Pride events

[Sparklybutold]

Posting for traffic - those who have attended one, what's been your experience? Can they ever be family friendly?

My 7 DGS really enjoyed the one in his local town last summer. What's not family ( kid friendly I assume) about them?

What do you mean can they ever be family friendly? Lots of families attend Pride.

I have attended them and also was in the Sydney Mardi Gras parade. The parts and times I have attended were always super family friendly.

Some can be. I wouldn’t take children to London Pride in Soho after the early bits because it turns into really just a big street party for people who like drinking and parties, gay or not, and can get very crowded and a bit wild. But I’d take them to the non-party events in a smaller town’s Pride calendar of festivities.

For me - people dressed in a highly sexualised manner, think bondage gear, stockings etc. fetishes that involve wearing animal suits, dog collars etc. Or drag artists who perform in a highly sexualised manner or perform acts based on degrading women.

Yes they do, the question I'm trying to explore is whether this is appropriate for my family. Personally I don't my young kid to see fetish gear etc.

Acts based on degrading women? Such as?

I've worked at a few and no way would I want my kids there, way too sexual and the language and coarseness, I'm 50 odd amd cringe at some of the activites

@Sparklybutold

Yes they do, the question I'm trying to explore is whether this is appropriate for my family. Personally I don't my young kid to see fetish gear etc.

I'm not really sure why you're even asking the question. It's a Pride event. Those aren't generally geared for kids. If you don't want your kid to see things like that, don't take them.

IME, some drag acts would fit in with the misogynistic arena, the hypersexual outfits and behavior of performers, the use of certain language, such as 'fishy' and 'cunt,' raise questions about the intentions and relationships between drag and women. I wonder if misogyny within the drag community sometimes goes unchecked (because it's just for fun! Right?) and whether certain elements of drag culture manifest this issue.

👍🏻

Pride events vary. Some will be family friendly, others for adults only. As far as I know, none are compulsory.

If you don't want you children to see them, don't go.🤷‍♀️

If you don't want your kids seeing drag performers definitely don't go @Sparklybutold.🙈

Of course this is what you really meant to say, so why not just put that in your OP? What is your real question, since you already know there is an element of fetishism at Pride parades?

OP: "I'm just asking innocently, totally no agenda whatsoever...."

I'm queer. Have been to numerous drag events and parades. The stuff during the day is generally family friendly, the more adult stuff happens at night. And I'm sorry OP, I think you have been influenced by propaganda that queer people are degenerates who want to flaunt our sexuality in front of kids. We don't. We're boring, normal people with normal boring lives.

@uhOhOP because I was keen to explore how others felt. I have been offered vip tickets to a family friendly pride event... and my gut reaction is no, but I know friends who go, with kids, so I just wanted to explore it on Mumsnet where different opinions can sometimes be helpful.

I’ve been to a few in various locations. They’re usually family friendly in the day time. The ones I’ve been too have had things for kids like face painting and inflatable slides and stuff. The drag queens that have performed have been more panto style humour so anything sexual goes over the kids heads. Anything adult tends to be on after 9 but at that time it’s mainly music acts so it’s more of a regular festival. Generally there are after parties which is where the drag acts will do their full shows but they’re held in nightclubs which kids wouldn’t be in anyway. As for fetish stuff, I think the most extreme thing I’ve seen was a guy in a lead wearing a puppy mask. He was fully clothed and I don’t think any children would have understood it anyway.

Pride is meant to be a celebration where everyone can attend. It’s not a sex festival and security will be tight on making sure no one takes it too far. If you are planning on going to one they will have a website with what to expect so have a look at that to see if you think it’s suitable.

Depends very much on the event. I've worked at two which were very family friendly (daytime when I was there at least). Loads of families, some with three generations, teenagers, some amazing outfits but only one over the two years that was a bit much for me - a t-shirt with an explicit slogan which could have been worn anywhere. Most people were in ordinary clothes but a bit more rainbowy, pride flags etc. The fire service, county archives, and girl guides were among the stallholders!

There was music, but no idea if there was drag in the daytime - the evening was definitely aimed at adults. A couple of stalls I would have avoided if I'd been there with my daughter, but generally it was a very welcoming and family orientated event.

Exactly this. Yes, OP, there will be gay men wearing next to nothing, and there will be men "dressed as women" for the sole purpose of mocking us, and there will be trans-identified men doing their usual shit under the guise of "activism"... You already know this, so maybe find an event that you know will absolutely be suitable for your children. Or else just don't go at all.

So what type of things happen at family friendly events (my views are not fuelled by propaganda but my experiences of attending several night events across the uk, which are very sexualised. I just can't see how a pride event can be family friendly?

Music, stalls, bouncy castles, face painting, crafts, food and drink, a dog show...

When I read pearl clutchers describe pride events I always wonder which ones they're going to because none I've attended have ever been that interesting. I want to think I'm cool and would get invited to the furry, bondage, drag queen orgy but I guess not. 😔

So don't go. You said you wanted to know other people's opinions, but both your first and most recent response show that you've already made up your mind, which is fine, but now you can stop pretending that you are just looking for opinions. What is it you want us to tell you? You're right, OP, they are just not for children. You really ought not to go. Best to keep your children away from such people.

You evidently already have an understanding of what Pride is like so stop trying to poke the bear and just politely refuse the tickets and let them perhaps go instead to someone who is a genuine ally. Pride is a protest, a celebration, the first one was a riot - and if you don’t understand that and why it should and does celebrate everyone in their authentic way then it is not for you and you should take your children to a nice, safe, heteronormative funfair or something instead.