While we’re talking about gay people…I have a question or two?

I love the Gay Pride parades. They are a celebration. (I am straight.)

(Most) people who are prejudiced about gays will see confirmation about their view, whereas people who think nothing about being gay or being straight will care less, I think.
I am part of the latter and I don’t like it, not because most participants are gay but because I don’t like carnival.
Note that gay people are just human (~) because their is no consensus in the gay community either about whether it is a good or bad propaganda means, and others who think that it shouldn’t be/isn’t a propaganda vehicle at all..

@rebbel do you think the parade is a meant to be a means for propaganda? I’ve often thought it was, but I know a few people who are gaywho feel taht it’s got a negative impact on how people perceive gays & lesbians, so as a propaganda tool, it’d be backfiring wouldn’t it?

As an event, I don’t think the participants are aiming to change or validate outsiders perceptions. I see these parades as a celebration and a safe-zone place for them to be themselves, in all their glory for one day within a group of like-minded. I thoroughly enjoy it.

I think @Blueroses has got the right of it. GA!

We’ve had some good discussions previously on this, here. I agree with @rebbel, different people will use the parades as ‘evidence’ for whatever their ideologies are – I don’t think they’re representatative of how all queer people are nor do I think there is anything wrong with how queers are at those parades. These parades don’t exist to endear us to those who don’t accept us, believe you me. That is simply not their purpose or history.

I agree with @Blueroses also. I think the parades are a place where non-hetero (and hetero as well, if they want) can feel free to express themselves in a safe environment.

I don’t think it’s a matter of what straight people think. Come on, think of Mardi Gras, for example, where you see tons of men and women acting blatantly sexual out in the open – women flashing their breasts for beads, that kind of thing. Do non-hetero people think “OMG! So that’s what those STRAIGHT people are like?”

I’m plagiarizing @Blueroses because her answer is perfect:

“As an event, I don’t think the participants are aiming to change or validate outsiders perceptions. I see these parades as a celebration and a safe-zone place for them to be themselves, in all their glory for one day within a group of like-minded. I thoroughly enjoy it.”

How is a Gay Pride parade any different than a St. Patrick’s Day parade? To me, it’s just people celebrating who they are.

The gay community isn’t some monolithic, homogeneous (no pun intended) mono culture.

I’m friends with a bunch of gay guys, and a few lesbians. Most of the gay guys I know either don’t care about gay parades or don’t particularly enjoy them. A few of them do, though. All of the lesbians love them. That’s just my experience with people I actually know and interact with, though, and that shouldn’t be taken as a representative microcosm of gay culture, or what have you.

I find them to be a perfect opportunity for bigots to self-disclose.

Another vote for @Blueroses “best answer” with a shout out to @tedibear . My LGBT etc etc friends who march do so for the same reasons that my Irish friends march and my Puerto Rican friends march etc etc. It’s just fun.

I only count one question…

“As an event, I don’t think the participants are aiming to change or validate outsiders perceptions. I see these parades as a celebration and a safe-zone place for them to be themselves, in all their glory for one day within a group of like-minded.”

I agree here.

I don’t attend gay pride parades anymore. Just not interested.

I hate trying to generalize too much about what “most” of any particularly named or labeled group thinks on a particular issue regarding politics, economics or law, and even more so when several different groups are aggregated as you have in the question.

Then there’s the issue of what constitutes “equality” between different groups of people (who have loads and loads of “unequalizers” even among members of the same group).

No, the question is a minefield. I like @marinelife‘s response.

I have a few gay friends who don’t like the flag symbol, but I haven’t heard anything about not liking the pride parades. I personally think they’re a bit too flamboyant for me, but I’m glad everyone participating in them is having a good time.

Just as long as you don’t get naked. That’s where I draw the line. I don’t care whether or not you’re LGBT, or straight as a whistle, I’m not interested in seeing you streak or come close to it.

Easter Parade, Jazz Festival, St Patrick’s Day Parade, Mummers Parade, Mardi Gras, are all celebrations where people act out or show off bizarre, flamboyant behavior. I don’t think you can pick out just one single example.