...that gay "activism" has helped "combat" stereotypes of homosexuals. Do Pride parades and similar type public events help or hurt the "cause"?
2007-01-16 02:39:49 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender
I believe activism that educates others on the issues is the most effective, whether it be equal rights, AIDS awareness, or teen suicide.
When it comes to pride parades and other similar public events, the difficulty is with the news media; they focus on certain communities such as the drag queens and leathermen/women because it makes for a better "story" than the average boy/girl-next door homosexual.
It really is a double-edged sword. My personal activism is to live my life as I do and show people that I'm just like them.
2007-01-16 03:10:01 · answer #1 · answered by behrmark 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I think certain types of activism has definitely helped.
I don't think that without activism my own home state ever would have included "Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity" in the state constitutional amendment against descrimination. There are many aspects to activism, lobbying elected officials, writing to local publications, public speaking, working within a community for a common goal. All these and others are simply forms of activism.
As far as Pride Parades, I think the media has turned them into something they're not.
Mardi Gras Parades were supposed to be a celebration of the day before Lent begins, now they're just overly sexualized, chaotic drunkfests.
Not all that different from Gay Pride Parades.
I don't see any "moral outcry" to end Mardi Gras Parades, they're as needed a release as Gay Pride Parades are. Its a release from the daily grind, a release from the daily fight to gain acceptence, awareness and access.
2007-01-16 11:33:21 · answer #2 · answered by DEATH 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
[Are you writing a paper or something? I answered your "impact of TV" question the other day and now you come up with another fine question...]
Activism has helped, in general. People are more aware that not all homosexuals wear pink, have bouffant hairdos, mince when they walk - or is that sashay (sp?) - and talk in falsetto with a lithp.
The question is have we (ab)used the tools like Pride parades to engender a negative effect? I think, overall, they still have a positive impact but, onlookers (straights) are, I suspect, increasingly of the mind "How dare they shove their lifestyle...".
2007-01-16 11:13:07 · answer #3 · answered by unclefrunk 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think it helps, just to get people to see the huge numbers.
But I think it's more helpful to be out and open in everyday life, and to be proud every day.
2007-01-16 10:45:07 · answer #4 · answered by GreenEyedLilo 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I would like to think it would help, but...
2007-01-16 10:48:43 · answer #5 · answered by INDRAG? 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Personally, I think the more they go in peoples faces with it, the more people will reject it. It takes mutual respect.
2007-01-16 10:47:55 · answer #6 · answered by THE NEXT LEVEL 5 · 1⤊ 4⤋