Does anybody else dislike Pride?

[coulditbeme2323]

Does anybody else dislike Pride?

We have one in our town for the second year running, and it's just really off.

Now before I get the "don't be homophobic comments" I am very much live and let live.

It's just that it can be very adult in the middle of the day.

Hell of an unlucky thing if you live or work on the route, eh...? I guess you can look the other way instead of seeing hairy arses spilling out of chaps or Biker guys pulling men on leashes...

I wasn't commenting on them or pedophilia in general, just clarifying the rumour about the flag that seems to be perpetuated on this thread.

That's really sad about the libraries. Makes me wonder what they'll ban next. International Women's Day stuff maybe?

The only reason I no longer go to Pride events in my nearest city is because I've developed a bit of a dislike of being in crowds. In terms of nudity though, you see a lot more cocks and arses when they have the naked bike ride.

Now before I get the "don't be homophobic comments" I am very much live and let live.

You're not, though, are you? You think being openly gay is 'adult' while being openly heterosexual is apparently family-friendly.

So if you feel like being screamed at for being a bigot because you’re a lesbian who doesn’t date people with penises isn’t “representative”, where do you go to change that?

Because that's what I said isn't it?

Is bondage gear any more intrinsic to being gay than being straight? Because that’s the main thing OP has objected to.

It actually comes across as ‘unconscious homophobia’ to think every gay person enjoys or identifies with a ball gag and being walked on a lead.

It’s almost as bad as presuming all gay men love shopping. It’s such a trope.

Also, stickers, glitter, face painting, children's games, as my local one advertised, and it's all they advertised.

Then go into the shop and do your shopping?

I'd wager your daughter liked the dog masks largely because she thought it was a cute dog mask, not that she likes to be submissive and controlled, which pretending to be a dog is all about in this context, having a rope around the neck and having a master that tells them what to do?

A cuckoo? How about a trojan horse?

@happyjoe I disagree that it’s simply a matter of parental responsibly. This is why we have the watershed for tv shows, so that parents don’t have to watch over their child every second of the day, and can know that inappropriate content won’t suddenly be in screen when they leave the room to make a cup of tea at 4pm.

It’s the same in public streets, organised events such as Pride, should have pre-watershed standard, such as they should not be waving dildos around in the street. A child may have to catch a bus into town and walk through a Pride event to get to an activity or their friend’s house, parents shouldn’t need to be checking local news for information on whether something unsuitable for young audiences is happing out on the street every time their child leaves the house, they also shouldn’t need to be researching exactly what happens at a daytime open public event, which is organised/approved by the same local council that provides child social services and local education, before letting their child attend.

If these events were happening late at night, when children would not reasonably be expected to be present either intentionally or accidentally…then that is a different matter entirely, as the event organisers would not reasonably be expected to make it a child-friendly event.

I think the opposing question would be, why does anyone want a child to be exposed to a male stranger in bondage waving a dildo at a festival event? Why is that type of behaviour not restricted around children in public spaces, when that same behaviour would not be accessible to view on film by a child at a cinema, as that would be age-restricted, not by the parent, but by regulation?

Before anyone starts a pile-on, I'm a lesbian. It's not all I am and I don't like making that my opening statement, but reading how naive people like @Happyjoe are responding to some comments, it's relevant here.

First up, to everyone conflating LGB with the TQ+ please stop. Same-sex attracted is not the same as believing humans can change sex and men forcing themselves into women's spaces, jobs and sports.

Pride has become a means of enabling men to flaunt their fetish in public and be called 'stunning and brave' whereas the reality, as PP have said, is that their attitude towards women and lesbians in particular is dismissive at best and downright dangerous at worst. And whoever thinks it's ok for someone to walk around with a giant strap-on in public is kidding themselves that they're being inclusive, they are championing perverted behaviour. Get a grip and stop treating these attention-seeking weirdos as being anything other than porn-addled perverts.

Pride has completely lost its way, possibly because it is arguably no longer needed - I can walk around town holding my gorgeous partner's hand, kiss her on the mouth in public, not have a hotel receptionist bat an eyelid when we check in to a double room, all just as heterosexual couple can. When we marry it will have exactly the same legal status as that of marriage between a man and a woman. And yes, I'm perfectly aware that this isn't the case the world over sadly, but it IS the case here in the UK. I'm also perfectly aware that not everyone in the UK is tolerant of we LGB but parading around in in a gimp mask towing a man on all fours with a lead is not going to help the intolerant suddenly become more accepting. Quite the reverse I would suggest.

I would further suggest that because LGB equality has been reached, Pride has been taken over by the TQ+ brigade because of the division they have created with their insistence on being accepted for who and what they identify as. And let's face it, without a cause, Stonewall and other organisations are not needed and who's going to fund the people who have made a living from riding that bandwagon?

Finally, for the hard of thinking: LGB are sick of the TQ+. Please don't lump us in together.

I never said they trump everything! It is uncomfortable to see people dressed like that in the street where you live at any age and I was told to teach my children about it so they understand - absolutely not an appropriate suggestion!

It’s a shame such an inclusive and lovely tradition has become a little bit hijacked by people making it about sex and displays of fetishism - that’s all I’m saying

Most kids have watched hard core porn by 9/10 on phones their parents have given them.

Not in my world.

Society is not responsible over what people find offensive. For sure, people will not want to see pride and that is their want. Many people will. Being offended is your right but what offends one person may not offend another.

It is personal choice. It's also personal choice if you take your young children to Pride. Nobody is forced to, literally nobody. It is an organised event and the information of the date to avoid will be available in advance, so no 'surprise' of pride happening when you don't expect it to. To go to an event like Pride with children, knowing what is going to be seen is both entitled and bad parenting if the parent hates it so much. Pride was never really a family day out, it was a celebration of sexuality and acceptance.

What next? Ban all horror films because a parent doesn't stop them watching a film than millions of people enjoy? Ban the internet because parents don't put parental controls on it or keep an eye on what they are using it for? It's the same argument I see with fireworks and pet owners. Loads of people enjoy fireworks night and even as an animal lover, I wouldn't want it banned tho many pet owners do. I take responsibility for my pet and keep her away, safe and sound. Same applies to parents and their children.

This is not societies role. This is solely down to decision making of the parents. They are no more entitled to anything than anyone else, just because they have children.

I agree, but if you are aware of the fetish stuff, then surely as you don't like it, or as a parent of young children you simply don't go? They are advertised in advance after all, easily avoided.

The argument of the fetish stuff is for Pride to sort out, possibly councils too who permit the events.

How lovely, men being men in women's spaces, just what we all want to celebrate...

Why are you being nasty to this person and turning it into a trans bashing comment?
Can't bear to read someone's experience in a positive light and have to piss on their chips? What a treasure.

I'm bisexual for context. Pride is not a place for children anymore. It's definitely very sexual and largely about fetishes. Last time I went a few years ago there was a trans woman with no top on fully showing breasts while children were walking around. As others have said, it's also clearly centred trans people. However, you don't have to go to pride. You say it "spills out," but do you really need to go into town on that one day? 🙄 That's why I voted YABU. You're not wrong about what it's like, but acting like you're forced to participate is OTT.

That's exactly what pride is all about now, the TQ+, and men in women's spaces should be condemned.

As well as the BDSM aficionados, people parading with sex toys, men in nappies, adult nakedness, bondage and any other kink/fetish you can think of.

This is for Pride organisers and the council to sort out, not a few irate mums.
And yes, I have heard LGB are sick of the TQ and have been for some years.

It's the entitlement with children angle I have an issue with. Nobody is forced to go. It's not naive. When things change, and not for the better for some in this case, then don't go. We vote with our feet. Many pride events are struggling now anyway with funding and if people don't go, they won't take place, so all sorted.