Should gay pride events be more political in nature and pay homage to the Stonewall riots?

Answer 1

Yes.

Currently, they are self-congratulatory affairs that serve little political purpose.

I wish we could get as many gays and lesbians who turn out for Pride events to show up on Capitol Hill.

Answer 2

I don't think that's necessary anymore. The Stonewall Riots were a very specific product of their time. I'm of the mind that ANY kind of riot, no matter how well-justified, is tragic. We shouldn't view the Stonewall Riots as a great success. It is a sad comment on humanity that rioting was necessary for the gay community to get heard.

However, peaceful political activism is a beautiful thing -- and I often think that most gay pride events, with their focus on bright colors and generally unorthodox behavior, do more harm to the gay movement than good. There is little to be gained for the gay community by -acting- like outsiders and highlighting what most homophobic people already believe -- that gay men and women are fundamentally "different" and/or "freakish."

More serious gay pride events could do a lot more good.

Answer 3

Pride events should be more political, recognize Stonewall, and have some kind of recognition of what still needs to be done in order to be viewed as equals among others.

Having a Pride event that consists of a single weekend is nothing more than a feel good event with little consequence. Few have voter registration drives or invite political candidates to attend and state their views.

Presidential candidate and former Alaska Senator Mike Gravel attended the Pride Parade in San Francisco, while Presidential candidate and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson attended the Pride festival in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. This is unfortunately not the rule, but the exception due to the presidential election season.

June should be a month of pride to acknowledge who we are and be proud of ourselves, but the other months should not be months of waiting another year and being complacent and hoping that we may be considered equal someday, they should be months making sure that we are equal someday soon.

Answer 4

Well, having a gay pride event is an inherently political act, considering it was not really possible in the US before 1960 and it's still impossible in many industrial countries around the world.

Add to that the fact the churches and other religious of cultural extremists actively lobby the government to restrict our rights, and the fact that we march is incredible.

I would say it's already political enough. We should focus on the hatemongers on our celebration time, and in so doing, allow the bigots to 'rain on our parade.'

Having fun and being joyfully fabulous is the best revenge.

Answer 5

I agree with jxt299.

There are a lot of days in the year to be serious and think in terms of politics, but - let everyone have the day off for fun on gay pride day, k?

Stonewall won't be forgotten...

Answer 6

Yes and yes. I have no problem with some fun but we need to encourage more activism in the gay community. Too many of us have become complacent in the face of a growing threat from a religious movement that would love to see us exterminated. The peace and love crap doesn't work. I think it's time we became more militant and demanded our freedom.

Answer 7

Yes...but not just the Stonewall riots...also all the other brave acts in our community's history, past present and future.

Answer 8

Definetly in part, but it needs to be fun too =)
Cause Stonewall wasn't exactly a cheerful day... Just revolutionary

Answer 9

I see them now as a celebration of the freedoms we've attained, rather than trying to attain those freedoms.

But there's still a way to go.

So I think it should be both, it should have a celebratory side AND a political side.

Answer 10

Why? What would it prove...that we are ..... Straight acting???? We ain't Straight and I have no desire to play like a straight person in any respect! We have an ability that straights lack...the ability to have fun while being ourselves! I actually pity straights, confined to a small box of behavior. Why would you want to do that? Are you concerned that some in parades are .... outrageous??? Thank heavens they are. Are you concerned that they present a distorted picture of the Gay society? Well of course a parade makes that distortion..otherwise, it would be a PROTEST march, not a parade. Gay parades are meant to do one thing...draw attention to our numbers ... nothing more, nothing less. And, the more outrageous the parade, the more it gets noticed. These parades serve their function, and they are just plain old fun. Let's not get bogged down into politics here..that is another field of action...a field we are NOT doing enough in.