Utah gay pride parade.

[UtahDan]

What part of being gay are they supposed to celebrate if not the queer part? The rest of it is as dull as the life of a heterosexual.

That image seems tame to me. No more than you would see at a swimming pool.

[smokymountainrain]

Read that Onion article. Part of the deal here is reclaiming stereotypes. I get what you are saying, but to me it would not make sense to withdraw my support because part of the movement expresses itself in an embarrassing way. I image at least some of us openly support movements or organizations that are in some ways deeply embarrassing to us because we stand with them over all.

I'll will interject here as well...

I agree with this and I am most certainly not withdrawing my support, rather simply not supporting this specific activity. Perhaps - and this is most likely the case - they couldn't give a rat's ass if guys like me support their parade, so they are going to do what they want to do, my support be damned. The question then becomes, is that the most effective approach?

[UtahDan]

I'll will interject here as well...

I agree with this and I am most certainly not withdrawing my support, rather simply not supporting this specific activity. Perhaps - and this is most likely the case - they couldn't give a rat's ass if guys like me support their parade, so they are going to do what they want to do, my support be damned. The question then becomes, is that the most effective approach?

Sure, I can understand your point. I think the organizers of this thing are counting on the idea that you wouldn't expect to see active Mormons in church attire in a parade like this. It is the willingness to show support, even in this setting, that is striking. It is a little bit "whoa, Jesus is hanging with the lepers and the publicans?"

[smokymountainrain]

That image seems tame to me. No more than you would see at a swimming pool.

Unfortunately, they are not at a swimming pool.

[Shaka]

Read that Onion article. Part of the deal here is reclaiming stereotypes. I get what you are saying, but to me it would not make sense to withdraw my support because part of the movement expresses itself in an embarrassing way. I image at least some of us openly support movements or organizations that are in some ways deeply embarrassing to us because we stand with them over all.

Fine, you take your kids and March right next to the worst elements of the parade.

Did you pay attention to the rest of the Onion article? Reclaiming stereotypes is fine but if you want mainstream acceptance you will need to align with mainstream norms as much as possible. In other words the symbolic exhibition of stereotypes has outlasted its purpose.

[Donuthole]

Read that Onion article. Part of the deal here is reclaiming stereotypes. I get what you are saying, but to me it would not make sense to withdraw my support because part of the movement expresses itself in an embarrassing way. I image at least some of us openly support movements or organizations that are in some ways deeply embarrassing to us because we stand with them over all.

Business must be good, because your richness knows no bounds.

[TalkyTina]

Yes they are, but for many (me included) when you dance around in the street wearing only speedos, you are as good as naked. I don't want to be a part of it. Again, promote with some dignity and you garner more support.

Homosexuals want to be treated like everyone else, they want people to stop thinking about and discriminating based on what they choose to do in their own bedrooms and then they take two steps back by bringing the bedroom to the streets. Perhaps it's just me, but it doesn't make much sense and it's frustrating for those who support the overall cause.

I have gay friends who share this view. They are too embarrassed to even attend gay pride festivities.

Keep in mind, gay pride is also full of straight people who use the day as an excuse to act like jackasses and congratulate one another on how magnanimous they are.

[Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

Sure, I can understand your point. I think the organizers of this thing are counting on the idea that you wouldn't expect to see active Mormons in church attire in a parade like this. It is the willingness to show support, even in this setting, that is striking. It is a little bit "whoa, Jesus is hanging with the lepers and the publicans?"

If the people in this parade are lepers and publicans, that means there's a good chance that a guy in high heels, sequins and a thong whose greyed and rotting skin is falling off is going to try to take my money. Sounds fun, but I think I'll sit this one out.

[UtahDan]

Fine, you take your kids and March right next to the worst elements of the parade.

Did you pay attention to the rest of the Onion article? Reclaiming stereotypes is fine but if you want mainstream acceptance you will need to align with mainstream norms as much as possible. In other words the symbolic exhibition of stereotypes has outlasted its purpose.

I think it would be a good opportunity for me to teach them about diversity, tolerance and that there are all kinds of people in this world. To me, depriving LGBTQ people of full civil rights and creating a culture where so many of them kill themselves are true moral outrages. Flamboyant or even suggestive outfits, mostly naked bodies, not really. I think the world is sort of upside down when the latter is more offensive than the former. I genuinely understand that people's sensibilities and what they want to expose their kids to here are in play. I wouldn't second guess a parent's decision about what they want to expose the kids to (figuratively or literally).

You may be right about the stereotypes thing, I don't know. I'm not necessarily defending that as an effective tactic. I just don't see it as a very big deal.

[Jacob]

It is the willingness to show support, even in this setting, that is striking. It is a little bit "whoa, Jesus is hanging with the lepers and the publicans?"

Did Jesus go out tax-collecting with the publicans?

[HauteCoug]

I'll be attending with a few different groups of friends, and probably clad in my church clothes, and I may or may not see some nudity or ridiculous behavior, but until I lose the freedom to marry who I'm attracted to I'm probably not going to judge all that much.

[UtahDan]

Did Jesus go out tax-collecting with the publicans?

So you are saying that the parade is immoral or sinful behavior? If not I don't understand where you are trying to take the analogy. I am simply saying it is the juxtaposition that give the visual/symbolic statement force. I'm not saying anyone is Jesus or anyone is a prostitute. I'm just saying that seeing those two things together, which you wouldn't expect to, is sort of arresting and bound to elicit a reaction one way or the other. Which is sort of the point, I think.

[UtahDan]

Unfortunately, they are not at a swimming pool.

Come on SMR. You can't tell me that if they were attractive lesbians you wouldn't be there on the front row.

[RC Vikings]

Come on SMR. You can't tell me that if they were attractive lesbians you wouldn't be there on the front row.

Attractive lesbians, Bigfoot and the Loch Nesh Monster are all myths.

[Shaka]

I think it would be a good opportunity for me to teach them about diversity, tolerance and that there are all kinds of people in this world. To me, depriving LGBTQ people of full civil rights and creating a culture where so many of them kill themselves are true moral outrages. Flamboyant or even suggestive outfits, mostly naked bodies, not really. I think the world is sort of upside down when the latter is more offensive than the former. I genuinely understand that people's sensibilities and what they want to expose their kids to here are in play. I wouldn't second guess a parent's decision about what they want to expose the kids to (figuratively or literally).

You may be right about the stereotypes thing, I don't know. I'm not necessarily defending that as an effective tactic. I just don't see it as a very big deal.

Hey to each his own. Personally I think it's possible to teach kids diversity without exposing them to that stuff.