What does Gay Pride mean to you?

[pride7]

It's summer and time for Gay Pride around the world. What does Gay Pride mean to you?

[Tony New York]

Pride is all about community, understanding, self respect and knowing that we are beautiful...We come is all sizes and colors and each and everyone of us has worth and meaning...

Once you feel that sense that you are liberated you no longer are invisible...And no longer being invisible, you can shine...

You have to be passionate about who and what you are...The sense of pride awakens all sorts of options in life...

Some people think that I am too much of an elitist because I go out of my way to patronize gay owned establishments.. Well ? Isn't that too fucking bad ...

Celebrate your life...Get crazy...Be proud....
Anthony DeMello, a Jesuit philosopher said it best...

"Silence is not the absence of sound, it is the absence of self" .............

[cowboy]

It's summer and time for Gay Pride around the world. What does Gay Pride mean to you?

hi pride 7

The history of our gay pride started by force, ( in toronto)
There was a murder of a young boy called "emanuel jacks" the shoeshine boy murder" the popuation blamed the gays since it was done by 3 gay men, tus the gay popuation was labled perverts, which forced gays to portest that stigma. After a few years , the pride became about gay rights, and opened up more and more as the years passed.

Now after all these years of the pride parade in Toronto being the biggest, in north america, over 1 million, it has become a comercial display of $$$$$ from hugh corprate companies to cash in. i.e " signs from phone companies to beer all saying we support gays and pride. Funny they where no where to be found on gay pride years ago. Even the mayor and police would never been seen near us, but now they all join in.

And what has the parade become now? Same old thing, one flat bed truck after another with loud music & men shaking thier butts in almost nothing.
sex sex sex sex ,,,what message are we giving out these days,,,?

JUST A PARTY OF SEX,,,COMPANIES GRABBING $$ AND MAYORS VOTES.
we have lost our way,,,

[Tony New York]

Hey Cowboy..



First of all I Have to state for the record that I have agreed with most of your posts…Until now…lol…

It was a shame that the liberation movement in Toronto had such a sad beginning…But, it was a beginning….Too many times the innocent have to feel the brunt of society’s wrath in order to achieve their ultimate goals .



For New York City it unfolded like this…A bar in Greenwich Village located on Christopher Street between Sheridan Square and Gay Street…(Yes Gay Street)…The actual name given the street by the city…Was raided…

The Bar was called The Stonewall…

The Stonewall riots were a series of violent conflicts between New York City police officers and groups of gay men that began during the early morning of June 28th. 1969, and lasted several days. Also called the Stonewall Rebellion or simply Stonewall, the clash was a watershed for the worldwide movement, as gay groups had never before acted together in such large numbers to forcibly resist police.

Anyway, the thing that I have to disagree with are your thoughts about the commercialization of Pride and the pandering to the gay community by the politicians…

In the past we were the invisible minority…But what does the commercialization and political pandering say about the gay community ? The courting of big business tells the world that gays are a strong and viable economic group…A group that boasts high employment per capita…

As far as the politicians all of a sudden courting us, shows that we are no longer invisible…New York City gays are considered the highest group of voters compared to any other minority group…



This tells the powers that be that we are a force to be reckoned with…



All disagreement put aside, there are very few people in bgay that I have as much respect for as you and James..



If you want to rebut my post, just go easy on me…You know how sensitive I am…lol…

[Justin.Andrews88]

What I don't understand is that the gay community has a whole month every year set aside for pride. Different festivals all around the globe in hundeds of cities and what message do we send, Sex! Instead of endless flatbed trucks with guys in speedos and thongs or parade full of cross dressers (who normally don't cross dress) why not use that time to make sure the media and the community take us seriously. Dress like we would normally. Wear a business suit, dress like we were going to work. Ok, if that's a strip club then so be it.

We need to use the forums we have wisely. Let everyone know that being gay isn't all about sex. Most of the time, its about being just like everybody else: Going to work, earning a living, going shopping, going out for dinner, etc. Why during pride do we insist on reinforcing the stereotypes that the other 11 months out of the year we try so vigorously to put down?

People are going to see and perceive the image that we set forth. If we set forth one of sex and scantily clad men shaking their booty, then that is what they are going to think most gays are like. But if we portray an image of people going about everyday life, they are going to say, what is the big deal, they are just like us. And then, maybe, just maybe the light will go on and they will see that there isn't a lot of differences after all.

Justin

[cowboy]

right on justin
,,and isnt it funny, the people who organize these events have a whole year! and still all they can come up with is men on flat-bed trucks"
After all these years you would think they would make the floats bigger better, ( like a rose parade) or Santa parade floats.
have each float a theme" movies, or history, or something!!

Now mind you , I have seen better gay parades, other places, austrailla,
New Orleans etc, but over all most cities still cling to the sex sex sex , gay pride!
OUR parade is well over 3hrs long, mostly people holding banners to say wut and who they are, ( organizations),etc and sex, men on trucks, with drag queens in between.
I agree with you justin, I wish they would do something! anything different!!!
then maybe gays would be looked at differently.

[Tony New York]

First of all...Stop taking life so seriously...Have you ever seen Mardi Gras or Carnival in Rio ?...Have you ever seen anyone marching in a business suit ?...The Pride parades are just people having fun...Taking time out from the serious matters that are happening in life all year...If you look at the strides that gays have made since 1969, it would be clear to you that no one thinks that how we look in the parades is a clear representation of who we are...Lighten up...Do people, when they see the Mardi Gras Parade think that all those people run around almost naked the rest of the year ?...Do they think the same in Rio ? ...

Take the religious right for instance...Do you think if we "normalized" the pride parades that they will stop thinking that gays are not "abominations" ?...And that we are just like them ?...

Do you think that the conservative parties will stop using our life style as a political ploy ?...Stop being so naive...Stop picking on the pride parades...They are after all just that...Just parades...A once a year happening...Do you see guys running around half naked any other time of the year ?...You judge the whole movement by one week out of the year...

Have you ever been to New York Pride ?...The streets are lined with half a million people many are straight...Many with kids...Applauding and having a great time...And that is exactly what you should be doing...Try laughing at yourselves once in awhile...It's healthy and " normal "

[cowboy]

Hey Cowboy..



First of all I Have to state for the record that I have agreed with most of your posts…Until now…lol…

It was a shame that the liberation movement in Toronto had such a sad beginning…But, it was a beginning….Too many times the innocent have to feel the brunt of society’s wrath in order to achieve their ultimate goals .



For New York City it unfolded like this…A bar in Greenwich Village located on Christopher Street between Sheridan Square and Gay Street…(Yes Gay Street)…The actual name given the street by the city…Was raided…

The Bar was called The Stonewall…

The Stonewall riots were a series of violent conflicts between New York City police officers and groups of gay men that began during the early morning of June 28th. 1969, and lasted several days. Also called the Stonewall Rebellion or simply Stonewall, the clash was a watershed for the worldwide movement, as gay groups had never before acted together in such large numbers to forcibly resist police.

Anyway, the thing that I have to disagree with are your thoughts about the commercialization of Pride and the pandering to the gay community by the politicians…

In the past we were the invisible minority…But what does the commercialization and political pandering say about the gay community ? The courting of big business tells the world that gays are a strong and viable economic group…A group that boasts high employment per capita…

As far as the politicians all of a sudden courting us, shows that we are no longer invisible…New York City gays are considered the highest group of voters compared to any other minority group…



This tells the powers that be that we are a force to be reckoned with…



All disagreement put aside, there are very few people in bgay that I have as much respect for as you and James..



If you want to rebut my post, just go easy on me…You know how sensitive I am…lol…


sorry tony didnt see your post until now,,,me bad,,hahaha
I agree that gays have come along way,,,and rightfully so,
as for the big business"" your right they see us" as 2 gays guys toghter, double incomes and no kids,,cha-ching!"",,Gee even Id say I support anything if I knew my profits would increase,,,
and yes stonewall" is famous: every gay knows that part of history also,,

I guess my point was,,i,e On anyday in toronto,,you can buy a hotdog on any corner, for about $2,00 ,,,gay pride week-end they set up their carts and a hotdog is $4.00,
Or beer tents charge $6 for a beer when anyother time its $5 in a bar.

the last thing that that I wonder about is,,,no offense, politicians they now march in the parade, but when a " civil right " is introduced to make it law,,,i,e marriage, gays seems they dont or wont pass it,,U.S.A
or pension plans of one to another partner when one dies, ( some companies do this others dont.Its not law,,,yet,,

anyhoo as james would say,,,,haha
thanks tony,,,smiles,,,we miss talkin to ya,,,,
say hi to carl,,& drifter for us" k?
cowboy,,,hugs

[James]

Thanks Tony, very kind of you to say.:)

[Unregistered]

I'm thankfull that this site exists. It has helped me, over the past few months, to deal with a young gay man that has a BIGGG! problem with self esteem.
When I first started talking to this young man, he was asking about how he could commit suicide because he was gay, and having a difficult with his sexuality.
I begged him to NOT hurt himself, and so far, I have been successfull, but I am beginning to run out of ideas. I don't know what to do next.
If this child were to hurt himself, I don't think I would cope with it well.
Can you help me find someone, or a group that can help me with this problem?
I have been a subsriber to your E-zine for a while and have developed a great deal of respect for the way you operate your site. I'm sure that any guidance you can give me, would help save a life.
Thank You!!!

[pride7]

The Trevor Project is a wonderful organization that provides help for young people in need. Go to http://thetrevorproject.org/helpline.aspx for more information.

[Tony New York]

If you are not a professional who knows how to deal with a problem like this, you may single handedly cause this guys death...He needs professional help..Stop playing shrink...You may have an ulterior motive for advising this guy...Let it go before it is too late...

[Unregistered]

Sadly- most of what is to be considered gay pride is nothing more than the advertisement of skinny happy people having better sex than you will ever have. Has anyone really ever found those Ken doll-like men who call themselves boi's to be good for anything more than showing off and a quick round in the sack? Is it the boi's fault for being so vacuous and disconnected or is it the gay communities fault for showing him images of gay life that never changed from the typical skinny happy guy's getting attention from everyone because of their lack of attire in a public setting. Ever see that play out in a gay bar? Yup-it's just as sad there too. What do you expect-the gay role models have generally come from hardcore porn and beer advertisements. And don't even say that's changing in the media-gays are still just a punchline people. Even Logo TV has come to realize the comedic potential of the GLBT community. That doesn't mean that will never change but let's be real here-to all of those who complain about lack of roll models for the GLBT community you must have forgotten that each community decides on what they consider a roll model on their own. Well what is the GLBT community waiting for? Another Will and Grace knockoff to hit us on the head and set us back 10 years yet again? I forgot-it's the straight guys that we want to be our roll models because of their raw masculinity and good looks. Gay men always seem to be lacking in one if not both of those areas and once again we feel like we got burned. Our ideal of the perfect man typically goes up from there. I haven't met too many gay guys who want an overweight, depressed, limp wristed, lisping, campy and loud guy to be their date. Isn't this where everyone says (No, you're wrong-most gay men want a feminine shrieking public embarrassment!)
I think pride should reflect the realistic values gay men typically hold to be a virtue and get Brad Pitt or Justin Timberlake to emcee gay pride. It would make the images being thrown at us easier on the eyes. Always lusting after men we can't have-that's what gay pride means to most. Miller and Anheuser-Busch have long since known how to appeal to the gay community have used for a long time without shame or excuse straight men in gay advertising. That tells us that corporate sponsors are out to sell more crap to the built in audience that puts themselves in front of it's alternative marketing machine. Do you really think they are interested in portraying gay life honestly? Why not do a photo shoot in your run of the mill gay bar? because it wouldn't as slick. We only have ourselves to blame as a gay community. They only give us what we ask them for. So if we want to change the corporate mindset and have them show gay couples on porches with puppies there first has to be a need for such an ad. As a whole-gays are not offended by a poster with a group of hot men dancing and 2 of them kissing while they both perfectly grasp a beer in the center of the frame. We like that versus the gay Bartles & James alternative. Wouldn't most agree.
Gay Pride is void of any actual pride of self. It's to feel a part of something bigger than yourself so you don't feel all alone. (that's why any GLBT member has no right to poke fun at Christians and other religions. They seek what we all seek-a place to belong around people who have similar beliefs and experiences. That's real gay pride-it's also the kind that remains hidden from view as recognition is not a part of it's general purpose.)
Thank You Everyone
mafioso's famiglia