Is There Still A Need For This Expensive And Disruptive Exercise, In This Country?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4677058/One-million-people-gather-London-UK-s-biggest-Pride.html

Perhaps in those countries that are not so acceptive to homosexuality, but surely there is now no longer need here?

[gness]

I think I posted earlier, SP....my first experience was by accident when I got lost......and I met the most wonderful people.....the atmosphere flowed over into the shops.....arcades....it was just so good.....x

[albaqwerty]

the only parades I've accidentally been caught up in were dour religious and bigoted. Lousy experience.

Am always happy to hear and see people laughing and smiling and having a good time, we need more of that in this world.

[sp1814]

gness

My experience was much the same.

A lot of mates complain that the march has lost its 'political' framework, but I think that's a natural extension of where we are right now.

In years to come, I can see Pride transforming into a kind of London Mardi Gras. It already attracts around a million people to London - and these are not gay men and women. My mate held part of his (straight) stag do at this year's event - dressed as Cher.

This is what the next generation will be like.

I could not be happier in the direction we are headed.

[New Judge]

I dipped out of this once but since it’s still ongoing:

“If bringing the parade to the attention of AB members and they think twice, in the future, about using the words....flawed...weirdo....creeps and lunacy after accepting that it is hurtful..”

Well it won’t make me think twice. My criticism is not levelled at the qualities or proclivities of the people involved because they may or may not be homosexual. I couldn’t give a toss what consenting adults get up to with each other so long as I don’t have to watch it or pay for it and it harms nobody else. Because the march is now known simply as “Pride” and not “Gay Pride” is probably more a matter of laziness and nothing to do with inclusivity. Almost everything consisting of more than one syllable seems to require abbreviation for reasons not entirely clear to me.

I didn’t use the word “flawed” but the other three terms can be attributed to me. I would use the words “weirdo”, “creep” and “lunacy” in connection with any group of self-indulgent characters marching through Central London gumming up the works. The question asked if there was a need for this exercise. I maintain that there is not. I’m not quite sure what beef homosexual people have with society these days (and don’t care) but if they insist on parading through the streets to emphasise their differences (and I can think of no other reason) then they must expect, like others doing likewise for different reasons, to be upset from time to time. Life’s a bit tough sometimes but I’m sure they’ll get over it.

[albaqwerty]

I may be naive, but I like to think that the name has changed to celebrate the change in attitudes and law over time.

[gness]

It'll take a very long time to "get over it" with folk like you around, NJ...using the words you so horribly did on this thread..... :-(

Life is tough for many...why are you taking your pleasure in making sure it continues that way for some?....That's a sad and bitter way to live....

I paraded....you don't know anything about my sexuality or why I paraded......but the last thing it was, was to emphasise my difference...
I'm not different......just, like SP......delighted and happy to be able to parade and help create fun and joy....x

[New Judge]

"My mate held part of his (straight) stag do at this year's event - dressed as Cher."

I rest my case!

"This is what the next generation will be like."

God Save Us! I look forward to them looking after me in my dotage (or I might just top myself, I'll see how it goes). :-)

[gness]

And God save me from ending up in the same care home as New Judge......a miserable and hellish way to end my days... ;-)

[New Judge]

"...you don't know anything about my sexuality or why I paraded."

No I don't. And as as you might guess I don't care. As I said, I don't particularly know why people do what they do. I can only guess and I've no problem with being wrong. My comments are associated with what was done, not why it was done.

[sp1814]

NJ

As I've said before - I completely and fully understand why people from your generation may hold the views that you do. You were raised in a different time. Some of your generation have much more open and liberal views, and that's great. But we should not expect you, Old Geezer and AOG to accept what the current generation are happy with, in the same way that we should not expect you to change any life-long held opinions.

If you were raised to believe one thing, and a subsequent generation were raised to believe another - then c'est la vie. Everyone is different.

I honestly think that a million people, gay and straight, having a great time in the sun, drinking, laughing, dancing and getting on is a good thing.

I don't see a down side...

...apart from those people who need to go to business appointments on a Saturday on the day of the Pride march who somehow didn't know it was happening.

[sp1814]

NJ

//"My mate held part of his (straight) stag do at this year's event - dressed as Cher."

I rest my case//

You can't rest it when you've not presented it.

[albaqwerty]

oooh, wish I could give a 'thumbs up' or like emoticon to SP

[albaqwerty]

^not that one, the one before :-D

[gness]

You could, NJ.. have commented about your experience of being late without being so rude and hurtful......

You care enough about the sexuality....or what you think is the sexuality of those of us on a Pride Parade.... to go out of your way to insult us.....

You could have been just as held up by a large group of folk you have no gripe with.....I doubt you would have used such nasty descriptions of them.....x

[anotheoldgit]

sp1814

/// In your example you might have been chatted up. In my example, the victim had life altering injuries. ///

I might have had if I had let one of them get hold of me.

[sp1814]

gness

This is where I think the original question is flawed.

The question was whether the Pride events are needed. Arguably this makes sense as a question, because all the big hurdles have been cleared (marriage equlity, age of consent, adoption and fostering rights).

However, after 'need' comes 'want'. The plain fact is - even though politically/socially, gay people have got the majority of UK people 'on side' - there are still a hell of a lot of people who want to spend a summer afternoon having a great time.

It's a brand new thing...a new tradition.

In a time when there is so much dividing us, and so much worrying us I can't think of a single good reason to halt something that clearly unites us.

That's what Pride(for those of us who have been) does.

[sp1814]

AOG

You're saying that this chap would have raped you, right?

Well, that's a projection - as opposed to the chap I knew who had his eyes gouged out.

That's an actuality.

[anotheoldgit]

ummmm

Don't like parties? You just do not know me, even at my age, I am known to be somewhat of a party animal.

[sp1814]

AOG

Just to be serious here. He was training as an architect. He said he could feel his eyeballs pop.

And then they repeatedly kicked him in the head.

They followed him from a bar in Vauxhall.

He was only a couple of hundred yards from home (safety).

Fortunately, attacks like this are on the wane.

However, I do understand your concern for your own safety. I'm not minimising it.

[jno]

they're planning to close London streets on Remembrance Sunday again this year, the weirdos.,