Would you attend a gay pride parade?

[Thor]

ok, so here’s the thing, several yrs ago I came out to all my family and friends (the reason I did was because I tried to commit suicide and was explaining to them why I did)
Anyway, that’s another story

So I’m in Sacramento, California visiting my aunt and uncle, and I’m about 2 hrs away from san Francisco and 2 hrs away from Reno, Nevada (by car), so I decide to go to Reno and gamble at the casino’s there.
Well…when I get back to auntie’s house I find out there was a big gay pride parade in San Francisco that weekend and I missed it, I was soooo pissed, I really would have loved to go!!!!

So, would you go to a gay pride parade?

And if you have, was if fun?

 

[XMan101]

I've been to the London one - actually did the march one year, but attended the festival afterwards 3 or 4 times.

I wouldn't go again, it's now just so commercial. You have to buy a ticket, where it used to be volountary contributions. I can understand that but you're no longer allowed to take your own drink in. They'll take it off you as you go in, which means paying their expensive prices. I actually found it boring last time I went, obviously not really my thing anymore. Was nice to leave and go to a normal pub and get a decent pint

The actual march / procession is obviously still free.

PS: One year I had to go - just to see Johan Paulik and some other Bel Ami boys

 

[Thor]

OMG!!! they charge a fee? or is it for a festival thing: bands playing and all...?

i can understand if its a lot of bands or something

but to charge for a parade!! yuckkk

PS: did you see them?

 

[bloop2]

I just recently started going 3 years ago and i've been going every year ever since and I love it! So much fun! I go with friends and go to the gay village and go to the bar and dance

 

[intensepump]

My 4th one this year....I'm in the Hummer:wave:



So what did you expect in Cincy...hot stripper bois on a float? Not here (yet). I am one of the few known political supporters of GLBT rights in the Cincy area...but to the public, I have always been...."Don't ask, Don't tell"...though I get asked...I just don't tell. It is the only way I can politically survive in this conservative area and still be a voice for the GLBT community. Sometimes I feel like a sell out:worried:...but I hope I'm slowly helping to change things.

We have the Drag Race in Cincy too, but no one is ever going to get me in heels and a dress!!

 

[shamammashouse]

I've actually been against pride parades for a few years now and I refuse to attend them. I heard that the NYC parade was a lot different this year so I hope things are changing. I really just don't think they should be about drag queens, go-go boys, partying and drinking. Those types of people do not represent the majority of gay individuals and the behavior that goes on during some of these parades and festivals is a slap in the face to the people who fought before us for political and social recognition.

One of my friends said it best, gay people cannot expect to drink and party their way to social parity.

 

[ritsuka]

I've been to San Fransisco Pride, both the festival and the parade, and I had a good time - there are all sorts of people there. I believe in an inclusive, diverse gay community--where everyone is welcome and celebrated as they are, which is what the gay rights activists fought for--there were many drag queens and transsexuals at stonewall fighting off the police, at protest marches and organizing--their goal was not that someday everyone would pass as straight and live very conservative lifestyles to appease some bigots who apparently don't notice that the vast majority of drinkers and partiers are heterosexual.

 

[Thor]

I've actually been against pride parades for a few years now and I refuse to attend them. I heard that the NYC parade was a lot different this year so I hope things are changing. I really just don't think they should be about drag queens, go-go boys, partying and drinking. Those types of people do not represent the majority of gay individuals and the behavior that goes on during some of these parades and festivals is a slap in the face to the people who fought before us for political and social recognition.

One of my friends said it best, gay people cannot expect to drink and party their way to social parity.

well, im not sure, but i think in many ways they did help, they were totally in you face about it, same as the parade...im gay and im here

 

[sweetuttsada]

Never attend 1 before, But will attend 1 someday

 

[Aeolus]

I went to one once, and that was enough for me. Between the sights of people dropping their drawers on the streets, people wearing leather and rubber and indescribable objects, it was just a big turn-off for me. The other issue I have is that, at least for the Omaha one, it was not representative at all of a majority of gay men. It was all about leather, dresses, and people grabbing people.

I don't mean to diss pride elsewhere, but, based on my limited experience, I can't say I am enthusiastic about going to another one.

 

[bloop2]

I totally respect and understand your point of view. Maybe where you live its just based on trouser dropping, leather whipping, crotch grabbing homosexuals. However, here where I live it is so much more than that, yes there are those guys that do the things i've listed above to add more flare to the parade and guys dancing in short shorts, but there are more such as gay humanitarian activists that promote equal rights, there are banners for gay youth groups for teenagers to join, and even organizations that have parents that hold up banners saying "I am proud of my gay son" that I find completely endearing. So don't get disappointed and let one parade stop you from going to more. Other cities hold parades differently and if your in the position to be able to travel by all means I hear San Francisco hosts a big gay parade!

 

[Aeolus]

I guess my big thing is that I want a parade that is representative of the general gay community, not something the media eventually gets tired of because it looks like some odd Jerry Springer episode, as the ones in Omaha do. To gain equal rights, I think it important to show that we are equal, not simply reinforcing stereotypes from Queer as Folk regarding promiscuity by grabbing anyone's dick or such. (Sorry ... that was the gay pride vent ... I do that when this issue comes up.)

 

[sweetuttsada]

I wish there was a parade here in my country

 

[Aeolus]

*throws a parade for sweetuttsada right now*

 

[bloop2]

I think your absolutely right Aeolus .. I understand your philosophy and how you would want other people to be portrayed.. But I think the parade also allows and becomes an outlet for others to be able to fully express ones unique individuality if you think of a heterosexual couple on the street touching each other and making out its not as unaccepted or frowned upon as oppose to two males doing it publicly on the streets where the parade gives them enough comfort and security to be who they really are without being criticized .. I think to others it allows them to have the opportunity to be all what the heck it comes only once a year! I can finally wear my assless chaps and not hide it from the over bearing society and be open about myself.

Thats my little thought on it I like this convo <3

 

[bloop2]

*In addition when I said assless chaps.. its not like I wore assless chaps or had gone with them during the parade it was just an example.. *shifty eyes

*sorry for the double post I didn't even do it, my laptop did it without my permission! *SCOLDS

 

[bloop2]

*throws a parade for sweetuttsada right now*

*wears assless chaps* HAHA no seriously I am kidding I don't have them!!

*blows bubbles*

 

[Aeolus]

Took care of the double-post for you

I don't see the level of "intimacy in public" among heterosexuals as I do homosexuals in public, I guess, at least not as it relates to gay pride. Granted, Nebraska is the heart of the "Bible belt", but we have gay guys show affection for each other (holding hands, small pecks, etc.) like straight couples without having to expose their ass or dick.

For me, and again just for me, it is a certain level of hypocrisy that gay pride parades are supposedly thrown for equal rights and equal treatment when many want to take things to the extreme.

Just my take on it, and I do agree. I like this conversation.

 

[bloop2]

Thanks my double post is gone!! Yaay sweet didn't see the parade you had made for him and the bubbles that I had blown for him.. =(

 

[dinaraukar]

I've read the rest of replies, and I must say that some of my thoughts had been written already... Nevertheless, I must say it: The Gay Pride Parade here in Mexico has become a freak show. I think it has never been about equality here, even when they promote it like that.
I have friends that go year after year. This year, I asked some of them why. One said because of the free beer, and the access to the "bear party", as he calls it. Another said because she wanted to go and see what she could catch (lesbian). Another just goes to dance in one of the cars... And the first is a closeted gay men, the second is a lesbian in a commited relationship, and the third is... well, go figure.
The thing here is that 60% of the youth in my country says that they couldn't tolerate to have a gay roommate. I live in a country where hatred and discrimination are in every corner of the streets. Why? Because those guys that discriminate us, only see that gay people is a bunch of promiscuous drunk transvestite perverted deviated guys who like to dance half naked in top of a van listening to Britney Spears after having a line of cocaine.
Where are those social organisms? The ones that should be ordering the parade. They are giving condoms away, because they know (and that's something that a social worker told me) that the party is always wild after the Parade.
Why should I go? Everytime that I read or see something about it, it's about a misrepresentation and a misleading in the opinion of the people they are trying to be equal to. (And I say they, because, honestly, I can't care less about their thoughts to the fact that I am homosexual)

Gee, that was too much. Sorry if it's tiring but sometimes, my mind goes too fast.