Corporatizing Gay Pride Parades

The Wrap-Up: June 13, 2012

Here's a shocker: Tony Perkins (president of the so-called Family Research Council) doesn't get Gay Pride Month.

As if voter purges in Texas and Florida were not enough, a Tea Party group is suing several other states in order to get them to perform even more.

The Kansas legislature had a bit of a redistricting problem over the weekend.

If you want to join the NYPD, it is probably not a good idea to put your prejudice on parade.

Another fraudulent study paid for by homophobic conservatives on same-sex parenting is, unfortunately, making the rounds.

What happens when the United States Secretary of Commerce has a seizure resulting in two car crashes? Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) takes the time and opportunity to mock him instead of being concerned for his health. What a southern gentleman. Also unsurprisingly, this he did so on a radio show run by a "Christian" organization, the so-called American Family Association.

Connor Barwin, outside linebacker for the Houston Texans talked to Outsports about the NFL's potential acceptance of an openly gay player (as well as discussing his gay brother). With all this talk about this subject lately, you would think someone was about to take that leap.

A Minnesota priest is urging people (yes, also Catholics) to vote against the state's proposed anti-marriage equality amendment. It's nice to see some of these folks defying conventional wisdom.

And lastly, in case you have not seen a photo making the rounds, here is a picture of two Israeli soldiers.

Pride Month: Final Thoughts

As Pride Month comes to a close today, I wanted to address its importance, as well as some adjacent issues.

I am a follower of Davey Wavey on YouTube (if you aren't, you should be, he is awesome). Yesterday - I think it was yesterday - he put up a post about something that I have heard many times before. Sometimes, you hear straight people ask, "If there is a Gay Pride Month, why is there no Straight Pride Month?" Yes, some people are dense enough to not know the answer to this question. Sometimes, it isn't that they are dense, but they are people like Tony Perkins or Peter Sprigg: professional bigots who are against all things LGBT friendly (they are in the minority of people asking this question though). So what should one say when they hear this question?

Is there a anti-straight version of DADT? Is there an anti-straight version of DoMA? Are straight kids bullied solely because they are straight? Are straight people fired from their jobs solely because they are straight? Is there a straight version of Tyler Clementi? Is there a straight version of Matthew Shepard?

I made a post about the purpose of pride earlier in the month, but it is worth reiterating. What people need to know about Pride Month and the events therein is that it is about a previously invisible minority which has been persecuted and prosecuted for centuries (at the least) finally standing up for itself and saying, "NO MORE." Pride is about being free to be who you are and breaking the shackles of what society is trying to force you to be. Pride is about saying that you will not just lie down and be subjugated into second-class citizenry and demanding your rights.

It seems fitting that it was during Pride Month that marriage equality was won in New York State (not to mention in the manner it was won). We have cause to celebrate and hope for the future. This particular Pride Month illustrated how we are at the tipping point. It may be that the next few years will see more victories than defeats as opposed to previous years. I wholly believe that Pride is part of that. It encourages people to be themselves, it helps people to be comfortable in their own skin, which can help them to be more honest and open about their sexuality. This is one of the primary ways that we get allies and change minds because this is how those around us learn that there are not in significant fundamental differences between LGBT people and straight people. Sure during Pride events cameras are usually turned to the most "flamboyant" people, but I still believe that Pride events are more an asset than a liability. So let those Pride flags fly high.

Perspective on Pride Month

Pride month is upon us. On my last post, I mentioned this and was asked if I thought it was necessary. I answered there in brief (well..semi-brief), but I think my opinion needs a bit more explanation.

First and foremost, yes. Pride month is necessary, as much so as Black History Month (February) or any such type of recognition period. It is important to bring attention to the issues that are still faced by the LGBT community from bullying to marriage rights and everything in-between. Sure we have come a long way in terms of rights that are recognized, but there are still many, many miles yet to go (down with DOMA). This month offers a huge opportunity to have those conversations. Secondly, pride month, again being about visibility, serves as a direct contrast to all of the years that members of the LGBT community had to hide who they truly were. Now that so many of us are out, we have no intention of being pushed back in or pushed around.

However, when it comes to certain pride events, especially pride parades, I think some can take it too far (of course the same could be said for most such situations and holidays). I won't tell anyone they shouldn't be who they are or have fun in these events (by all means, do both). Some people however may be giving our enemies fodder by taking the event to excess. The last thing we as a community need is to give the other side ammunition. Of course even if that were not the case, they would find something else to use, so maybe that concern is ill-founded.

Having said all of that, I do think it is important for everyone (and I do mean EVERYONE, gay, straight, or whatever) to go to at least one pride event at some point and hopefully, sooner rather than later, I will too.