bigger statement than marching with a crowd of sweaty guys in their underwear.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 10:16am

"...a parade of promiscuity..."

If that's all you see, the problem is you.

[robbiej]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 10:21am

Ya know...the best time I ever had at a pride parade was when I and several friends marched with The Matthew Shepherd Foundation. The response was overwhelming, empowering and a hilight in my life.

Beats a tounge up the ass any day.