The small community of Millport is to have an LGBT+ pride. Thoughts?

[MintBird]

Millport is on Cumbrae (don't confuse with Cumbria)- a small island on the West of Scotland coast, population not much over 1,000 with a lot of elderly. It's the only town on the island so most people generally just say Millport. As one of the more Southern islands and its small size it is popular for tourists and cycling.

So they are going to have their first ever pride on Sep 12th. Pride events usually happen in cities so it's unusual for one to take place in a small island with a lot of elderly and Christian residents. Some on social media are complaining the "ideology is being pushed on small island communities" whilst others are saying Ayrshire is a decade behind Glasgow in terms of LGBT acceptance with men or boys being targeted even for discreetly holding hands.

https://millportpride.wixsite.com/millport-pride

www.heraldscotland.com/news/26252152.millport-host-first-ever-pride-festival-september/

Good for them.

On traitors this year there was a man from Lewis who talked about how difficult it was growing up gay in a small island community.

Christians can be gay too.

but Lewis and Harris have a much larger population than the wee isle of cumbrae!

Wow, you've just proved why LGB people should have the option to say no to the T. And also proved how little you understand the complex and misogynist history behind today's cultural links between same sex attraction and gender non-conformity.

I wrote a very good post about that a few years ago. You should look for it. Historical perspective is always good, and you might even learn something.

And come to think of it, you also prove how little you understand what people mean when they refer to genderism as an "ideology" (hint: no it's not whether trans people "exist" or not, it's the unevidenced and often contradictiry reasons given for why that is, and the excessive social and structural demanda that are made on top of them).

How do you know Mx Currie is a gay woman? Mx is how they are referred to in the press article - there's nothing about their sexuality or sex.

We can but hope!

Presumably it's a marketing thing?

I assumed non binary, which didn't suprise me.

Pam Currie is a local woman who lives on the island and is married to a woman. The community isn't predominantly Christian but there is a presence which is welcome as are gay residents and visitors.

I hope the sun shines on the day!

How lovely she was able to meet and date her wife without interference from TIMs as has happened to so many lesbians. Hopefully she and the other organisers will ensure that it's a truly inclusive day, with men in fetish gear and placards calling for the death of terfs kept firmly on the mainland.

Pam is very much TWAW, which is presumably the point of the OP highlighting this.

Translation: I was hoping to get lots of screenshots of nasty comments from bigoted TERFS to post on Reddit.

Ahhh, so inclusive but only to a point. I can never get my head around why some women are happy to watch other women being vilified, attacked, silenced and pushed out of their rightful spaces in order to centre men.

I’m local, straight and think it’s great! The Arran pride is always very well supported as are other events, festivals etc on Cumbrae/Millport, this raises awareness and is inclusive.

I don't really understand this thread. I have always understood that sex and gender discussion was not anti trans. I am only interested in women's rights. Trans men and women can get on with their own lives, so long as my right to single sex spaces is respected.

How inclusive? Does it, for example, follow other Prides and ban the LGB Alliance or lesbian groups that don't allow men to join?

I wasn’t aware of that to be honest. Maybe need to do a bit more reading up on that as it’s not really widely known.

I just meant if it’s raising awareness and supporting people to be more inclusive of everyone in their society then it’s a good thing. I hadn’t realised there was more to it than that. maybe it is a positive then if more people are talking about the bigger picture and people can find out more factual information.

It's been widely known for some years now that Pride is not the family friendly, fun event it once was. It's become very political, with many focusing very much on the demands of the Ts and far less on the LGBs. If the organisers of this event are able to stand firm, welcome all groups and views equally, and make it clear that no placards calling for terfs to die (and similar) or fetishes are allowed, then good luck to them.

Yes, and if it’s hard for someone to come out as gay on Lewis then it’s going to be even harder in a smaller community.

Oh absolutely, but living nearby, all I see is every small place pushing the TQ+, a lot of the time, directly at kids.

They have a country and western festival which brings in a lot of visitors. I expect this will do the same. But getting to and from Cumbrae is not that easy. The queues for the ferry if you take the car on a busy day are terrible - you can't book, you have to just turn up. And getting back can be tricky. We stayed in a cottage in Millport a few years ago. August. And we got stuck there due to bad weather!!

I think Millport would be a great location for this type of event.

We have booked the ferry when an event was on.

What exactly does Pride raise awareness of these days?

You’d have to ask the OP. I know there have been many instances of Pride festivals excluding some women’s group, which would be relevant to FWR, but the OP doesn’t mention women. Does mention men and boys though.

I suspect most people’s first ‘thoughts’ would be “that’s nice”.

It was a good while ago now, but when my neighbours’ daughter came out as a lesbian when still in her mid-teens, her parents took her to the Pride march in the nearby (small) city and marched with her, which I honestly thought was lovely.

I also have lesbian friends on Facebook who March every year and seem to have a great time.

I hope it’s a lovely occasion where positivity dominates.