Question for homosexuals: What is your opinion about the gay pride parade?

Question

I have heard comments from certain gay people saying that they don't like that type of activities that ruin the image of homosexuals, and these comments come from serious and professional gay people that don't like that sort of things.

What is your opinion?

Answer 1

Ok, here we go.....

Str8 Acting gays tend not to like the parade because the have not had to fight for their rights. This is a provocative statement but permit to explain. In 1969, it was NOT the str8 acting crowd that took on the police and society at the Stonewall inn, it was the Drag Queens, Leathermen and the fringe of queerdom. Fast forward past 3 decades of the "weirdos" putting their lives on the line to gain the freedoms that the str8 acting crowd now enjoy, and what do you find, the str8 acting crowd belittling those who actually put themselves in harms way so they could live in the Hampton's with their Volvo's and the dog. The happy str8 acting gay "normal" life. Give me a break.

The truth is, the parade, although sometimes a tad overblown and yes, flamboyant, is no less part of the gay community as the str8 acting professionals of whom you speak. Not everyone enjoys the parade, anymore than everyone would enjoy living a more "normal" lifestyle. The point of Gay Pride is to allow each of us to live and celebrate our lives as we see fit. If there are some stereotypes in the parade, so what? as I said earlier, if it wasn't for those stereotypical gays, we probably would still be in the closet or worse, in the camps.

update: kscowboiway has misunderstood what I am trying to say. Yes, many professionals do fight today, but the truth they were not there either at the beginning nor throughout the hardened 70's and early 80's, I know this because I was there. This is not meant to take away from anyones contribution, but the point is, if we are fighting for same thing, freedom to be who we are, we must accept that the parade, positive or negative, is part of our history and perhaps someday it will go, but until then, the idea that somehow we must "closet" the more flamboyant of us, just to appear "normal" seems selfdefeating.

Answer 2

Oh please, it's just a Parade for cryin' out loud.
It does NOT represent everyday life for all homosexuals, heck it doesn't represent everyday life for even the smallest minority of homosexuals.
It's just a day of fun and frivolity. A day to be outlandish and wild.

If anyone takes offense, well, joke'm if they can't take a screw!
It's just a form of expressionism and escapism.
It's mostly just fantasy.

Although the one in Chicago is embarrassing because so many politicians use it as a launching pad. What a contradiction in terms!
In Chicago we have a long standing tradition of actually having two parades. The Pride parade is always the last Sunday of the last full well in the Month of June. The day before is what is called the Dyke March. I've actually NEVER attended that event.
The Pride parade is always begun with the first third being politicians, the second third a mix of organizations and media and the last third the nightclubs, bars, theatre companies and other entertainment.
It's a lot of fun once the first third goes by because that's when all the goodies are handed out. The free bees and giveaways. A lot of junk, but some real gems too.
This past year I came home with a lot of stuff. Most of it my son confiscated.

Answer 3

I applaud the idea of the parade..to show numbers, for there is real power in numbers. I have very mixed feelings about what goes on in the parades...sterotyping, etc. and in a few instances, down right vulgar, but that is not my place to monitor.
I suppose there is a side that says "flaming" is a good way to get a point across, but I also identify with those who do not want everyone to think that all gays run around with boas, etc. Am I being too prigish? I really don't know. I do know that Gay Pride parades are getting very boring, the dresses, the whatevers have gotten to the point of mundane. Surely there is a better way to express our pride, etc....but I have no idea as to how. Good luck and peace.
PS: I think Jus_in_ makes an excellent point...it is JUST a parade.

Answer 4

I think the pride fests are great fun. I am not so judgemental of others that I care what they do one day or two days a year. I don't think they reflect upon me at all.. sure the knee jerk christian fundamentalists will point fingers, but then they will find something to point fingers at anyway.

Their actions do not define me and anyone who thinks they do, is pretty limited in the intellegence department.

So, are all priests pedophiles? Just because some are does not mean I wll label them all. If society does that, I will object (and I am not even christian let alone catholic)
Then there are some who act more blatent and flaming because they have been labeled.. and figure why the heck not? I am called this .. so why not prove em right?

I don't need to be reactionary to the societal judgements or finger pointers.. when I manage to go to a gay pride celebration, I have a good time.

Answer 5

Gay pride parades don't ruin the image of homosexuals, the media who only focuses on stuff like the drag queens or something so effeminate ruins the image of homosexuals.

I want to get more involved with gay pride parades and stuff when I'm older, but I don't know about now.

Answer 6

Go if you like but not for me. Like going as much as I like seeing a bunch of accountants in a parade. Boring to me no matter what. But for some they love it. So, if they want to sponsor it and organize it then they should go for it.

As for these "image of homosexuals" get real. The fems hate the butches, the premies hate the dykes, the trans hate the lipsticks. The GLBT community has more classes in it then any other society. Without these parades the closet doors would still be CLOSED and these "certain gay people" would not be able to express any view at all. So THANK the parades.

Answer 7

I think every LGBT person, at some point in their life soon after coming out, really needed a Pride Parade to affirm themselves, and find others like them, and not feel alone or "wrong."
Since there will always be LGBT people at this stage, we cannot do away with such an important affirming event for many people.

Yes, the spectrum of people involved runs from the sublime to the ridiculous and embarassing, but I could say the same thing about my relatives! :o)

Answer 8

The parade is fun. It's not a 100 % accurate model of ALL gay people though. And I think many straight folks see it that way. The Parade is just for fun..it's outlandish, over the top, silly, and not to be taken completely to heart.

It can give a negative image if you take it that way...or you can look at it for what it is...just plain fun.

Does Marti Gras represent all people....most act really crazy during this event...it's the same thing...all just for fun.

Answer 9

I think you have to look more carefully at the parade. I doubt there would be much of a crowd there if several hundred men and women dressed in suits and print frocks wandered down the main street of your town. Parades are for fantasy and fun. Look at Carnival in New Orleans, or even the Rose or Easter parades - lots of fun floats and costume.

The problem is not with the parade, but with the media. They concentrate on the nearly nude, the leather-clad, and the drag queens. Of course these don't represent the majority of gay men and women, or the way they live their daily lives.

The parades are about freedom - out and proud. The parade makes a statement - gay and lesbians are not in the closet, are not going to allow themselves to be trampled on by our government, are not going to be persecuted for being normal.

Over the years, the parades have changed in character. There used to be more anger, more political content. Now, we see community churches, PFLAG, mainstream politicians, mayors, senators, riding in those parades that were once condemned as "a bunch of extremist queers littering our streets."

I march in the parade as a member of a dance club. I wear a T and jeans; maybe a few strings of beads. about 70% of the parade is like that - mostly dressed down. But thank god for the fun, the spirit, and the sparkle our drag queens, leather queens, and others add to the events.

I don't like wrestling, or football; I know gay men who love those sports. In the same way, not all gay men have to like parades - that's no reason to stop them.

Answer 10

It's little different that the St. Patrick's Day parades were when they began. The Irish felt it was necessary to demonstrate that they are humans, they are productive members of society and they deserve to be treated as equals.

Folks have forgotten those beginnings of the celebration; now "everyone is Irish on St. Paddy's day!".

Years ago such a notion would have been considered quite insulting to many people.

The "stereotypes" are outrageous exagerations. Laugh and enjoy them, that's why they are there.

Cross-dressing entertainers goes back thousands of years. It's nothing new at all, contrary to what the prudes would have people think.