PRIDE Parade - Good or Bad?

[IV.]

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I came across this post from another thread:
Full thread: http://www.gtamotorcycle.com/vbforum/showthread.php?159774-Crazy-driver-water-gun-in-eyes

I've taken a few to the shoulder with gear on.. and without. They make quite the impact with a leather jacket, and with nothing but a shirt--ouch.

As for the gay pride comment: I really don't see why they have to parade around... what someone does in the bedroom should stay in the f**king bedroom, it has NO affect on anything else they do in life. It's not a visible cripple (like race could be considered, or speech pattern, or ugliness, etc), and the pride parade is just like... an excuse for people to run around naked chanting "I'M GAY!"

Back on topic:

So do you think this person has a point or not?
I have disabled showing username when voting.

 

[matthew]

I think there are much more elequoent ways to get a point across.

 

[Wingboy]

Don't care.Just wish it wasn't on Canada Day weekend,and that it wasn't billed as a "family type" event.

 

[suzuki2000]

don't really care what way different people bat.
Not sure why gays/lesbian/trans-whatever feel the need to parade around to gain acceptance. I don't understand why anyone is concerned if the mayor shows up, really if it's Canada Day weekend he can do whatever he feels with his family or whoever else he chooses to spend time with. The fuss to me simply deminishes things, if you are proud to be whatever you are, you shouldn't need to run around telling people. If you want to run around and tell people anything about yourself this weekend, wear some red and white and be proud of the country you live in no matter what team you play for

 

[omnivore]

I have a pretty personal feeling on the whole Pride Parade.
I have a brother who is gay.
He has asked me to come march before, and while I love and support him, I politely declined becasue the whole idea behind the parade rubs me the wrong way.
I am all for gay marriage, and am part of the HSSE (Hettero Sexuals for Same Sex Equality). In fact my cousin, Derek Forgie (also known as the Toronto area stand up comic Swirl) is the organizer of the HSSE. Maybe you have seen the shirts, They say "STRAIGHT, NOT NARROW."
Here is one of his most recent videos:
[video=youtube_share;m80arYjYfiY]http://youtu.be/m80arYjYfiY[/video]
My problem with the Pride Parade is this: Almost every minority, be it religious, sexual, racial, or otherwise, want equal rights. Perfect. But these minoroties often don't want to be held to equal responsibilities. I won't get into other ones right now, but we are discussing the Pride Parade, so here is my take on the GLBT minorities:

Gays deserve the right to fair treatment, I agree whole heartedly. However, I also feel they should be held to an equal standard of behaviour as well. There is no Straight Pride day where straight people run around in lingerie, behaving lewd in public streets. The argument that being gay was just a difference in behaviour behind closed doors was always a good one. What consenting adults do in their bedroom doesn't affect anyone else, however, they should then leave that behaviour in their bedrooms.

 

[giesen]

I'm sure many would argue that being gay is not limited to who they share their bed with, the same as any other minority (ie Caribana, Woofstock, Etc)

The point is every other day of the year is "straight day" so to give them a weekend to express themselves is not too much to ask. Besides, I believe it's one of the largest (if not the largest) LBGT events in North America and has a massive positive impact on the local economy.

 

[conundrum]

My problem with the Pride Parade is this: Almost every minority, be it religious, sexual, racial, or otherwise, want equal rights. Perfect. But these minoroties often don't want to be held to equal responsibilities. I won't get into other ones right now, but we are discussing the Pride Parade, so here is my take on the GLBT minorities:

Gays deserve the right to fair treatment, I agree whole heartedly. However, I also feel they should be held to an equal standard of behaviour as well. There is no Straight Pride day where straight people run around in lingerie, behaving lewd in public streets. The argument that being gay was just a difference in behaviour behind closed doors was always a good one. What consenting adults do in their bedroom doesn't affect anyone else, however, they should then leave that behaviour in their bedrooms.

I think you hit the nail on the head here. I'm straight, but I do know a few people who are gay, and they all act normal. By and large, the ones you see on the news running around at pride are not. I really like your analogy regarding 'straight pride day' -- If we were to have that, people would likely be arrested for indecent exposure and lewd behavior. Why a minority group gets a 'free pass', even for a day eludes me.

Also, for those who say it is to build awareness, I'd challenge whether that is a good or bad thing, given what is seen/reported on. To me, it would be like if there was a 'squid & harley pride day' where everyone road around like idiots, doing stoppies and burnouts, and making as much noise as possible, etc. I'd hazard a guess that doing so would shine a more negative light on all of us as riders vs a positive one, as it would reinforce a lot of the negative stereotypes that float around regarding any group.

 

[eljay]

Now a properly constructed poll

I voted good though I would be in the don't care and don't go category unless if traffic messes me like every other damn parade/run/walk/donkey chase/taste of junk the denizens of this city crave. It's good because it's not bad and I'm sure of that. Some guys behaviour though is borderline indecent so I think people should be warned not to bring their kids down until that gets checked.

Why a minority group gets a 'free pass', even for a day eludes me.

This is what I think of peoples behaviour at the parade. Motorcyclists are a minority. Is there a day we can rampage down Yonge just 'cuz there's fewer of us?

 

[short stop]

I make no secret that I'm gay, and I'm a pretty "normal", conservative-type person. Having said that I go to Pride every year (work permitting) and always have a blast. I guess I can understand the argument that people make in terms of the nudity and some of the behaviour, but (and this is a HUGE but), like the gay community itself you can't judge the entire week of events based on the activity of a small group.

There is a VERY small fraction of parade goers that engage in 'lewd' behaviour, and thousands upon thousands of others just like you and I who go there to have a few drinks and simply have a good time. Instead of judging your opinion on what you see on the news, how about going for yourselves and seeing what it's really like? The media will always try and capture the most sensational aspects of any event.

The Pride parade has its roots in political activism, and that may not mean much to the Canadian population anymore. "Yeah, people are gay, so what?" is the general attitude of many. In a way this IS a good thing, because it means that it shouldn't matter anymore what our sexual orientation is. We're all human, and our sexuality shouldn't be the focal point of our identity.

But it wasn't too long ago that this wasn't the case, and even today there are places on this planet where not only is it to be a crime to be a homosexual, but it's a government-condoned death sentence as well. This fight for equality may be over for Canadians in this day and age, but the battle is not over for many others.

So really....why *not* a parade? It's about a lot more than a bunch of over-excited flamers outting themselves to the world!

 

[RetroGrouch]

Ironic that the quote was written by a gay man. I'm ambivalent about the Pride Day Parade. One hand it brings commerce and is a generally a violence-free fun-oriented event. On the other hand, it is not a G-rated family event by any stretch. I've seen people walking around nude and semi-nude in bondage gear, wearing strap-ons and waving dildos, try explaining that to your kids. I'm not a prude but I would not expose young children to it. The parade contains a lot of adult themes that are not appropriate for children and young teens.

 

[Mr.K]

I make no secret that I'm gay, and I'm a pretty "normal", conservative-type person. Having said that I go to Pride every year (work permitting) and always have a blast. I guess I can understand the argument that people make in terms of the nudity and some of the behaviour, but (and this is a HUGE but), like the gay community itself you can't judge the entire week of events based on the activity of a small group.

There is a VERY small fraction of parade goers that engage in 'lewd' behaviour, and thousands upon thousands of others just like you and I who go there to have a few drinks and simply have a good time. Instead of judging your opinion on what you see on the news, how about going for yourselves and seeing what it's really like? The media will always try and capture the most sensational aspects of any event.

The Pride parade has its roots in political activism, and that may not mean much to the Canadian population anymore. "Yeah, people are gay, so what?" is the general attitude of many. In a way this IS a good thing, because it means that it shouldn't matter anymore what our sexual orientation is. We're all human, and our sexuality shouldn't be the focal point of our identity.

But it wasn't too long ago that this wasn't the case, and even today there are places on this planet where not only is it to be a crime to be a homosexual, but it's a government-condoned death sentence as well. This fight for equality may be over for Canadians in this day and age, but the battle is not over for many others.

So really....why *not* a parade? It's about a lot more than a bunch of over-excited flamers outting themselves to the world!

I like this stance.

People are extremely closed when it comes to sexuality in North America, and it doesn't hurt anyone to have stuff like this. I've had friends that have gone to pride, and they say it's a good time. Do I necessaily like everything I see? Nah, but nobody is forcing me to go and look.

 

[Chaos]

Have the parade. It brings in some money and attention to the city. Besides, the city has bigger worries to deal with, like the TTC.

 

[zrxter]

I have a pretty personal feeling on the whole Pride Parade.
I have a brother who is gay.
He has asked me to come march before, and while I love and support him, I politely declined becasue the whole idea behind the parade rubs me the wrong way.
I am all for gay marriage, and am part of the HSSE (Hettero Sexuals for Same Sex Equality). In fact my cousin, Derek Forgie (also known as the Toronto area stand up comic Swirl) is the organizer of the HSSE. Maybe you have seen the shirts, They say "STRAIGHT, NOT NARROW."
Here is one of his most recent videos:
[video=youtube_share;m80arYjYfiY]http://youtu.be/m80arYjYfiY[/video]
My problem with the Pride Parade is this: Almost every minority, be it religious, sexual, racial, or otherwise, want equal rights. Perfect. But these minoroties often don't want to be held to equal responsibilities. I won't get into other ones right now, but we are discussing the Pride Parade, so here is my take on the GLBT minorities:

Gays deserve the right to fair treatment, I agree whole heartedly. However, I also feel they should be held to an equal standard of behaviour as well. There is no Straight Pride day where straight people run around in lingerie, behaving lewd in public streets. The argument that being gay was just a difference in behaviour behind closed doors was always a good one. What consenting adults do in their bedroom doesn't affect anyone else, however, they should then leave that behaviour in their bedrooms.

Well said! ...& I too have a bro. who is gay.
People seem to love any excuse to party....maybe rub it in straight's faces a bit after being discriminated against for so long....

 

[johnp]

It brings money into the city so that's a good thing. It messes with traffic and people are allowed to break laws and that's a bad thing.

Apart from that I don't get why I am supposed to care about somebody else's sex life. Why do I have to be gay positive? Can't I be gay indifferent?

I don't care if you have sex with trees, and why should I so long as your sex life doesn't interfere with other people.

 

[just_luc]

Gays deserve the right to fair treatment, I agree whole heartedly. However, I also feel they should be held to an equal standard of behaviour as well. There is no Straight Pride day where straight people run around in lingerie, behaving lewd in public streets. The argument that being gay was just a difference in behaviour behind closed doors was always a good one. What consenting adults do in their bedroom doesn't affect anyone else, however, they should then leave that behaviour in their bedrooms.

+ 1,000,000

The only thing I would change in this statement is the last sentence about the bedroom.. I know it's not what you meant, but I read that to mean they should hide the fact that they are gay behind closed doors, and I don't agree with that. Gay's should be free to hold hands, walk arm and arm, kiss.. whatever is socially acceptable for straight people to do in public, gay people should be able to do too.. But if straight people had a sex themed parade where we marched half naked porn stars and depicted lewd acts between a man and a women it wouldn't stand for a second, so it shouldn't for gay people either.

This isn't specific to gay people, but to all minorities and also people with disabilities.. I FULLY support equal rights in every way possible but that's a two way street. If you want to be treated equal, then stop asking for special treatment.

 

[Scary]

I'm old school. And I'm completely anti-pride, I think it's ridiculous. I think homosexuality is abhorrent and I am thoroughly annoyed by its influence in our generation/culture. I am doubly annoyed by the homosexual community's rampant insistence on 'tolerance' while concurrently executing swift judgement towards anyone that does not 'tolerate' their lifestyle. The whole thing is ludicrous and licentious. In the end, it IS their choice to be what they are and not my responsibility to facilitate it, or make it easier to assimilate their lifestyle(s) into acceptable culture.

So yeah, I think the parade is wrong on so many different levels and I applaud the portly little mayor of Toronto for taking a stand and not showing up.

 

[cbcanada]

not sure why gays chose an event like this to promote themselves.... if i was gay i would not want these people promoting my community...

they cloak it by saying its not about just gays and its about freedom for everyone... then why dont they come down to the veterans day parade. whats a better parade for celebrating our freedom?

its not a G rated event. not even a PG rated event. not suitable for public streets. i have never attended but seen somethings on TV. which makes me wonder what else goes on? and how many kids are watching.

i have done and do my fair share if crazy bedroom shananigans but wouldnt promote it on public street where minors can watch.

 

[FullMotoJacket]

Have the parade. It brings in some money and attention to the city. Besides, the city has bigger worries to deal with, like the TTC.

Trickle down taxes from $136M will buy a few new streetcars.

Can't I be gay indifferent?

Sure, if you want.

I'm old school. And I'm completely anti-pride, I think it's ridiculous. I think homosexuality is abhorrent and I am thoroughly annoyed by its influence in our generation/culture. I am doubly annoyed by the homosexual community's rampant insistence on 'tolerance' while concurrently executing swift judgement towards anyone that does not 'tolerate' their lifestyle. The whole thing is ludicrous and licentious. In the end, it IS their choice to be what they are and not my responsibility to facilitate it, or make it easier to assimilate their lifestyle(s) into acceptable culture.

So yeah, I think the parade is wrong on so many different levels and I applaud the portly little mayor of Toronto for taking a stand and not showing up.

Stay in ptbo. You may catch teh gay if you come to Toronto.

In case you're not sure, yes, I'm mocking you

not sure why gays chose an event like this to promote themselves....

It was a worldwide movement (Stonwewall riots in NYC in 69, Montreal raids in 75), but the "spark" here was the Bathhouse raids/arrests and subsequent riot that kicked things off here in Toronto.

Operation Soap

i have done and do my fair share if crazy bedroom shananigans but wouldnt promote it on public street where minors can watch.

:agave:

 

[sonnythebull]

Ok to offset the flabby gay men in things and bulldykes in plaid I suggest lipstick lesbian pride day where only hot lesbians can march. Kissing and full sex are not mandatory but encouraged.

 

[murf]

It was interesting how the pride parade was handled in Russia

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