Is the Gay Pride Celebration helpful or harmful to gay rights?

Question

Some gay people i know think that the Pride celebration is too exteme with all the wild means of expressions of pride. I'ma hag myself, and i went to Pride this weekend. I think its fun, but one of my gay boyfriends says its too extreme and that it gives the world a lopsided view of who/what gay people are all about. what do you think?

Answer 1

Gay pride celebrations do not harm us any more than St. Patrick's day parades harm Irish people or Puerto Rican day parades harm Puerto Ricans.

What people do when they are celebrating does not reflect on their day to day lives.

Gay rights are a misnomer. It's a human rights issue regarding equality.

The press often focuses on the more extreme people who attend these events because the average ones don't get a lot of ratings. The middle aged preppie gays like me don't make the headlines.

It is sometimes extreme. I don't have a problem with it, though. Religious extremists are on television 24 hours a day ranting their nuttiness, why shouldn't some gay extremists get a day of nuttiness.

I think most people are able to understand that the extreme ones are not like the majority of gay people. Most of us blend into society so well, unless we disclose our orientation, nobody is ever aware. Most people know the flamboyant gays don't represent all of us any more than the guests on the Jerry Springer Show represent all of the straight world. Only the people looking for excuses to back up their bigotry will judge a group by the most "out there" members of that group.

Answer 2

It depends on the type of parade and who is organizing it. Some of the parades are ridiculous, some are really good (appropriate for all ages). American pride parades usually are inappropriate for kids, especially the ones in the major cities. I think it's a result of the liberal conservative divide and some gay people are very liberal and will go all out to get their message across, they're basically trying to get across the message that they have the freedom to do as they please. A lot of the "normal" (I don't mean to use that in an insulting way, but you know what I mean) gay people don't go to the gay pride parades, and if they do, they're usually not the ones that are walking around half naked. Gay people who participate in gay pride parades and gay people who usually only hang out in the "gay villages" are usually the stereotypical gays. The "normal" gay people are hard to distinguish from the average suburban straight person. So yes, I do think that some of the parades do more harm than good, but if a person really believes that all gay people behave like that, then they're simply ignorant. I'm not gay or bi, but I'm a supporter of gay rights and I've been to several gay pride parades that have been appropriate for all ages. They do a really good one in Chapel Hill, NC.

Answer 3

Gay Pride Celebrations are helpful because they allow every gay to celebrate who they are and the celebration actually let's people in the world see that they are different types of gay people not just the sterotypical gay. I love the parades because they help celebrate individualism and help many appreciate the love they have for themsleves and others.

Answer 4

I think it's great because it celebrates gay pride, and it doesn't have to be done in a flamboyant way (having prominent figures like the mayor and police chief sends a strong message of acceptance). Nobody is saying that the parade represents a real part of gay culture, just like Carnival in Rio doesn't represent day-to-day Brasil.

Answer 5

A Gay Pride celebration is helpful because it reaches out to gays worldwide - including "closeted gays". It doesn't affect or condemn the heterosexual community - after all, the Gay Pride doesn't involve trashing/vandalising the heterosexual establishments!! Also, a heterosexual person has the choice not to attend and ignore the gay pride event.

Answer 6

I can see the view that Gay Pride parades seem to reinforce a lot of negative stereotypes about gays and lesbians. However, I also see it as a fun time of celebration. Mardi Gras reinforces lots of negative stereotypes too...

Answer 7

Helpful, I hope it would spread the word and educate people. I believe 10-20 years ago people didn't come out of the closet because stereotypically "oh my God your gay, Stay the **** away from me". As if your gay, you inevitably want everyone of the same sex. I feel the more its out there, the more we can see that's not the case, and people don't get ridiculed for it like they used to.

Answer 8

i agree with your friend. i'm a lesbian and i think that homosexuality these days is focused so much on showboating nowadays which only leads to distorted views in some cases. one thin that i find alot as i am growing up is homosexuality has become the new fad. i enjoy the fact that people are aware, but i just don't think it deserves all the unnecessary publicity.

Answer 9

some in the first countries accepted third sex in the community.. Theres nothing bad about it.. instead we enjoy it... Gay people make a lot of things to make others happy.. Not just for pleasure of sex but also in beauty of humanity.... They are good caring person.... they are also good in man to man sexual response...hehehehehe..thet is why if you are a gay, go on.... enjoy of your being gay..hehehehe.....

Answer 10

Celebration for the gay is for their right to show out their identities.
They have their rights to reveal themselve in the public that they are not bad person, instead they are showing thier rights to live..
They are special to treat momally as person in the community.
some in the first countries accepted third sex in the community.. Theres nothing bad about it.. instead we enjoy it... Gay people make a lot of things to make others happy.. Not just for pleasure of sex but also in beauty of humanity.... They are good caring person.... they are also good in man to man sexual response...hehehehehe..thet is why if you are a gay, go on.... enjoy of your being gay..hehehehe.....