Pride Month!

[MorganaFang]

As many people know or don't (I won't hold it against you) June is Pride month. Where some of the most swinging parties, parades and celebrations of any kind are taking place. Specifically for the cause of human equality for everyone not depending on sexual orientation.

This year seems to be particularly special with the various things that occurred with the outcome of the election and the fortieth anniversary of Stone Wall Riots happening. (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gerald-mcentee/celebrating-lgbt-pride-mo_b_214341.html)

For many people the Stone Wall Riots have not been taught or under appreciated (I being among those folks so no worries). However, considering the current swing of things, more states passing gay marriage and more people all over the country (and even the world) calling foul on negative treatment of homosexual people it's time to start developing a better education.

Just for kicks (and because I'm a totally dragqueen groupie if that hasn't become abundantly obvious) here is Varla Jean Merman explaining the Stone Wall Riots.

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Feel free to share anything you got. All I ask is all sides be respectful. If a person comes in and is extraordinarily offensively against equal rights it does not do any good to be a jerk right back. The best way to win the war is to be better than the opposition.

[Chiron Jackal]

Bisexual FTM reporting in!

I only live 30 miles from San Francisco so I'll be running around S.F. having assorted fun - I'll be sure to bring pictures in for those less fortunately placed than myself.

Last year's parade was extra exciting; in the parade was Steve Weir and his husband John. Not only were they the first gay couple to be married in Contra Costa County, but Steve is actually the owner of my house and I know him personally (he's an amazingly thoughtful sweetheart).

[LV426]

I suppose I'm polysexual but not really into marches and such. I shall stand quietly in the wings and give my support where needed.

[Klark]

Though I myself am straight, I have no qualms taking up the march with my little sister who is a lesbian. I've attended a few parades with her where we marched together with her girlfriend at the time.

I'm extremely proud of her and her accomplishments, which have little to do with her sexual orientation. However, I have stood nearby and watched her defend her sexual preference, which is a sight to see.

[Vendetta]

I suppose I'm polysexual but not really into marches and such. I shall stand quietly in the wings and give my support where needed.
Same here. While I'm a vocal supporter of equality and rights for gays, I'm not sure what marching in a parade actually does.


Also, I hope after all this stuff is resolved (gays are accorded the same rights as everyone else,) we won't need a Pride MONTH anymore.

[Chiron Jackal]

Same here. While I'm a vocal supporter of equality and rights for gays, I'm not sure what marching in a parade actually does.

From my experience, it seems to be a source of fun which is otherwise kind of pointless. I just happen to be a fan of pointless fun.

[Klark]

Same here. While I'm a vocal supporter of equality and rights for gays, I'm not sure what marching in a parade actually does.


Also, I hope after all this stuff is resolved (gays are accorded the same rights as everyone else,) we won't need a Pride MONTH anymore.

It seemed to work for black equality and black rights. Maybe it's not perfect, but there were marches.

And once those rights are accorded, it won't be so much a Pride Month. I think it will become Gay History Month. :shrug:

[Vendetta]

And once those rights are accorded, it won't be so much a Pride Month. I think it will become Gay History Month. :shrug:
Exactly, and why do we need another one of those exactly?

[Klark]

Exactly, and why do we need another one of those exactly?

Who said we needed it? Is there another Gay History Month?

[Vendetta]

Who said we needed it? Is there another Gay History Month?
I mean another "X" History Month.

[MorganaFang]

From my experience, it seems to be a source of fun which is otherwise kind of pointless. I just happen to be a fan of pointless fun.

Me too and hell if it's pointless fun with the mask of a good cause why not? This also just serves as an excuse to educate more people too if people utilize that opportunity.

I also hope in the future we don't need months to venerate individual groups. That any day is open to these kind of festivities to celebrate all people.

[Klark]

I mean another "X" History Month.

Ah...I was thinking it was protocol. March for rights, get them, get History Month. :cool:

But I agree with Morgy.

[Vendetta]

This also just serves as an excuse to educate more people too if people utilize that opportunity.
Who exactly do the parades "educate"? And what do they educate them about?

[MorganaFang]

Who exactly do the parades "educate"? And what do they educate them about?

Ok, I'm going to take a leap and say you haven't participated in many pride activities because Parades are not the only thing that takes place. Newspapers print Gay history articles and some of the bookstores around here do something special.

Besides that, people can use Pride month themselves as an excuse to talk about it more openly. As the years go though people have been talking about pride issues at anytime, no month sanctioned for it required. I'm just saying that's how it has been used, and can be if people feel they need it.

[Vendetta]

Ok, I'm going to take a leap and say you haven't participated in many pride activities because Parades are not the only thing that takes place. Newspapers print Gay history articles and some of the bookstores around here do something special.
Err but I was specifically referring to parades though. I absolutely agree that articles and other awareness raising of the issues are good.

Besides that, people can use Pride month themselves as an excuse to talk about it more openly. As the years go though people have been talking about pride issues at anytime, no month sanctioned for it required. I'm just saying that's how it has been used, and can be if people feel they need it.
The only issue I have is that the people who WILL discuss the issue don't generally need the excuse and the people who won't, well no excuse is probably going to swing them into discussing it.

Also, I'd point out that civil rights marches and gay pride parades are VERY different things. Like I said, I'm just not convinced that gay pride parades do anything these days to help promate the gay rights movement. And more often than not provide fodder for those who would strike out against equality.

[JoshtheWolf]

Pride Month's here! I'm Gonna PARTY!!! :beerchug:

[Klark]

Here's something for Pride Month:


Read This Story (http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-06-19-voa11.cfm)

The lede:

Gays and lesbians in the United States have made considerable progress in recent years in their fight for the same legal rights as heterosexual Americans.

With a flick of his pen this week, U.S. President Barack Obama extended more job benefits to the partners of gay government employees than many had ever had before.

[BlackRosePhantom]

I just want to say in Pitt, pride was last week. It was really fun, I was in the march, and I also performed at the festival.

Who exactly do the parades "educate"? And what do they educate them about?
The parades themselves don't do much "educating" as to more of colorful fun and spreading awareness. It does so because we're able to show how big we are and how much we're out there (with just our representatives in the parade), on top of that, anyone that happens to pass by will see how many people come to actual view the march. It's amazing just how many people I saw as I marched down the streets of Pittsburgh.

Pride March also kicks off Pride Fest. That's where the education comes in. All these different kinds of equal rights groups get their tents and vendors out, and pass out pamphlets, educational brochures, condoms, lube, trinkets, flyers, newsletters, e-news sign-up lists, and a bunch of other items. All of the color and the fun attracts people in who didn't even plan to go and they come out having learned a ton. My only qualm is that the Delta Foundation (the group that organizes our Pride) organizes an entire pride week, and the youth (under 18) only get to enjoy Pridefest, which is just one day. But it's still a whole lot of fun, and it gets our voice out there. (^_^)

[west]

i dont know any homophobes on the site but this helps put things into perspective a little bit

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[Tempest]

This is a pretty good video explaining the problems that transgendered people face. We really do forget about them. Just a side note, he says that man and woman are genders, but I'm pretty sure he was mixing it up with masculine and feminine. I'm think the terms man and woman refer to sex.

oE-wmu65kzE

[MetaKittie]

Man I love Pride Month. >_> I'm going to wear rainbow-y things for a reason today (to be weird).

I myself am not bisexual, but I wouldn't pass up the opportunity to have an experience (Lore knows this).
Transgendered/Gay/Lesbian/bisexual people don't bother me a bit. Why should it, not my choice. It pretty sad how prejudiced my family is. -.-
:beerchug:

[west]

Pride Month was two months ago, but at least you want to be proactive

[Chiron Jackal]

This is a pretty good video explaining the problems that transgendered people face. We really do forget about them. Just a side note, he says that man and woman are genders, but I'm pretty sure he was mixing it up with masculine and feminine. I'm think the terms man and woman refer to sex.

oE-wmu65kzE

I love you.

Because much of being transgendered is about how you outwardly project yourself and how the world interacts with you, there's not a real good way of hiding it without simply suppressing it.

Also, I feel like I'm lying every time I use a ladies restroom. Which, in addition to being kind of a downer, is incredibly fucking awkward to experience.

[Shaun]

I love you.

Because much of being transgendered is about how you outwardly project yourself and how the world interacts with you, there's not a real good way of hiding it without simply suppressing it.

Also, I feel like I'm lying every time I use a ladies restroom. Which, in addition to being kind of a downer, is incredibly fucking awkward to experience.

Awhile back I had a new guy at my job site that was in the process of becoming a women. He confided this to me and my buddy Aaron and I automatically told him to keep quiet. Not that I felt odd being cool with him, but construction guys can be dicks about that sort of thing. When he needed to use the restroom, we kept a look out for him so he could use the ladies room. I did it cause I thought for sure if he went into the mens room and a guy caught wind of his 'femininity' he'd get beaten. Now I feel better knowing it made him more comfortable for other reasons.

[zeroxwolfx]

I've never understood "sexuality" pride, kind of like I don't get national pride, or racial pride.

Maybe that because of how I define pride. For me pride is on something your accomplish, or something that takes some sort of effort, and achievement. For instance, I'm proud of my HS diploma, it took work after all, I'll be proud of my degree when I'm done with college. Keeping in mind, I'm one of those people who thinks that sexual orientation is something you are born with, or, something that isn't a choice. So I don't see how people can be proud to be gay, or proud to be an American, or proud to be white, or black, or whatever. What did you ever DO to become white? I'm certainly not proud I'm an American, I'm glad I'm an American, but that's different, now... maybe if I was an immigrant and I had to wait many long years and strive through property to obtain American citizenship, then yeah sure I can see someone being proud to be an American.

But serious, what did anyone ever DO to become gay? Unless of course your gay by choice, and you had to clench your teeth and hold your stomach in during anal sex in prison, then sure, congratulations on being able to bend over and take it like a man.

If anything, if they still want to have their little parades, they can at least come up with a different name with them, why not just gay parades? Or Gay celebration parades? Get creative!

[Tempest]

I've never understood "sexuality" pride, kind of like I don't get national pride, or racial pride.

Maybe that because of how I define pride. For me pride is on something your accomplish, or something that takes some sort of effort, and achievement. For instance, I'm proud of my HS diploma, it took work after all, I'll be proud of my degree when I'm done with college. Keeping in mind, I'm one of those people who thinks that sexual orientation is something you are born with, or, something that isn't a choice. So I don't see how people can be proud to be gay, or proud to be an American, or proud to be white, or black, or whatever. What did you ever DO to become white? I'm certainly not proud I'm an American, I'm glad I'm an American, but that's different, now... maybe if I was an immigrant and I had to wait many long years and strive through property to obtain American citizenship, then yeah sure I can see someone being proud to be an American.

But serious, what did anyone ever DO to become gay? Unless of course your gay by choice, and you had to clench your teeth and hold your stomach in during anal sex in prison, then sure, congratulations on being able to bend over and take it like a man.

If anything, if they still want to have their little parades, they can at least come up with a different name with them, why not just gay parades? Or Gay celebration parades? Get creative!

No... pride has to do with how you view yourself. It has to do with self-respect. Many homosexuals and bisexuals have felt ashamed of their sexuality because some people really are just jerks about it. Some homosexuals have even have been so ashamed that they attempt to lead a heterosexual life, even though that's not who they are.

Someone who is proud of their sexuality is someone who respects himself/herself and isn't going to change his/her sexuality just because some people don't like the thought of "going against God". That's what gay pride parades are about: being who you are and respecting yourself.

I get your point, but I think you're misunderstanding what pride is. Even if you don't want to take the dictionary definition, people who aren't heterosexual or who are transgendered can face a lot of hardships. Overcoming them isn't an accomplishment in your book?