Happy Gay Pride Weekend Everyone

[Unimatic1140]

<i>Why is everyone dressing in such outrageous clothing? The whole pride thing is about equality, isn't it?</i <br
Hi Allen, that is a great question, and myself and I’m sure others will try to answer it, but it needs a bit of clarification first. When you say “Why is everyone dressing in such outrageous clothing?” Do you mean the parade spectators? Such as these people who were lining up as to see the parade before it got to this location?
<img src=http://www.automaticwasher.org/TEMP/pspec.jpg <br <br
or do you mean the people in the parade itself like these crazy pieces of cake or the Trix rabbit above in the General Mills Float? Sure there are some pretty wild costumes, but what parade doesn't have wild costumes? I think the key to the answer of your question might be in your statement “I have seen television coverage of these events before”. Also another important thing to remember is there is a huge difference between the word "Equality" and "Conformity" <br
<img src=http://www.automaticwasher.org/TEMP/pcake.jpg

 

[peterh770]

Well, for one, the media is going to show outrageous images because that's what keeps viewers watching <br
Second, Pride festivals give people a place "to be themselves" out in public -- which is the whole point!!! It is also a celebration and a party. People are much more inclined to dress outrageously since they will be among "their own" and generally more accepted. It is also a chance for the muscleboys to go shirtless, the bears to go shirtless, the Dykes on Bikes to go topless, the BDSM crowd to be in gear and uniform, etc. But it is the outrageous costumes that will garner most attention <br
There are tons of positive images at Pride festivals, and the outrageous images are all for fun.

 

[toggleswitch]

Be gone.You have no power here!

This is all ONE small opinion. Plwase take it lightly <br
The beauty of the gay life, IMHO, is that when NO institutions is *COUGH* behind you (not religion, not family, not marriage, not gov't, not str8 school-mates etc.) one is absolutely FREE to be themselves! <br
Our friends ARE our family, becaese they too are just as stepped-upon as we are, and therefore understand our plight. Been beaten? Denied housing? Denied job? Denied bank financing? Been dis-owned? Well I have. And we all have. So what. Fact of life. We move on and become stronger because of it. <br
FEH! Yes we CHOOSE this misery and hell that they impose upon us because we are just weak-willed. HELLO! It's innate. I can't change "IT" (Believe me, I think we all want "IT" to go away in our teens) any more than I can permananetly change my eye-color. <br
So in summary. Label me wicked.I have nothing to lose by beign wicked. You get the point <br
Perhaps the point is this. No matter what I do I am (in today's society) "hated" and "will burn in hell" so then by what method of social control do you intend to mold me into your image? NOT! <br
As ourtageous as these girly-men are and as butch as the girls can be, beleive me we HAVE to conform to survive. We dont have to LIKE it! I dare-say as frivoulus and out-there as these people (or should I say "WE"?) are during a parade, I can almost guarantee you some hold VERY responsible jobs and you may never EVER suspect them of anything but being perfectly corporate when are at work. <br
In summary. We accept who we are and how we are seen by society and live our lives with mortgages, children, businesses just like everyone else. <br
I exist whether I am approved-of or not <br
PEACE OUT TO ALL and to those who love us a special THANK YOU for your kind heart, your open-mind and most of all the twinkle in your eye that feeds us the courage to go on

LVOE MAKES THE WORLD GO 'ROUND. <br

 

[peterh770]

Baby, you are not wicked. Your lack of spellcheck is what is wicked. (smooch

 

[toggleswitch]

Who me, dyslexic?

Sometimes a girl just HAS to sneak around her office.

 

[whirlcool]

I meant the participants in the parades. Drag Queens, screaming queens in chains, etc.
I think that we all want to conform to some point. I know I do. But is the gay pride movement more about the communities lack of conformity or lack of equality?
I don't understand why the participants in these parades want to don womens clothing and run wild.
I have never had the urge to look like Joan Crawford! -> !

 

[washabear]

I can’t imagine anyone wanting to look like Joan Crawford! ;

It’s just pageantry, the scenes you are talking about. It’s supposed to be a fun show, and sometimes these guys pull out all the stops. I understand what you mean, though. It can be puzzling. But think of it this way: they do it their way; you do it your way. There’s plenty of room for all. <br
Don’t worry about it. You are an individual, as we all are. Simply do as you feel you should do. That’s all any of us should do

 

[whirlcool]

I have never heard of a non-gay person being booted from this website for not being gay. My post anyway wasn't a trap of any kind. I admit, sometimes I am bewildered by some of the gay stuff, but if I ask about it, someone will politely explain it to me.
There's a whole different culture going on all around us. I never really realized it was there.
Personally, I think we are all here for a common interest and I don't even think of anything sexual at all on this site.
Well, Toggles perhaps..... ->!

 

[jmirawm]

how convienient.........

The quote of the day I get in email from a friend DAILY - is actually somewhat meaningful today. <p> To partly answer your question Whirlcool - <p> today's quote of the Day: <P> The best mask for demoralization is daring
- Lucan <p> I don't know who Lucan is or why he said that. LOL it just seemed to answer your question. To <br

 

[toggleswitch]

~When I read the thread, I knew it was a trap <br
Actually, I think we all try to post something occasionally to help the healing, the sense of community, the fun, the respect the tolerance that exists always but that that strengthens and wanes in waves, peaks and troughs, as it were. <br
Everyone is loved, welcomed and well-received here, IMHO. I think we all just need to hold back occasionally and remember that tongues have no bones but break many. <br
Just as television is a way of inviting people into our living rooms we normmaly would not invite in (pimps hookers, druggies etc). This site is a way of expanding our horizons and meeting all kinds of interesting people, learning from each other and sharing vastly different outlooks safely. As long as there is no blame and name-calling in those times of passionate discussion, I'd say we are golden. :- <br
Love is like V.D (S.T.D's) you can give it to everyone and still have it! (That was for you Allen, LOL)

 

[jetaction]

There are 851 registered residents in applianceville. Some are straight, some gay, some bi, some closeted, and some who might be gay-down the road. Sexual preference or orientation has never been a determining factor in membership, who would have time to keep on this and who cares? Celebrate the message of pride with acceptance-if you can, if you cannot, use tolerence.

 

[jmirawm]

a trap! LOL !

Our real "hidden Agenda" is to recruit you, not ban you!<P>p.s. THIS IS A JOKE !

 

[brettsomers]

I have never had the urge to look like Joan Crawford! -> !

and ya know, I HAVE! who wouldnt want to look like her, esp the young Crawford. She had impeccable eyes and cheekbones, and a wonderful strong jawline <br
the strict gender-roles our society has CREATED seem soo silly sometimes. if a woman wants a buzzcut, whats wrong with that? if God wanted women to have lipstick they woulda been born with it <br
just because TV blasts viewers with images of men who watch football and drink beer and eat red meat doesnt mean its wrong for me to do otherwise <br
if you have to ask about a heterosexual pride parade, you have much more important issues to deal with than gay pride.

 

[jmirawm]

We hold these truths

to be self evident. That ALL men are created equal. <p> I guess to be PC you could insert "humans" for "men"

 

[Unimatic1140]

Something to think about...

Isn’t it sad how we can’t even wish everyone Happy Holidays without being attacked in one way or another. Every December someone starts a post here in the Super Forum to say Merry Christmas, yet I have never once seen anyone who does not celebrate Christmas come on here and make a stink about it, most simply say "Merry Christmas". Imagine how some people would feel if I made a stink about the Christmas post that happens every year just because I really don’t celebrate that holiday in the way so many here do and it really is a very annoying time of year. I would never think of doing such a thing because I care about the people in this club and I sincerely do want them to have a wonderful Christmas, hearing anything less would make me very sad. Now as for this holiday weekend every gay person I know has said happy Pride to me over the last few days, many of my straight friends and so many of the people I work with said happy Pride to me on Friday before I left the office and they said it like they meant. Now why can’t more people be like Jason and simply say “Happy Pride you guys, I hope you all have a wonderful holiday”? <br
Even though the Holidays have now passed, I'm going to say it one more time Happy and Healthy Holidays everyone, I hope everyone who celebrates pride had a wonderful time. Until next year, now that we have put our shirts back on for another 364 days we can have a piece of leftover Gay Pride Cake...

 

[gadgetgary]

Thank you Master

Sit down.....RELAX...and enjoy a piece of cake <br <br
Happy and Healthy Holidays to everyone~!

 

[parunner58]

My wife and I live close enough that we go shopping in Manhattan often. Any weekend in NYC you will see interesting people on the streets. Two years ago we had the pleasure and I mean pleasure of being there for The gay pride parade. The parade was colorful, there were organizations representing all kinds of organizations for helping Aids to battleing illiteracy. We talked to Doctors, school teachers, IT people like myself and many more. Up in Central Park we saw a mass wedding ceromony, it was quite interesting. I am not sure if I might have been married to the guy that was standing next to me. It was a very nice ceremony. Missed the parade this year. If you ever want to see a more flamboyant parade, I grew up being forced to watch the Philadelphia Mummers Parade. Those straight 8 guys wear more glitter eye shadow, feathers and glitz than Devine and Dame Edna ever wore in a lifteime <br
I hope all had a great time this past weeken <br
Mike

 

[andrewinorlando]

To be honest, I like the high holy days we call Pride a hell of a lot better than Christmas!!!

 

[dalangdon]

My take on Pride....

Every year, any town that has a pride parade sends TV crews. <br
At the end of the evening newscast, they show the obligatory 30 seconds of tantilizing stuff: Drag queens, leather boys, Dykes on bikes, etc. <br
The people that love homos love the coverage <br
The people that hate homos (and those homos who think we must conform to "earn" the respect of the haters) hate the coverage <br
and 89% of the viewing audience thinks "Wow, today was gay pride?&quot <br
...and then promptly forgets all about it until next year. <br
Make no mistake, pride serves its purpose. But the vast maority of people out there are as indifferent to is as they are to the Shriners, the Irish, and any other group of marchers you can name. <br
And that, I'd argue, is as it should be. <br <br <br
and, btw, if being gay were a prerequisite to membership on this site, how in the world would we verify? The possibilities are endless..... ;-)

 

[jmirawm]

ooooooooo

That cake is absolutely beeaauutiful Robert!