Has Gay Pride Jumped the Shark?- Page 6

[Dark_Angel]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 5:51pm

c'mon, where *is* the love?
oh sh*t there it is! and it's tryin' to rim me!
lol!

[WithoutATrace]

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

I will be attending the parade (second time) and the pier dance (first time) this year. Looking forward to both.

Will Idina Menzel really be performing at the Pier Dance, or was that a joke?

[Kringas]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 7:13pm

I'm reminded of something Keith Boadwee wrote in 2005 regarding gay pride. I pretty much agree with it entirely.


Another summer in San Francisco, another Gay Pride event, another rush of mixed emotions. It's a shame we still need sh*t like this but we're a long way from NOT needing sh*t like this, especially as long as the Southern Baptist Convention still exists. Those motherf*ckers are like FLINTSTONE'S KIDS, 15 million strong, and growing. The hardcore faggots, fairies, drag queens, and leather freaks will be out en masse and of course the assimilationist fags will complain that they become the face of gay pride events. How come they have to show the drag queens on the news? Well, I'm a f*ck of a lot more pleased being represented by the drag queens than being represented by the white, male, middle class, investment bankers with Volvo wagons, 2 kids each and million dollar homes. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for queer achievement, queer families and upward mobility in the community but I'm sick of homophobic homosexuals who think the only way for fags to come out ahead is TOTAL assimilation. Look, we're just like you are!! Well, that's bullsh*t. For me, one of the great things about the big, beautiful gay world we live in is that WE AREN'T JUST LIKE YOU! We're bankers and doctors and lawyers but we're also sissies, weirdos and freaks. We refuse to adhere to the cultural paradigm which is dictated by stupid judeo/christian constructs that we don't believe in anyway. Queers have to continue to make our world a haven for the eccentrics, artists and misfits. Especially as long as they/we continue to be hated and persecuted by mainstream America. It's the outsiders who F*CKING CREATED GAY PRIDE. We'd all be swinging from ropes right now if it wasn't for the few brave faggots from back in the day who decided to be DEFIANTLY DIFFERENT. So sh*t on the flamers and sissies and queens and perverts all you want, you well heeled, rich, white assimilated homosexuals, but remember none of us would be here without them. These are the thoughts that I'm heading in to Pride Weekend with.
Boadwee Blog

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 7:48pm

WithoutA--if you see me and PalJoey'sPal at the Pier, come up and give me a big, PROUD hug!

And don't forget to stay till the very end, so you see Idina and the fireworks.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 8:35pm

"It's the outsiders who F*CKING CREATED GAY PRIDE. We'd all be swinging from ropes right now if it wasn't for the few brave faggots from back in the day who decided to be DEFIANTLY DIFFERENT."

Thank you.

And Kringas,

That entire speach was dead on.

[AbbaRabbit]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 8:38pm

ok, my 2 cents.

this is the first year i started going to events geared to glbtq youth like queer prom and the rainbow room. i only went to true colors before and that's beacuse i went with the agency i work with to sit at an informational booth (queer prom should be pertty self-explanitory, and rainbow room is where glbtq youth and allies can go to hang out and watch movies or talk or do whatever they want every sunday)
and on the 30th, this will be my first ever pride event and the first time i've been to something that was geared to glbtq people of all ages, not just teens and young adults.

both have been amazing for me.
queer prom was the first time i danced with another girl in public. it felt awsome to sit *outside* at the hartford city hall and talk openly about relationahips with other people my age and not have the urge to lower my voice. it was not the awkward uncomfortable time i had at my high school prom. i could be myself. i actually had fun.

my first time going to rainbow room, i was nervous. i didn't know what ot expect. and i guess everyone there could tell i was nervous. i have never had people just come up to me and start talking to me and make me feel so welcome. while i was watching a movie, i picked up a copy of the advocate and started flipping through it. i was amazed to see advertizements with same sex couples on them. i saw ads from big companies that included the words "domestic partner" in them. i was in awe. i even asked if i could take the magazine home. they told me i could at the end of the month when they get next month's issue in.

these have seriously been life-changing for me. i have become more comfortable with who i am. two days ago i was at the mall and on a whim i bought a little pink pin that said "i love girls" on it and put it on my backpack. that's not something i would have done before.

so who cares if straight people are selling things there? i'd rather have a straight person sell me a rainbow t-shirt and tell me to have a nice day instead of calling me a name or hurting me.

i plan on going to hartford pride and having an *amazing* time despite what some article tells me i should think.
pride events may have become boring and meaningless for some people, but they hold a huge meaning for me and tons of other people my age who are just starting to become comfortable with who they are.

[JustAGuy]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 9:21pm

Well said Abba. Have a great time.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 10:56pm

Thank you, Abba, for reminding us what "pride" really means.

[Calvin]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 11:01pm

No joke, WAT. Idina is indeed slated to perform.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 6/22/07 at 11:31pm

Abba, what a great post! Have a great time and you are right, no one should make you feel bad about going.

[Liverpool]

Posted: 6/23/07 at 2:42am

you know what, im sick and tired of all the bull**** being thrown in this thread. just because someone doesn't wnat to go to pride does not make them self loathing of have have internalized homophobia. I admit, i don't like really loud "we're here, we're queer, look at us" homosexuals. But thats because i dont like people like that in GENERAL. If you're loud and need attention, I HATE YOU, gay, striaght, black, white, orange, midget, giant, differently abled, olympic gold medalist, welfare mother of 8. If you NEED to be the center of attention, i want nothing to do with you. Peopl like that just get on my nerves. and pride brings them out, in droves. why would i subject myself to an environment where im gonna be unhappy and annoyed???? its not about self hate, or homophobia, its about self-sanity-preservation.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/23/07 at 7:22am

...because i dont like people like that in GENERAL...

What could be more self-loathing than that?

[JustAGuy]

Posted: 6/23/07 at 8:37am

"I admit, i don't like really loud "we're here, we're queer, look at us" homosexuals. But thats because i dont like people like that in GENERAL. If you're loud and need attention, I HATE YOU,....

Then why bother posting on this thread at all? Isn't what you're posting here a way to get attention? Or does that not count because you happen to be the one posting it?

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 6/23/07 at 10:41am

I wish I could enjoy the pier dance. But the time I went it was just so crowded I thought I was going to die. I hate being at places where you can't move unless the crowd moves you. I ended up having to leave early.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/23/07 at 11:17am

You should have been standing next to me. ;-}

Seriously--that's why it's more fun to go in groups.

[Liverpool]

Posted: 6/23/07 at 4:03pm

ok now I'm lost? Because I'm posting here I'm looking for attention? I think your logic train jumped the track a few miles ago. Im expressing an opinion. The thread was entitled "has gay pride jumped the shark" yes it has. And i wont be attending because its a joke.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/23/07 at 4:09pm

Your posts are more of a joke than Pride.

Who writes your "Bitter Jaded Queen Over Everything" material?

You know, you can actually die from cynicism.

[JustAGuy]

Posted: 6/23/07 at 4:32pm

"I think your logic train jumped the track a few miles ago."

Perhaps, but explain your logic to me. How having never attended a gay pride parade here in NYC, can you proclaim that it's made up of nothing but "...a bunch of fairy princesses in short shorts, g strings, glitter...," who are, according to you, nothing but a bunch of "attention whores". Isn't that a bit like reviewing a movie after only seeing the trailer?

BTW if you watch the coverage on the news I'm the one that will be leading "the dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies." Which is how you so un-homophobically put it.

Updated On: 6/23/07 at 04:32 PM

[DG]

Posted: 6/23/07 at 6:46pm

All I know is the world doesn't really accept my presense yet, and this is an opportunity to say, "I'm happy being who I am."

If anyone doesn't agree with that sentiment or position, they are welcome to avoid the proceedings.

I'll be whooping it up with my brethren in San Francisco - and being happy to be who I am in PUBLIC - because, if I was to do that in many parts of the country on a normal basis, I'd be beaten to death.

Have a great time, those of you who are celebrating a freedom you don't get to normally experience.

And those of you who want to question why we do this, I hope you don't get beaten to death any time soon by someone who doesn't think you have the right to exist.

[Evan Almighty]

Posted: 6/23/07 at 6:48pm

Well said, D2.

[harris007]

Posted: 6/23/07 at 9:43pm

wow just wow, im shocked at alot of you who posted, just because someone doesnt feel the need to wave a flag, or act like and i'm sorry for this term BUT act like a "flame" DOES NOT MAKE THEM SELF LOATHING. that's like saying to a black man. "hey bud where's your bling, and the gold teeth?", , what you don't have any?, WELL you must be self loathing black man. come on now really.

[JustAGuy]

Posted: 6/23/07 at 10:07pm

There are many ways to celebrate pride. Watching from the sidelines is just as viable a way to acknowledge who you are (and that you are not ashamed of it), as dancing on a float. What I, and I believe most of the other posters have taken issue with is the fact that in saying why they chose not to participate, they gave reasons, such as "sugar plum fairies", "fairy princesses" "attention whores" "drag queens" etc. While totally ignoring the remaining 90% of the participants in the parade. And many of these comments came from people who have never even been to a pride event. Talk about being judgemental.

Updated On: 6/23/07 at 10:07 PM

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 6/24/07 at 8:27am

Dead on, JustAGuy...

It's funny how some gays are so hateful to others by calling them names and sneering at them. They are almost as single minded as the press.

[Evan Almighty]

Posted: 6/24/07 at 8:34am

Did you check your Myspace yet?

Updated On: 6/24/07 at 08:34 AM

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 6/24/07 at 8:36am

Do you have to post my name?