¿WHAT IS GAY PRIDE? Gay Pride is a movement that celebrates the GLBT community. This movement emerged in the 1960s. It came out of a time when mainstream society tended to view being GLBT as something shameful or inferior to being heterosexual. The term PRIDE was deliberately chosen counter the idea that there was something embarrassing or wrong with being gay. In many places, Pride occurs in June to commemorate the famous Stonewall riots. These riots occurred in 1969 as a response to homophobic raids that were happening at gay bars. During raids, police would drag people off to jail on fake charges, even if they weren't committing crimes. But on June 27th, 1969, GLBT patrons of New York City's Stonewall Inn had had enough and fought back when police tried to arrest them. This culminated in what are often called the Stonewall Riots. These are seen by many as the birth of the GAY RIGHTS MOVEMENT. Many communities refer to June as GAY PRIDE MONTH and hold Pride Parades and other events during this time.
¿WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU? Long gone are the days when I didn't feel proud to be exactly who I am every day, so why the need to reaffirm that we aren't still living in shame? Can't we just name it National Gay Day and get a three-day weekend out of the deal? For now, let's just unveil GAY PRIDE DAY for what it appears to be…a rapidly becoming commercialized semi-holiday with corporate-sponsored parade floats, inflated admissions to bars that are normally free and overpriced circuit-party tickets for people still using expensive designer drugs. For me, GAY PRIDE GAY, like New Years Eve has become another excuse for having expectations of a fantastically memorable experience; one that hopefully involves some romance with a few shirtless AND sweaty muscle boys. I try not to be cynical and callous because GAY PRIDE means so much to so many, but it seems to have been misplaced between sex AND fun. I can’t help but feel like year after year this event is like a fake orgasm we go through the motions, courting an elusive satisfaction that never comes…
¿WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU? Long gone are the days when I didn't feel proud to be exactly who I am every day, so why the need to reaffirm that we aren't still living in shame? Can't we just name it National Gay Day and get a three-day weekend out of the deal? For now, let's just unveil GAY PRIDE DAY for what it appears to be…a rapidly becoming commercialized semi-holiday with corporate-sponsored parade floats, inflated admissions to bars that are normally free and overpriced circuit-party tickets for people still using expensive designer drugs. For me, GAY PRIDE GAY, like New Years Eve has become another excuse for having expectations of a fantastically memorable experience; one that hopefully involves some romance with a few shirtless AND sweaty muscle boys. I try not to be cynical and callous because GAY PRIDE means so much to so many, but it seems to have been misplaced between sex AND fun. I can’t help but feel like year after year this event is like a fake orgasm we go through the motions, courting an elusive satisfaction that never comes…
¿WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO SHOW YOUR PRIDE THIS YEAR? This month I’d like to see something different done that draws attention to the wonderful events taking place throughout June. After the many costume change into drag and we dance the time away to Jennifer Hudson’s AND I’M TELLING YOU, I’M NOT GOING…What is the one thing that will hold you until PRIDE comes around next year?
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