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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Editorial in Brighton Newspaper Following Pride Weekend

55 replies

KCandtheSunlightBand · 09/08/2023 23:21

I haven’t lived in Sussex for 15 years but still get info in my news feed. Imagine my surprise when I saw this! Can hardly believe that this has been allowed to go to print. The Brighton and Hove Evening Argus is the only daily paper in the whole of Sussex (I think). Good on them for allowing free speech.

All may not be well in ‘Queer City’.

https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/23710533.time-end-brighton-pride-become-toxic/

I’m not sure if you will be able to see this, I needed a long ladder to see over the crowds.

OPINION: 'It's time for an end to Pride, which has become toxic'

Last Saturday, notwithstanding the rain and wind, tens of thousands of people turned out for the annual Brighton Pride. I have been on Pride marches…

https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/23710533.time-end-brighton-pride-become-toxic/

OP posts:
Pixiedust1234 · 09/08/2023 23:28

It has become an excuse for alcohol and drug bingeing, of corporate posturing and political expediency.
Businesses spare no expense to assert their support for LGBT issues. Perhaps they could rather reduce their prices or support food banks during this cost-of-living crisis.

Wow. And this is from someone who was there at the beginning of it all.

KCandtheSunlightBand · 10/08/2023 06:36

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

KCandtheSunlightBand · 10/08/2023 06:43

Sorry, some weird formatting in above post, I’ve asked for it to be removed as it is confusing with the spurious links.

OP posts:
SapphosRock · 10/08/2023 07:02

Oh wow I am surprised (and pleased) the Argus published that. I agree that Pride has completely lost its original aim and is now just a weekend for straight people to get drunk and urinate on my doorstep.

I belong to a local feminist group and we are going to apply to be in the parade next year to promote lesbian visibility. The organisers allow any corporates as well as fetishists and furries to march in the parade so it will be interesting to see if they will permit a group of lesbians to join.

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 10/08/2023 07:15

I wonder what all the deleted comments below the article said.

heldinadream · 10/08/2023 07:34

7.32 this morning - page has been removed. Presumably in the last 15 minutes if someone above saw it at 7.15-ish.
Damn. They must have been getting heavy flak.

RoseslnTheHospital · 10/08/2023 07:36

It's still there, I've just folllowed the link in the OP and it's there.

Sparkletastic · 10/08/2023 07:37

Brighton Pride is so druggy. The atmosphere turns really nasty as the day wears on. Brave article written by a man who clearly is a genuine ally.

heldinadream · 10/08/2023 07:40

RoseslnTheHospital · 10/08/2023 07:36

It's still there, I've just folllowed the link in the OP and it's there.

Oh yes it is I was following the wrong links in the 2nd OP post. Sorry. Too early. I'll start over. As you were.

NeverMrsAgain · 10/08/2023 07:41

He’s right though isn’t he?

Boiledbeetle · 10/08/2023 07:42

One of the comments...

Perhaps if Eddy/Suzy Izzard is selected for and wins Brighton Pavilion from the Greens at the next General Election then Brighton, a progressive City, will give Transpeople a voice in Parliament.

Erm... What about the current Transmember of parliament or does he not count?

JeannieDark · 10/08/2023 07:44

Interesting to see the likes on the comments, seems to me that the comments supportive of the article are getting far more likes than those that are critical. I added a few of my own to hopefully help the article not be taken down.

KCandtheSunlightBand · 10/08/2023 07:48

Sorry, I honestly don’t know where all the extraneous ’stuff’ came from in my second post. I have asked for it to be deleted as it’s confusing, but no response!

Yes, a very brave piece. I assumed the deleted comments were homophobic. Brighton is a very divided city, economically, socially, politically.

OP posts:
Boiledbeetle · 10/08/2023 07:50

Currently 32 comments of which 8 deleted

the top voted comment

Brilliant article. In the 90's there was a weekly gay club at The Zap which was wonderfully different, bearing no resemblance to the modern formulaic gay scene. It was called 'Club Shame' and I felt proud to attend. Well now the annual 'Pride' event is something truly shameful, and the author of the article has accuratley described why. Well done!

The lowest voted comment that still remains

Unfortunately, Andy, one of the reasons Pride isn’t one big happy family’ is because of people like you who demonise trans activists and want to keep Pride focused on same-sex attraction/relations
hips. Things have moved on, it’s not just a case of two sexualities anymore, and trans people NEED SUPPORT. Obviously it’s a heated, complicated topic, but we need to work together to find a solution. It’s quite disgusting to read an article in Brighton’s main newspaper that implies that trans people should stick to Trans Pride. (So noble of you to not call an end to Trans Pride by the way!)

You seem to be suggesting that Pride can just end because there’s nothing to fight for anymore and it’s just become a big party. Many of the issues you mention just come with the territory of hosting a big city-wide festival-type event. Yours is the perspective of an old person who just wants some peace and quiet, complaining about the youth of the day, out of touch with the changing discourse, and it’s pretty embarrassing to be honest. It’s the kind of thing you’d see in a village newsletter. And honestly, it’s very redolent of the kind of exclusionary opinions you mention in your article that people in the past would have had against lesbians being allowing in gay bars. (That was a particularly incoherent part of your article - are you suggesting that it was a good thing that lesbians weren’t allowed in gay bars or are you happier that the community has become more accepting??)

This is the middle voted comment

Thank you for daring to mention the problematic Trans activists. There is so much misogyny and homophobia in the Trans movement, and it is having a detrimental effect on women’s rights and the lesbian community. We need to start calling out the oppression, violence and authoritarian tactics of some of the Trans activists, and question why Gender Ideology is being pushed so aggressively on Western society. The propaganda being fed to children is also very worrying. Telling a child they might have been born in the wrong body is horribly damaging and confusing. I love the gay community, but the forced teaming with TQ+ was a grave mistake. Polls show that acceptance of LGB is declining because of the unreasonable demands of the Trans lobbyists. How many people in Brighton really know where Gender Ideology came from? If they did know, they may not want to fly the Trans flag so obsessively after all.

No doubt you will receive abuse for your column, because you have dared to criticise the people who have used No debate’ , punch TERFs’ and You’re a hateful bigot’ to silence dissent for so many years. I thank you for acknowledging the problem and I hope the Argus will support your right to free speech.

missfliss · 10/08/2023 07:55

Used to love Pride in Brighton - used to find it very moving and was resident nearby Preston Park so felt invested in it on a community level ( but yes, probably was guilty of 'gay for the day'!!).

Brighton and Hove has become quite toxic in some ways I think. Increasingly evangelical on gender ideology and pious. Been talking about the school therapist lead today where my husband teaches ( can't say too much but it is a school for vulnerable kids in Sussex) who seems intent on pushing an agenda gender identity issues on the ( already confused) kids....

Pride at Preston Park now well organised and commercial ( paid for and gated) but the fringes have tipped into something that feels more threatening and toxic than the grass roots celebratory spirit it used to have

ArabeIIaScott · 10/08/2023 07:55

Wow. Excellent article. And comments overwhelmingly in agreement.

This one seemed a good sum up:

'Pride started 50 years ago with a very important purpose but today it has become a drugs and alcohol binge weekend for exhibitionists and people to parade around inappropriately attired and to engage in inappropriate behaviour in public. When they have pop groups on who have made themselves rich by performing in countries where it's a crime to be gay it really does bring into focus that it's nothing more than a big commercial money making racket and that the original cause and purpose has been lost. It's time to say 50 years and out'

Dinopawus · 10/08/2023 07:57

Nice ageism in that low voted comment. Other protected characteristics do not apply it seems.

Theeyeballsinthesky · 10/08/2023 08:08

Blimey!!! I’m amazed that that has gone out. I wonder how long it’ll be before it’s taken down & a gruelling apology issued

ArabeIIaScott · 10/08/2023 08:10

Best archive it.

ResisterRex · 10/08/2023 08:14

ArabeIIaScott · 10/08/2023 08:10

Best archive it.

I checked and it's been done!

Spottybluepyjamas · 10/08/2023 08:19

"Once again, same-sex relationships are under attack by people who subscribe to gender ideology and who say that sex-based rights are no longer important or relevant."

Exactly!! So good to see that in print!

Echio · 10/08/2023 08:26

Boiledbeetle · 10/08/2023 07:42

One of the comments...

Perhaps if Eddy/Suzy Izzard is selected for and wins Brighton Pavilion from the Greens at the next General Election then Brighton, a progressive City, will give Transpeople a voice in Parliament.

Erm... What about the current Transmember of parliament or does he not count?

Well Eddie / Suzy would be a hell of a lot more representative because Wallis is a horrific bigot. I say this as someone who knows him personally, and has followed his political career with absolute incredulity for years.

(ps are you deliberately concatenating the trans and person? they are two separate words btw)

RebelliousCow · 10/08/2023 08:42

'Trans' get their own parade and that is comething to celebrate - Trans joy. As for women, not a chance. This is not a liberation movement, it is an ideological tool of oppression, hell bent on appropriation and colonisation.

That LGB rights appear to be going backwards is in no small part because of the forced teaming of LGB with the TQ+

ArabeIIaScott · 10/08/2023 08:49

Mystery to me why there hasnt been much more celebration of Jamie Wallis as the first transwoman MP.

Boiledbeetle · 10/08/2023 08:58

Echio · 10/08/2023 08:26

Well Eddie / Suzy would be a hell of a lot more representative because Wallis is a horrific bigot. I say this as someone who knows him personally, and has followed his political career with absolute incredulity for years.

(ps are you deliberately concatenating the trans and person? they are two separate words btw)

Yes