Gay activists to set up Stockyards kissing booth

[Riesstiu IV]

I don't know about you, but I bacon. What do you have against bacon, Sloww?

Or maybe Sloww doesn't like bacon and children.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I love eating children with bacon topping

[Wezil]

Baby bacon.

[SlowwHand]

[MrFun]

Pretty picture - even if there are no naked studs in it.

[Patroklos]

And you wonder why gay pride parades universally backfire

[MRT144]

And you wonder why gay pride parades universally backfire

For who? The gays enjoy them.

[Asher]

For who? The gays enjoy them.

Not just the gays. Increasing numbers of my straight friends go as well.

A few of them have gone far more than I have.

Backfire isn't a word I'd use. They're more and more popular every year.

[MrFun]

And you wonder why gay pride parades universally backfire

You straight guys just keep to yourselves at Hooters restaurants, college frat parties and such, and we queers will keep to ourselves.

[Patroklos]

For who? The gays enjoy them.

No, they (all) don't. Not all gays (I dare say most gays) are flamboyant drag queens or exhibitionists, most are regular people with boring mundane lives and habits who are just as put off by arrogant and self defeating displays of look at me asshatery (I am talking about the flamboyant SF type ones, normal rights marches are another thing) as anyone else. Or in other words, they are just like the rest of us.

I have a feeling Asher and Mr. Fun would be just as out of place amoungst drag queens as I would be.

You straight guys just keep to yourselves at Hooters restaurants, college frat parties and such, and we queers will keep to ourselves.

Also self defeating, on both counts.

The best way to change perceptions of people's minds is for any oppressed minority to live their life as everyone else does/they want. Kiss your partner in public. Hold hands. Have those picknicks in the park. Take your kids to public events as a couple. Don't let your opponents constantly lable you as special or different when you really aren't. Big events have their place, but in the end it is the little displays repeated a million times without fanfare that entrench normalcy.

As I said in reference to the OP event, all those couples showing up as normal tourists/sight seers and just being themselves would be far more effective in convincing people (who are capable of being convinced, some people are set in their ways) that their fears/predjudices/hatred are based on nothing.

[MRT144]

No, they (all) don't. Not all gays (I dare say most gays) are flamboyant drag queens, most are regular people with boring mundane lives and habits who are just as put off by arrogant and self defeating displays of look at me asshatery (I am talking about the flamboyant SF type ones, normal rights marches are another thing). Or in other words, they are just like the rest of us.

I have a feeling Asher and Mr. Fun would be just as out of place amoungst drag queens as I would be.



Also self defeating, on both counts.

So to watch a gay pride parade you have to come in drag? I take it, this is the reason you've avoided them for so long?

[Asher]

No, they (all) don't. Not all gays (I dare say most gays) are flamboyant drag queens exhibitionists, most are regular people with boring mundane lives and habits who are just as put off by arrogant and self defeating displays of look at me asshatery (I am talking about the flamboyant SF type ones, normal rights marches are another thing) as anyone else. Or in other words, they are just like the rest of us.

I have a feeling Asher and Mr. Fun would be just as out of place amoungst drag queens as I would be.

Oh, **** off.

If you think that's all gay pride parades are, you're ****ed up.

I've been to Toronto's, Calgary's, and San Francisco's and the vast majority of people in the parade (not to mention the spectators) are not flamboyant drag queen exhibitionists. Many people are, of course, because it's a celebration of diversity and doing what they wanted to do in a supportive environment which -- thanks to reactions like yours -- is hard to come by.

The best way to change perceptions of people's minds is for any oppressed minority to live their life as everyone else does.

**** off. You honestly have no idea what the **** you are talking about.

If you don't like the gay pride parade, fine, don't go. But it's a fun little tradition that many people do enjoy because it IS different, not because it's the same. I don't expect a yes-man military ***** to comprehend the concepts behind social freedoms and the sensation of liberation for people who do live in a largely hostile environment, but you should try just a little bit harder.

I'm not even close to being a drag queen, nor do I find them attractive, etc. But if it makes people happy, then they should go for it. Who are we to judge. The pride parades are great events because it's one of the only places in the world where people are not judged for what they are or what they want to do. It's not about checking out exhibitionists, it's about meeting people who are not like you and not having to deal with people like you.

It's a nice societal reversal. Refreshing, even.

[Patroklos]

So to watch a gay pride parade you have to come in drag? I take it, this is the reason you've avoided them for so long?

Did I say that?

Oh, **** off.

If you think that's all gay pride parades are, you're ****ed up.

Considering I specifically said all gay pride parades are not, you must just be a ****ing ****** (as per normal). However, the one in the OP is obviously exhibitionist, so my characterization is appropriate.

I've been to Toronto's, Calgary's, and San Francisco's and the vast majority of people in the parade (not to mention the spectators) are not flamboyant drag queen exhibitionists. Many people are, of course, because it's a celebration of diversity and doing what they wanted to do in a supportive environment which -- thanks to reactions like yours -- is hard to come by.

Yet who are the loudest voices? This is no different than any other movement where the most outrageous get the air time, and in the end it is up to the participants themselves to control the perception.

**** off. You honestly have no idea what the **** you are talking about.

Everything I said is perfectly logical and in the end exactly how every other minority groop has accompished integration when successful.

If you don't like the gay pride parade, fine, don't go. But it's a fun little tradition that many people do enjoy because it IS different, not because it's the same. I don't expect a yes-man military ***** to comprehend the concepts behind social freedoms and the sensation of liberation for people who do live in a largely hostile environment, but you should try just a little bit harder.

If that is more important to you than actually achieving the societal accpetance and integration that is the core of your movement, so be it.

BTW, I find it highly ironic that you talk about how to achieve equal rights while you have demonstrated yourself to be the only bigot in the thread. Congratulations.

I'm not even close to being a drag queen, nor do I find them attractive, etc. But if it makes people happy, then they should go for it. Who are we to judge. The pride parades are great events because it's one of the only places in the world where people are not judged for what they are or what they want to do. It's not about checking out exhibitionists, it's about meeting people who are not like you and not having to deal with people like you.

And thus you miss the point, because you are bieng judged. Again, just as every movement always is when the most outrageous of their members are allowed to be the face of a movement, even if they have very little resemblance to the vast majority of who they claim to represent.

Is not the main theme of many a gay rights organization that gays work with you, go to school with you, go to holiday BBQs with you, raise kids just like you, and are in all relevant ways just like you?

You have your messages mixed up, and because you are such a bigot you can't accept the fact that what I am pointing out to you is more than valid.

[MrFun]

No, they (all) don't. Not all gays (I dare say most gays) are flamboyant drag queens or exhibitionists, most are regular people with boring mundane lives and habits who are just as put off by arrogant and self defeating displays of look at me asshatery (I am talking about the flamboyant SF type ones, normal rights marches are another thing) as anyone else. Or in other words, they are just like the rest of us.

I have a feeling Asher and Mr. Fun would be just as out of place amoungst drag queens as I would be.

The best way to change perceptions of people's minds is for any oppressed minority to live their life as everyone else does/they want. Kiss your partner in public. Hold hands. Have those picknicks in the park. Take your kids to public events as a couple. Don't let your opponents constantly lable you as special or different when you really aren't. Big events have their place, but in the end it is the little displays repeated a million times without fanfare that entrench normalcy.

As I said in reference to the OP event, all those couples showing up as normal tourists/sight seers and just being themselves would be far more effective in convincing people (who are capable of being convinced, some people are set in their ways) that their fears/predjudices/hatred are based on nothing.

You're right - I tend to relate and interact much more easily with a variety of other types of gay men than I have with drag queens. But it's not because I dislike drag queens.

And you're right on your second point that "normal" public displays of affection without organizing a publicly announced "kiss-in" demonstration can be effective in changing social attitudes of gay people. BUT, this does not mean that organized "kiss-in" demonstrations cannot have their own positive place in this, as well.

But your description of gay pride parades/events as being "flamboyant asshattery" is really offensive and filled with bull****. As Asher has already pointed out in response to your snide remarks about gay pride events, the events make up a much more diverse people than what you acknowledge. Examples include gay and lesbian veterans in military, police departments, fire departments, PFLAG members, and so on - many of whom do not fit the "flamboyant, asshattery" stereotype and yet they all participate in gay pride events.

If many others let loose for a day or two in the spirit of festive, care-free celebration at gay pride events I say that's perfectly fine, too. Gay pride events are a combination of festivities, demonstration, and civil rights activism.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Gay Pride Parades are very fun and the stereotype of everyone in leather or drag is way, way, way overplayed. Are a few people like that? Sure. But to think the majority are is just silly.