Gay Pride Events - what do you think?
This article wouldn't be nearly as eye-catching if accompanied by a picture of a gay middle aged man in a jumper at the cinema I have always been slightly embarrassed by gay pride events. Once upon a time gay people marched, in fear, to be treated equally. They were attacked along the way, but they were making a stand in a time when some people genuinely hated gay people.
In Northern Ireland this hatred and failure to understand could mean something as raw as being beaten up outside the the one or two clubs in Belfast prepared to take the risk of presenting itself as a "gay" venue. Alternatively on an even more sinister side this lack of understanding could mean the loss of a job or contract if anyone found out about your "dirty secret"
Thankfully though these are altogether different times and even in the last 5 years or so things have moved on immeasurably here. You can feel it. People want to understand - they have been educated despite these stereotypes. Our younger counter-parts never fail to amaze me particularly - most of them that I talk to couldn't really give a damn now and not only are they tolerant but they are intrigued by gay people. They seem to want to understand.
The "Only Gay in the Village" sketches on "Little Britain" are about just that - how old school homosexuals are actually dying to appear different and exotic when in fact they are now on the whole, accepted and treated no different from everybody else.
And now, "Gay Pride" seems to be about people dressing up in the most ridiculous way, that they would never do in their everyday lives. People will be flashing as many body parts as possible, mincing, squealing, and living up to every bad gay stereotype imaginable.
I have never felt the need to be part of this. I have never really been part of the "gay community" in general. I've always wondered whether that makes me a tiny minority in a minority, or whether there are many more like me, people you would just never know about because they don't act that way and they're not part of that lifestyle. I always hoped it was the latter.
It could still be that many straight people will see the people at Gay Pride and assume that's what we are all like. If this were the case, it would only create further discrimination and demonstrate that being gay is some kind of alien lifestyle. I would like to think that most people block out this behaviour and see it for what it is - all a show and not indicitave of the greater majority of gay people.
The "protesters" now go against everything the original protesters fought for: To be treated equally as normal human beings. Being gay is an attraction to people of the same sex. It has nothing to do with feather boas, bad wigs and hideous makeup. It is a sexual attraction, not a lifestyle, and I don't understand why people have decided to portray it as such.
In Northern Ireland this hatred and failure to understand could mean something as raw as being beaten up outside the the one or two clubs in Belfast prepared to take the risk of presenting itself as a "gay" venue. Alternatively on an even more sinister side this lack of understanding could mean the loss of a job or contract if anyone found out about your "dirty secret"
Thankfully though these are altogether different times and even in the last 5 years or so things have moved on immeasurably here. You can feel it. People want to understand - they have been educated despite these stereotypes. Our younger counter-parts never fail to amaze me particularly - most of them that I talk to couldn't really give a damn now and not only are they tolerant but they are intrigued by gay people. They seem to want to understand.
The "Only Gay in the Village" sketches on "Little Britain" are about just that - how old school homosexuals are actually dying to appear different and exotic when in fact they are now on the whole, accepted and treated no different from everybody else.
And now, "Gay Pride" seems to be about people dressing up in the most ridiculous way, that they would never do in their everyday lives. People will be flashing as many body parts as possible, mincing, squealing, and living up to every bad gay stereotype imaginable.
I have never felt the need to be part of this. I have never really been part of the "gay community" in general. I've always wondered whether that makes me a tiny minority in a minority, or whether there are many more like me, people you would just never know about because they don't act that way and they're not part of that lifestyle. I always hoped it was the latter.
It could still be that many straight people will see the people at Gay Pride and assume that's what we are all like. If this were the case, it would only create further discrimination and demonstrate that being gay is some kind of alien lifestyle. I would like to think that most people block out this behaviour and see it for what it is - all a show and not indicitave of the greater majority of gay people.
The "protesters" now go against everything the original protesters fought for: To be treated equally as normal human beings. Being gay is an attraction to people of the same sex. It has nothing to do with feather boas, bad wigs and hideous makeup. It is a sexual attraction, not a lifestyle, and I don't understand why people have decided to portray it as such.
Of course Im not saying I don't realise that they do it for the publicity. 100 gay civil servants quietly parading through london in suits albeit by Calvin Clein wouldn't exactly hit the headlines. I just wonder exactly what the message is in these times.
As Lisa Simpson said in an episode of the Simpsons which touched upon this very subject, "We know you're here, and we know you're queer, you were here last year - we are used to it!!!"
Labels: Northern Ireland, rant
posted by Freddy @ Monday, August 29, 2005
Comments: 1
