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I agree with you so much. I don't like the whole PRIDE parades or going to all gay events because i feel like they are tacky and a waste of time. I understand that you are proud but why do you have to act like that? If I ever have a partner I just want us to live like regular people without bringing all that attention to ourselves

The people in bondage gear are also fighting for acceptance and legal protection. I don't think we help the community by saying, "Yes, we want to be able to be out and proud about being gay!... except for those freaks in drag and the people who like hitting each other, go ahead and keep marginalizing them."

What I want to see is more couples with strollers in the parade making it as boring as possible. I want to see the stroller brigade, the dog club, the interminable "We work at Microsoft and we're queer" gang. In the Seattle parade we have more and more such groups.

We can never make the world freer or safer or kinder to people who are misunderstood by asking people to be quiet. All we can do is speak up alongside them. Come to the parade! Be yourself! Bring your stroller!

straight people are kinky too, they wish they had the balls to go out in public in their fitish gear. i think that you thinking that gay pride is tacky is what is setting back the cause. i mean really, it's not that big of a deal, we all want to go out and have a good time and show the world that we are here and we have the nuimbers that they just can't believe. as for you and your partner being "normal guys" well me and my partner are normal guys too. and yes people suspect me of being gay, because i told them. i could care less if they didn't like it. just because you are a weird type of closet case doesn't mean that the rest of us have to be. if you don't like the parades and festivals then don't go. but don't talk smack about them in a straight foruim and give the anti gay people more ammo than what they already have.

I'm old enough now that I've been to enough of them that it's "been there and done that." But in my younger days, I enjoyed them quite a bit.

I think maybe for younger people or people who are just coming out/coming to terms, it gives them a sense of community, a sense of "Wow, I'm not alone! Look how many of us there are!" Also, many straight people who are "friends of the community" show up and show their support and that's so important. So I think they serve a purpose. Yes, the media will focus on the most outrageous displays, but there are also gay religious groups and marching bands and charitable organizations. The good is there too, if people would look and see it.

From the Simpsons:

Gay guy in parade: "We're here! We're queer! Get used to it!"

Lisa Simpson: "We ARE used to it. You do this every year."

Part of me agrees with you. The parades really do nothing for the gay stereotypes. They just make us look like sex-mad lunatics. There's nothing wrong with being into bondage and that, but not in public. It's just embarrassing for the more "dignified" gays out there.

I haven't seen them yet but I think that some of the people (from what I hear) could use some fashion sense, but the biggest reason for the pride parades is that they are looking to get the world to recognize them for they are & not be discriminated against & that is it.

I do believe they are tacky. No need to do that sort of stuff in public to show your pride. I like your word, Dignified.

GO YOU!!!!!!

i thought i was the only 1!!!!

i know i mean that just makes us seem like overly feminine, wannabee girls who are obsessed with sex!

i agree,, and disagree

i think that they shouldn't do that becuz it gives lgbt ppl a bad name(a worse name than we already have)

but it's their way of self expression,, its a place where they can be themselves and not have to worry about ignorant bigots.

and ppl need to learn and know that not all lgbt ppl are deranged sex/fetish maniacs, and accept ppl as they are.