Read first 3 pages.
This is yet another example of something that was for good reason being totally subverted. And other things for me.
Pride has become mainstremed and corporatised. An ex colleague was livid. He had gone to pride in early 80s when he was young. He said. Pride is about PROTEST. he hated what it's turned into. He went when it was a risk. Hostile police. Risk of violence from the public. Being outed by being seen could mean sacked from work. Family finding out and what that would mean.
It was genuinely risky.
How many of those who go now, would have gone then? How many of these pups and straight male fetishists? I'm betting none.
Yes pride always had an element of sexuality esp gay male. It was a fuck you to those who hated homosexuals. Leather etc has always been there. And why not? Remember Freddie in his skintight outfits, with no top and clinging jeans. And yes leather. And the moustache style that said hello I'm gay. Remember the bloke from erasure doing a massive concert in trousers with the bum bit cut out? Remember the video for relax fgs. Not niche. Mainstream. All gay men.
It was always there because gay sexuality in particular for gay men was always and still is by many. Seen as an outrage. And the 'scene' has always had a big element of open sexuality. So it's this is our thing, we know you find it deeply uncomfortable or disgusting. Fuck you. Protest. Provocative. PROUD.
now any kind of kink is a queer identify? Valid? Fetish? Straight men with bizarre inclinations are queer and need respect? Grown men dressing up in dog costumes and fucking each other? Whatever but in private surely?
And we've all seen pics with little girls and children in general engaging, being encouraged to engage with men in various creepy fetish gear.
Which brings me on to
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Gay men and to a much lesser extent lesbians fought for years to shake off the child molester connection.
Now. Creepy het men dressed as fuck only knows what are merrily inviting kids at family friendly pride to pet them, talk to them, that there's nothing to worry about, this is normal and good even. This is my friend. He's a nice puppy! Would you like to stroke his fur? And we've all seen certain pictures as well.
They have colonised pride and subverting it to something really iffy. And it's harming gay men and lesbians.
Pride as an org have lost the plot. As has stonewall.