Do you think that our behavior during pride parades add to prejudices, have an equal effect both positive -?

Question

and negative, or have remained the same in societal opinion over it's history?
When it first started it was all about showing people our numbers and demanding basic human rights and equality.At the time police could arrest men who were at gay bars for as little an offense as holding hands, kissing, or in some cases for just being there.
It was very important for the pride parade to exist back then because it forced the community at large to deal with the fact that a huge amount of people, often family and friends of people who would be the first to discriminate, are gay.It showed our numbers and allowed our numbers to be seen.We reminded everyone that we were tax payers and voters
Today our interests have changed.We still want to keep what we have achieved.But we also want marriage and a final end to the reminisce of discrimination.
Sometimes I wonder if our efforts at showing our strength has the opposite effect from what we wanted.People see one side and think that is who we are.

Answer 1

the media just shows aspects that tie in to there agenda ...its like the Irish vomiting after st Patrick's day parade or the veterans looking old and lost after their parade its mostly media angle to keep the stereotypes going .

Answer 2

It's the numbers that matter.

It's the 20,000 normal people who marched with those nearly naked and/or cross dressing attention getters who make the difference.

If all you ever see of a gay pride event is what Bill Oreily shows you will never get the point... or see the power that it wields in our society.

Each demonstration, parade, and protest shows that there is a significant segment of our society that is not considered equal and in this country, that is wrong. As our right wing fanatic types have shown us, we do not make our laws according to what the bible says about sin or abomination. Picking this issue and using religious text to support discrimination is hypocritical and so much so, that it borders on evil.

The numbers show the strength, my friend, not the appearance and/or behavior of the most outrageous among us.

Answer 3

I don't believe it has nearly the influence that many would think. Those that hate will hate regardless and believe all the stereotypes in spite of the evidence against them. Many, including some within the gay community, fail to see that much of the "camp" is actually laughing at the stereotypes, not promoting them as fact. I do believe that adding a more lighthearted effect to the Pride parades may in fact help prevent what could become a more violent confrontation.

Answer 4

I think it's funny how people get so uptight about "Pride" Parades.

I don't think they should be used as political vehicles. I think that only confuses people. Most of the "Pride" parades I've attended are more "camp" and just plain fun. But the politico's always start the parades using them for political advantage, which I pesonally find insulting. But it's done in ALL parades so I guess it's something that can't be gotten away from.
I just think that "Equality" marches would be more appropriate for politicing.

I think "Pride" parades are just as 'campy' as Mardi Gras or St. Patrick's Day parades. The glam up, act silly, have a lot of fun.

Answer 5

I believe it can have some damaging aspect to the gay culture. Primarily, those that participate tend to show a loop sided version of gay individuals. This could be on the news coverage which tend to show the extreme and not focus on other aspects. General audience will come to a conclusion, that really isn't fair or evidential. In essence, what do you do? Do we discriminate against that which the mainstream finds offensive; while celebrating pride from prejudices?

Answer 6

The gay pride behaviors definitely, absolutely, and distinctly do not help your cause. I sometimes think that all the homosexual community needs to do to rivet social pressures against them is have a gay pride parade like some that go on in the big cities--they are disgusting, incivilities. If you wanted to walk hand-in-hand with smiles and business suits, you might gain favor, but that is not the common practice that hits the news, much less the eyes and ears of the folk on the sidewalks.

Answer 7

I will keep this brief, yes sometimes the actions hurt the image of gays. I understand the idea behind recognition before, but now it is working against the overall causes. gays just need to show exactly what they are, equal to everyone else, hopefully our society will come around and it is slowly but we need organizations like GSA in our high schools to bridge the ideological gap between these groups of people.

Answer 8

Probably both. Gays and gay supporters will like to see gays holding hands etc.. The homophobes will just have their stereotypes reinforced. Don't worry, nothing would change those folks minds anyway. Screw 'em.

Answer 9

I think the whole sexual flauntation thing is overdone. There's NOTHING to be prideful of, and nothing to be ashamed of. Parades seem like to me to be instances where gay people get to dance around naked and disturb the peace.

And I'm gay, so I get to form these kinds of opinions without people beating me down with a club.

Answer 10

No, but I think that "some" peoples behavior does.