Jun 13, 2007 2:42 PM GMT
I think that healing inner shame is an important step in coming out. But I don't relate to what goes on at Pride rallies. They have nothing to do with my image of myself as a man or as a gay man. And I think they might be counterproductive because they reinforce a stereotype of what it means to be gay. It could be compare to having a parade focused on Amos 'n Andy lookalikes during the height of the civil rights movement--rather than show the positive, it would simply cement the negative.
I have heard it said that it's a gay Mardi Gras. Do gays need a Mardi Gras? I'm all for Mardi Gras, but why not just join up with the straight one? Everyone needs to blow off steam, but why have a separate parade? If the goal of Pride is to celebrate freedom and sexuality, then we should do it together with the straights on Mardi Gras and not have a separate holiday--we don't need a gay Kwanzaa.
I believe most of the gay world lives in normal, traditional relationships. I think most gay men are men first. I think Pride day should be spent at a sports bar watching ESPN. I don't want people to think that gays are all thong-wearing, Gwen Stefani wig-wearing dolls--we aren't! We're guys just like every other guy.
I want to have the right to marry and adopt children. There is almost nothing at Pride rallies which supports my values. Or did I miss the mongamy booth and the lifelong relationship float? I suspect most gays have the same kind of traditional values I have, but we're not represented at these rallies.
I don't think these rallies are helping us get marriage legalized--in fact, they are working against us. People who vote on gay marriage have the image of these rallies in their minds, and not the gay couple who spend their Sundays watching the NFL with their buddies. Rallies reinforce a negative stereotype of what in means to be gay which loses us the votes we need.
I am a supporter of amnesty for undocumented workers. But I have to admit that the large rallies where they wave Mexican flags does more harm than good. If you respond negatively to the the rallies and parades of undocumented workers, and are less inclined than before to give them rights after seeing their rallies, then remember: that's how the world sees Pride.
Pride is not a requirement of being gay any more than Christmas is a requirement of being American. Celebrate it if you want, but don't get mad at gay men like me who think there are better ways to improve gay life for everyone.
I have heard it said that it's a gay Mardi Gras. Do gays need a Mardi Gras? I'm all for Mardi Gras, but why not just join up with the straight one? Everyone needs to blow off steam, but why have a separate parade? If the goal of Pride is to celebrate freedom and sexuality, then we should do it together with the straights on Mardi Gras and not have a separate holiday--we don't need a gay Kwanzaa.
I believe most of the gay world lives in normal, traditional relationships. I think most gay men are men first. I think Pride day should be spent at a sports bar watching ESPN. I don't want people to think that gays are all thong-wearing, Gwen Stefani wig-wearing dolls--we aren't! We're guys just like every other guy.
I want to have the right to marry and adopt children. There is almost nothing at Pride rallies which supports my values. Or did I miss the mongamy booth and the lifelong relationship float? I suspect most gays have the same kind of traditional values I have, but we're not represented at these rallies.
I don't think these rallies are helping us get marriage legalized--in fact, they are working against us. People who vote on gay marriage have the image of these rallies in their minds, and not the gay couple who spend their Sundays watching the NFL with their buddies. Rallies reinforce a negative stereotype of what in means to be gay which loses us the votes we need.
I am a supporter of amnesty for undocumented workers. But I have to admit that the large rallies where they wave Mexican flags does more harm than good. If you respond negatively to the the rallies and parades of undocumented workers, and are less inclined than before to give them rights after seeing their rallies, then remember: that's how the world sees Pride.
Pride is not a requirement of being gay any more than Christmas is a requirement of being American. Celebrate it if you want, but don't get mad at gay men like me who think there are better ways to improve gay life for everyone.