14 year old son wanted to go to a pride event today, DH says he was too young! Was he BU?

[ChangingThatName]

Is DH being unreasonable?

Our 14 year old asked me if we could go to a pride event today. My DH quickly interrupted with a 'definitely not' and tbh, I didn't see much of an issue with it, but then began to wonder. Is he a bit too young to go to a pride event? Was DH being unreasonable?

Yes!

Sorry yes to him being too young or DH being unreasonable?

He was being unreasonable twice. Once by vetoing without discussion and twice by saying he was too young.

What is motivating your dh's reaction? The event itself or worries about others making trouble?

Too young for which part if it, exactly? The crowds? The sught of barrels of free condoms? The leather-clad men with wings? Pet Shop Boys singing New York City Boy?

Your H was being very unreasonable.

I hope he goes/went and has/had a great time.

Sorry - yes your DH was being unreasonable!

Yes. DS and I went to London for the day a few years ago when he was about 12 and didn't realise it was Pride weekend. We watched the parade and joined in the carnival atmosphere, it was good fun.

Where was the event? If it was miles away with a long commute then maybe not but in your area/town then yes he was bu.

However its still not uncommon for people homophobic twits to not entirely accept this sort of event as being safe for children to attend. My dh is completely unreasonable and still thinks you can probably catch 'gayness' and still spouts that old crock of shit that it was illegal in his day so its how he always sees it blah blah blah. Its 1 of his faults that I'm well aware of and overrule him on with the kids. Ive taken them to pride events against his wishes but I wont have my kids holding the same bigoted views that he and his parents hold.

Did he ask if "we" could go or did he ask to go on his own? There's loads of kids that go with their parents from babies up. It would be a judgement call whether a 14 year old should go on their own though.

It's an event celebrating sexuality, but he isn't old enough to be having legal sex. On that basis, I would say too young. I wouldn't let my daughter at 14 attend an event celebrating heterosexual sex. It's not appropriate for kids.

Who would he have been going with?

Agree with your DH

It's an event celebrating sexuality, but he isn't old enough to be having legal sex. On that basis, I would say too young. I wouldn't let my daughter at 14 attend an event celebrating heterosexual sex. It's not appropriate for kids.

Your daughter never been to a heterosexual wedding?

Religious ones in particular bang on about kids and they're only made by two things as far as I know......

Gay pride is about loving who you like more than glory holes you know...

Thebeast
It isn't an event celebrating sex it's a protest against homophobia.
Your husband is being unreasonable op. Pride is for everyone in the day time.

"I wouldn't let my daughter at 14 attend an event celebrating heterosexual sex."

Gosh. Has she never been to a wedding? Or a ballet?

Yes he was 14 is not too young for that.

What was the event? If It was a parade then your DH IBU. We have been to the Manchester one several times and taken DD from a very young age. It is usually great fun and the atmosphere is very friendly and good natured. And a few years we go to see Ian McKellen leading the parade!

He was BU.

I don't know. Was the pride event in a major city or a village hall? Was your ds going with friends or on his own? If it was out of your ds's usual area, had your ds visited the town or city before and was he familiar with it? Is he streetwise?

Depends which Pride. It was London Pride today and if he you son wanted to go on his own/with friends I'd have concerns and offer to go too. DH still unreasonable for shutting down discussion.

If it was a local event then your DH is being esp unreasonable.

I think HWBA to say he was too young without any discussion, there might have been valid reasons why your DH felt he was too young...like if he thought it might get rowdy etc. but if it was something like that he should have at least explained his reasons.

FWIW it's a common complaint amongst my gay friends in Brighton (my home town) that Brighton pride isn't very family friendly at all...very loud, lots of drunk people, people doing legal highs etc. (It may well be different now, I haven't gone in a few years)

reinettepompadour (DW reference?) if it was illegal in his day that was 1967! He is older than me!! DD (14) and I wanted to go to Pride today but too many other things going on for us this weekend. I wouldn't bat an eyelid about her going, preferably with some mates so I could go and hang out with one of my oldest (gay) friends. We will try harder to go next year. Apparently the coverage on London Live is great but I was watching cricket all day

I have been to pride events before and the parade is usually great fun but there's definitely family-friendly elements and areas and also non-family-friendly elements and areas. If you were 14 and unfamiliar you could find yourself a bit stuck. As a woman in my 40s I still know parts of my local city's areas I would best avoid, and sometimes it's just a street or two (or half a street).

DH was definitely BU. We took our 8 month old baby last weekend and had a blast. There was a big marquee set up for kids activities (balloon sculptures, face paints) and a pig colourful parade with lots of flags.

I'm not sure how your DS could be too young for it. Maybe he would need someone to go with him if it was far away or a big busy one.

Why did he want to go to pride? To show solidarity and enjoy the parade and atmosphere? Perhaps he's gay himself and this was him testing the waters- poor boy will be terrified to tell his father now!

Yes!