Has Gay Pride Jumped the Shark?- Page 3

[Act0r721]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 10:40am

Haha, that picture is gold.

robbiej- Obviously, I support that and I think that those sections of the parades are important.

I admit that maybe I should rethink my position on the parade. What I see, though, is of the groups of my gay friends that go, it is never about that to them. It is about getting drunk and hooking up.

Honestly, I have never been to any Pride parades - gay, Irish, Latino, etc. So, maybe it is a problem for me with ALL pride parades, not just the gay ones. I think that a pride parade should be more like a political rally, which is only a small component of how the parade appears. Maybe I should just get over it and accept it for the huge party that it is (and that it is a movement in itself because it is allowed to happen), but I still want it to mean more. And if it is only a party, it's not one that I want to attend.

Making myself vulnerable here, though, I'll be the first to admit that I am part of the problem by not going to the parades and doing my part to make them more about dignity and marching with the worthy causes.

[robbiej]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 10:45am

My advice is to stop ASKING the event to provide a meaning and start CREATING the meaning for yourself. It can't be all things to all people. I've gone to the parade and drank my face off and hooked up. I've gone to the parade and marched with a spectacular organization (and there definitely are many organizations you can find that will satisfy your need for meaning).

And just remember, those drunk, horny boys have every right to be as proud as someone searching for more 'meaning'.

[JustAGuy]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 10:47am

FROM JOE MY GOD

Watching The Defectives

Gentle readers, this essay first ran on JMG in 2005, a couple of days after New York City's Pride Parade. I got so many wonderful emails wishing that I'd made this post before Pride, rather than after it, that last year I ran it again, but on the Friday before the major Pride events around the country began. I do so again this year, with apologies to those who have already read it.

Last Sunday, at 12:30pm, I was in position on Christopher Street with Terrence, his glamour boys, and touring UK bloggers Dave and Darren. The Pride parade was due to round the corner any minute, but I tore off in search of a bodega, crossing my fingers that my desperate need for a soda wouldn't cause me to miss Dykes On Bikes.

Half a block away, I found a little place and ducked in, weaving thru the customers clogging the aisles on rushed missions like mine. I was third in line, two bottles of Sprite under my arm, when the man in front of me spotted a friend entering the store.

"David! Sweetie! Where are you watching from? Come hang out with us on Allen's balcony!"

David, a bookish looking middle-aged man, destroyed the festive mood in the little store in an instant. "Absolutely not. Those defectives and freaks?" he spat, indicating the colorful crowd outside the store, "They have nothing to do with MY life, thank you very much. This parade has as much dignity as a carnival freak show. It's no wonder the whole country hates us."

Luckily for David, the Asshole Killer mind ray I've been working on is not yet operational. I settled for pushing him a little, just a tiny bit, just to get by him in that narrow aisle, of course....
++++++++++

To read the remaider of the essay... click on the link and scroll to the June 8 entry. It's worth it.

WATCHING THE DEFECTIVES

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 11:06am

i love defectives & freaks, being one myself.
& i would say my gayness is probably the most normal & dull thing about me.

what i cant deal with is gettin bonked over the head with corporate advertising & all these marketing firms that are telling me what it means to be gay.

[Act0r721]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 11:27am

I think that article made some really good points.

"But the resultant bland, humorless, 'normal' gay parade wouldn't change the course of the gay movement one bit. The part of straight America that is repulsed by drag queens is quite possibly even more terrified by the so-called 'normal' gays, because 'those clever calculating creatures look JUST LIKE US, and can infiltrate and get access to our precious children, and that's been their disgusting plan all along, of course'."

I disagree that this type of a parade would have no impact. For one to agree with his words, you must agree with two things
1) Pride parades are now ONLY parties
2) Pride parades no longer ought to (or are capable of?) making change

If I thought the 2nd were true, I'd be less critical. No one worries about Mardi Gras affecting our reputation because straight people are the majority. They already are, always have been, accepted. And look- when Katrina hit, those craaaazy fundmentalists tried to say it WAS God's punishments. It was the gays. It was the partying.

Suffice to say, I am in conflict about pride parades. I know that I irked some of you, so let me say, please don't attack me. Discuss with me. I am open to hear what you have to say if you don't run me down.

[robbiej]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 11:37am

I think the problem I'm personally having with your arguments is that you are criticizing something you've never seen, done or, in any way, been a part of.

Seven years ago, my friends bought my plane tickets and paid for my hotel to go to the Gay Days at Disneyworld. I thought, 'Aw Jesus...this is going to be some big freakfest circuit party and I'm going to hate every minute of it.'

I was entirely wrong. It was, indeed, a huge party...but it was also really empowering and political and moving and, at the exact same time, a sh*tload of fun. I was wrong.

Isn't it possible that you're wrong and you just don't know it cause...well...you don't really know what you're talking about?

[Calvin]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 11:52am

PJ, guess who's performing at the Pier Dance this year?

Idina Menzel. Truly.

If you're in the VIP section, come buy a drink from me and tip me well.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 11:57am

How much do I have to tip you to rim me in public?

[Calvin]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 12:00pm

It's negotiable, but that's outside of my job description, so the tip would have to be under the table, so to speak.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 12:26pm

Elphaba has a point with the whole 'these kids today didn't go what we went through'.

AND the BIGGEST problem is, THEY DON"T CARE. I remember a couple of years ago, I was so excited to meet Morris Knight, who was one of the founders of the Gay Rights movement here in LA. The younger folks around me were VERY rude and couldn't understand 'who the old man' was.

This guy stood up for ALL of their rights so that they have what they have today.

They NEED to learn the GLBT history, but the problem is, to them, it's about a bunch of 'old people' who they don't, nor never have, cared about.

[robbiej]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 12:28pm

I don't disagree about people learning their history...cause they should.

But...the point of ALL civil rights leaders is to eventually become obsolete.

[Act0r721]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 12:41pm

Or there's the problem that GLBT history isn't taught in our textbooks. We didn't experience it and unless we are actively working to study it, there are no resources presented to us.

Robbiej, you're right, but as of now, I feel I have gotten enough of an idea of it from Market Days, frequently being in the area, the photos of my friends at it, etc. that I don't WANT to partake in it. Just as you moaned about going to Disney World. It's natural for me to judge it, even if I have not grabbed my rainbow flag and set for the streets one year.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 12:43pm

Oh, all right already, Act0r721--I'll rim you in public if you insist--BUT JUST STOP WHINING, OKAY?

[Act0r721]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 12:45pm

OK, I'm there!

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 12:47pm

Well, yes, but why be rude to someone just because they don't understand the crap that these leaders went through.

Instead, most of them just want to get as high as they can and then sleep with as many people as they can.

IT makes me sad to think that all of that work that others have done, only to be treated like garbage by the homos of today.

Would young African-Americans be rude to MLK?

Nelson Mandella?

Would young folks from India disrespect Ghandi?

I think not.

[cheezedoodle]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 12:51pm

Oh come on you guys - this happens every year. Some guy with so much self loathing and disdain for the community comes out and bashes something that is meaningful for others. Nothing new - this year its Act0r721. We also know that these reactions are grounded in fear.

I actually feel sorry for this kid - to make up reasons and excuses to not participate and actually allow himself a place at the table is really sad. But - on the other hand, I am glad he is not out on the street ruining it for the rest of us, although that could never happen with me.

Oh and Actor - it is just as natural for us to judge you as it is for you to judge the celebration.

[Act0r721]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 12:55pm

Except you think that you can give me your bull **** psychoanalysis over a few posts over the internet. Self loathing? Don't think so. Disdain for the community? Can't deny that, sometimes.

edit:

Theatrediva - I wasn't condoning that, of course. I was just saying it is difficult to blame them for not knowing who he was. Being disrespectful. . . always bad. That's simple enough. Updated On: 6/22/07 at 12:55 PM

[cheezedoodle]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 1:01pm

I was not psychoanalyzing - but merely pointing out that you and your opinions are common, and not really worth the time to read them.

[avab802]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 1:04pm

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

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

PalJoey (and robbiej, because you are making the same points) I completely agree. Yes, there are the floats with go-go boys dancing in their underwear, but that is hardly all there is to the parade. I've been going to the NYC parade for the last several years, and the majority of the parade is NOT just half-naked people dancing around & showing off.

Most of what I see is meaningful & uplifting to me:

-Ethnic groups, community groups, religious (yes, religious) groups, etc. All just there to say, look, we are gay too.
-Groups from small towns in NJ & CT, 5 people with a flag that says "Townsville PFLAG" on it.
-Parents (gay and straight) with their children.
-The elderly gay folks who ride on the trolley. I always cheer the loudest for them, because I can't imagine growing up gay in the 1940s/50s & the struggles they must have gone through.

You also get the corporate floats - the free burrito coupons from Chipotle are always a highlight for me - and the politicians, who all want you to vote for them.

Anyway, my point is that there is much more to the parade than boys in their underwear. But, as robbiej said, the boys in their underwear have a right to be there too & to celebrate the way they want to.

My favorite part of the parade is seeing all the diverse people there, and I'm looking forward to seeing them all again on Sunday.

[Act0r721]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 1:04pm

Attempts to oversimplify people are common and not really worth the time to read them.

In fact, I daresay most opinions are fairly common. Doesn't mean they aren't worth hearing.

[DottieD'Luscia]

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

avab, you said what I couldn't put into words for some reason.

For some reason I always get chills when I see the police officers marching, and the parents of gays walking with their children.

[robbiej]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 1:09pm

"IT makes me sad to think that all of that work that others have done, only to be treated like garbage by the homos of today."

Yeah...cause it's only the homos who treat the elderly badly in this country.

"Would young African-Americans be rude to MLK?"

I've heard it...on the subway...nasty sh*t said about MLK by a group of young black people.

The one thing that's also getting lost in all this 'promoscuity' talk is that...well...f*cking IS what makes us different from the rest. And there ain't nothing wrong with it. Just put a hat on, kids.

[Act0r721]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 1:14pm

You know what guys, if I wasn't completely dreading running into my ex at the moment, you may have even convinced me to go have a look this year.

Well, that and the fact that I have the house that weekend and someone needs to be home for the dog! =)

[JustAGuy]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 1:18pm

Your gonna run into your ex at some point, and the dog can surely make it a couple of hours alone.

I bet if the parade weren't something that you're ambivalent about, but something you'd like to participate in, neither of these two excuses would keep you away.

Updated On: 6/22/07 at 01:18 PM

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 1:35pm

"Or there's the problem that GLBT history isn't taught in our textbooks. We didn't experience it and unless we are actively working to study it, there are no resources presented to us."

Now you are just being lazy. Just because it wasn't 'presented' to you, doesn't mean that you can't go out and learn on your own.

Of course the history Gay Pride isn't in any school books. We are still being treated like 2nd rate citizens. But that won't change unless more people care and take a stand. And you can't do that without doing your research.

But since you can't be bothered to search for yourself, why should I expect others to do the same?