I run a LGBT Pride: AMA

[lgbtpride]

Long time lurker but have NC for this.

I run an LGBT Pride event. I want to deal with some of the nonsense theories that we welcome pedophiles or have banned lesbians.

Ask me anything. (Disclaimer: I won't answer anything specific that might out me.)

Do you think trans should be included in gay pride?

Hi OP. What's your biggest challenge organising the event?

It hasn't been called (exclusively) 'gay' Pride since the early 1990s. And yes, Pride should be trans inclusive.

Do you welcome straight people in fetish gear, or do you think that feeds into the homophobic view that being homosexual is somehow deviant?

Lamppost I think Gay Pride was renamed as Pride ages ago, so this question will be moot.

I do recall lesbians being shooed off Pride marches though, OP.

How do you define lesbian?
Does that include trans women ie men

Define woman

Funding. As much as people think we're swimming in cash from big business, we're really not. And yet everyone expects us to have the biggest stage with the best artists, and for it all to be free.

They say you can never make everyone happy. I'm reminded every day that the phrase probably came from our community. 😂

We welcome fetish and kink. We don't ask anyone what their sexuality is (we don't ask anyone in any group).

All participants must act in accordance with the law, including on public decency.

That's interesting, thank you - I must admit I also thought Pride attracted a good level of corporate sponsorships, but perhaps that's just the very big, high-profile events. Good luck with future funding!

You'll not be surprised that I say trans women are women and trans men are men. We don't police genitalia.

Thankyou for your response.

Is a lesbian who does not have sex with people with penises a bigot?

Not in my view.

How do you square 'we welcome fetish and kink' with encouraging children to attend? Is that not a big safeguarding fail?

Do you get many threats or people trying to get pride banned?

If you welcome fetish and kink to Pride, why is it marketed as family friendly?

I’m not surprised
so it’s not same sex attraction is it
Which is what being lesbian is

@lgbtpride are your events family friendly?

Because any kink on display has to be legal by general public decency standards.

I have to say, remembering the chants at Pride in the 1990s, they were far worse for passing kids than anyone wearing a pup outfit or carrying a whip.

Only religious nutjobs.

Have you got an anti-TERF policy?

What happens at your events if lesbians say that TW are not W?

What type of problematic behaviour have you had to deal with?

It's an event primarily about human sexuality, not an apple bobbing competition. Parents who bring children should consider what they might see, and if they think that's appropriate for their children.

But surely something can be legal but still pretty inappropriate for children and therefore children shouldn't be being encouraged to attend?