TheBreeder Posted June 30, 2013 Report Share Posted June 30, 2013 To see Breeder's original blog post click here It’s Pride here in New York today. Every year from certain quarters—online and in real life—I listen to gay men grouse about this annual celebration. I’ve written before about how they point at photos of drag queens and shirtless twinks with outrageous hair and complain, “Why should I be proud of that?” Maybe you’re not proud of flamboyance. Be proud of this: be proud (if you can) that you live in a society in which you’re not arrested simply for showing up to a Pride parade, and that our fierce feminine brothers can express themselves freely without being arrested for ‘gay propaganda.’ Be proud you live in a country that allows gay demonstrations of all stripes, from the simple and unorganized to the vast and corporate sponsored—because there are many in which such a thing would be squelched and the participants incarcerated, if not killed. Be proud you live in a country in which being gay or lesbian or bisexual or transgendered or what-have-you is now legal. It wasn’t always. If you live in a country or a state in which marriage equality has been established, be proud of that. If you don’t, be proud that year by year, state by state, the movement is coming your way. Be proud that DOMA was defanged. Be proud that California is once again allowing same-sex marriages. In other words, even as you stay aware that there’s much left to do, be proud of the progress that we have made and that we will continue to make. And maybe even most of all, be proud of the fact that in spite of setbacks, in spite of selfishness and fear and the irrational hate of others, we have made progress—and will continue to do so. Be proud of yourself. No matter whom you love, you’re part of a rich and beautiful tapestry of humanity. And that is worth celebrating. More... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JizzDumpWI Posted June 30, 2013 Report Share Posted June 30, 2013 Short, but OH so relevant. THANKS! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hotload84 Posted June 30, 2013 Report Share Posted June 30, 2013 Well put, TheBreeder. I'm among the guys who doesn't participate in the Gay Pride celebrations or the other gay-related street fairs that abound in Philadelphia, but I'm glad such activities are around, if only because, in some measure, they give the LGBT community the courage to fight for my political and social rights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBreeder Posted June 30, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2013 And I'm so used to guys saying "It's so big!" Short, but OH so relevant. THANKS! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBreeder Posted June 30, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2013 It doesn't take a parade to be proud, Hotload. I know you know it, too. Well put, TheBreeder. I'm among the guys who doesn't participate in the Gay Pride celebrations or the other gay-related street fairs that abound in Philadelphia, but I'm glad such activities are around, if only because, in some measure, they give the LGBT community the courage to fight for my political and social rights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mspButtMunch Posted June 30, 2013 Report Share Posted June 30, 2013 And I'm so used to guys saying "It's so big!" Very well put Breeder.. oh, and btw... I would love to experience "It's so big" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JizzDumpWI Posted June 30, 2013 Report Share Posted June 30, 2013 And I'm so used to guys saying "It's so big!" Oh shoot, that li'l ole thing??? LOL Prove it buddy... Come here and spend a weekend... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaser Posted July 6, 2013 Report Share Posted July 6, 2013 Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilqueerpig Posted July 6, 2013 Report Share Posted July 6, 2013 What's now known as Pride was originally started to commemorate the "Stonewall Uprising"...when Leather Studs, Drag Queens and QUEERS of all stripes got together and fought the NYPD. The battles of DOMA and Prop 8 have been won, but the war is far from over and if we think of Pride as a daily part of our lives, instead of an annual event, victory will be ours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBreeder Posted July 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2013 So true, EQP. It's been working so far—but we've got a lot left to do. What's now known as Pride was originally started to commemorate the "Stonewall Uprising"...when Leather Studs, Drag Queens and QUEERS of all stripes got together and fought the NYPD. The battles of DOMA and Prop 8 have been won, but the war is far from over and if we think of Pride as a daily part of our lives, instead of an annual event, victory will be ours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hotload84 Posted July 7, 2013 Report Share Posted July 7, 2013 So true, EQP. It's been working so far—but we've got a lot left to do. Amen to that, brother. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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