Ok only just seen the stuff about 'gay' celebrations, but felt I absolutely have to comment, so sorry if it's been said before, but this has upset and angered me, particularly as I don't think it has come from a homophobic point of view but rather from a lack of understanding regarding LGBT issues.
I should perhaps point out that I am an 'out' woman, I am a bisexual woman who lives a lesbian lifestyle, has had lesbian relationships/lovers (far more so than with men), I am fomer equalities officer, work/have worked with young lgbt people and work on the gay scene in one of the biggest venues in the UK.
I am 'out' to everybody, friends, family, work colleagues etc. Why is this important for me? For many people, me included, the process of discovering and coming to terms with your sexuality is/was extremely difficult and complex, analysing these feeling you have, deciding what, if anything to do about it, who to tell etc, and more often than not with the idea that this is not 'normal'! For me, coming out was about being honest about who I was, no more, no less! I simply couldn't live a lie anymore.
Think about the society we live in, how many positive images of lesbians and gay men, or indeed bisexual or trans people do we see? Where are they? A few on tv, usually in some salacious storyline, occassionally in the press and again usually not in a positive way. Think about advertising, media, education, the workplace, think about the whole of the world we live in and what we see, what is 'considered normal' - men and women with their 2.4 kids!
Now I am not knocking that, hey my parents were straight, however when you grow up and all you see and hear is heterosexual society, when the idea that you'll get married, wear a white dress, havce a husband who loves you and have chidren, is propagated time and time again, when most lgbt people are hidden from the mainstream, it is so difficult for people to discover and come to terms with their sexuality when it is not heterosexual.
So they think they may be LGBT, what do they do? Tell their family - many people still face horrific reactions from their family, tell your friends - people still get cut off from their friends, tell your colleagues- people get bullied in the workplace! Oh, I forgot, they don't need to tell anyone do they, they should hide who they are maybe?
Wrong! Until we live in a society where we are all equal, not just under law but in societies attitude, I absolutely applaud those who feel the need to and have to courage to 'come out'! Why should I hide who I am, why shouldn't I walk down the street with my girlfriend without abuse or some stupid fuckwit saying, ooo can I watch! Why should my gay mates have to lie to parents about who they are dating, about who they love! why is it such a big issue! We as lgbt people don't cause the issues, we find a way to live with them! And thats what Pride is about!
Please note that title, PRIDE! Proud of who we are, proud of living my life and not a lie, proud of my girlfriend/boyfirend, proud to answer quesions when asked who I'm dating/who my partner is, etc! Pride means living our lives as lgbt people without lies, without hiding, openly! It doesn't celebrate being gay, it celebrates having pride in your choice to live you life without lies despite the difficulties we still face from society!
Of course the physical acts are private, however that is not all that sexuality about! Until there comes a time when your heterosexuality is not assumed, and not being heterosexual doesn't make you different, when you don't need to 'come out', then we need pride and we need people to live 'out' lifestyles and provide role models and examples to others.
Until gay people don't get beaten in the street, spat upon, bullied at work, disowned by their families, then we need Pride events.
Until its no longer the case that 1 in 10 young lgbt people try self harm / commit suicide, that over 50% of young lgbt people have experienced homophobic bullying from peers, and until sexuality is talked about and accepted in schools, we need Pride
Until I can walk hand in hand down the street with my partner without comment we need Pride!
Until I can have children and them not get bullied or teased because of who I love, until my gay male mates can have children without people assuming they are going to abuse them, then we need Pride!
Until words like, shirtlifter, nancy boy, faggot, poof, queer, lezza, , etc. are eradicated or used by the gay community ourselves and not used as insults, we need Pride!
Until young men like Matthew Sheperd aren't murdered in homophobic attacks , and two young boys aren't put to death for being gay, until people are no longer tortured, imprisoned and put to death in so many countries around the world, we need Pride
and until I and everyone else like me can simply be ourselves, without prejudice, intolerance or fear, then I will carry on flying my flag, carrying my banner, blowing my whistle, celebrating Pride and challenging bigoted and misguided viewpoints!
Sorry for rant, but it had to be said! (And this was restraining myself!)
*much hugs for you sassy*
Great post Sassy :thumbup:
Reading your post makes it clear that peoples attitudes are so far from the ideal.
I wish people would refrain from making outdated comments on such an emotive issue, which will upset and anger people.
Remember each and every one of us has emotions, and flipant remarks do harm others.
Everyone should have the right to live their life, however they choose.
The people who have an ignorant outlook on other peoples lifesytles and perferences, should learn except the diversity of society, or shut up.
I for one want to be part of a society with non judgemental attitudes and exceptance.
H, red
Sassy
Brilliant post hun. All who enter SH should be advised to read it. xx
Wishmaster
read the post by Sassy then eat your words mate.
Phredd
Sassy - wonderful, moving post - you so eloquently wrote what I so miserably failed to do in mine.
x x x
Wishmaster:
My opinion on this is that until Gay, Bisexual and Straight people actually get equal treatment in society then Pride events are a positive thing.
As a bisexual man at the moment life is much easier if I am apparently Heterosexual due to very open prejudice in most walks of life. If I appear to be Heterosexual it is not assumed that I wish to have sex with every woman I meet but present attitudes mean that a lot of people assume that a gay/bisexual man will want to have sex with any man he meets.
Pride is in my opinion about challenging societies assumptions and prejudices not about getting better or special treatment.
Roger
Whilst in no way do I condone what Wishie is saying (or how he's saying it) I can see one point he's trying to make. We allow minorities to have their parades and yes people do knock it, but if the hetero's had a similar parade then they would be accused of all sorts of bigotry and homophobia. Hetero's can be as proud of who they are but aren't allowed the same freedom to expression. Granted they don't suffer the same prejudices as the LGBT communities but if you want to be accepted then both parties need the same right of expression without being labeled as bigoted.
C ... Bi and damn well proud of it... not necessarily out ... but only because I don't think it's anyone elses damn business!
:lol: :lol: :lol: 
, I would find having to choose one county quite restricting. Regions may be better, but still open to a lot of interpretation.
:D :D
:rotflmao:
Certainly there was more than a hint of sarcasm, but I think that if duncan feels so strongly against Judy's posts then he has (as does everyone else) the option to simply NOT read them
ops: H Red wasn't on about me lol :oops: 
