I went to Prestatyn Pride to support.
Sometimes you forget how parochial the coastal towns are in their thinking, but several comments on the event’s Facebook page reinforced to me, attitudes I thought went out in the 1990 s.
Last night I found myself answering questions like
Why can’t there be straight Pride?
What’s it teaching our kids ?
And finally
Why do you gays need to celebrate having sex?
( chance would be a fine thing)
Sadly it pissed down
Janet met me and Roger to watch. And I’m now sat in the storyhouse in Chester on a sort of date
Unexpected and welcomed
Hey ho
Why can't there be straight pride? That's so sad. People who don't belong to a minority have no idea how much easier their lives have been, I suppose because they don't know any different. My old, white husband has no idea how much easier his life has been because of the colour of his skin, same with me. I do know that being a woman is harder than being a man though. My husband has never been sexually assaulted, or scared to walk alone at night.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that gay, bi, trans, queer people can safely have a parade. This was not the case when my aunt grew up.
Yes good point, straight men often don’t get it
DeletePixie,you saved me the time of writing it out. Straight people don't have to hide. There are still gays that do and gay is still used as an insult. Linda from PA
DeleteAnd speaking from experience there is NOTHING worst than a damp drag queen. Talk about looking like a watercolor!
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree. chance sex is the best sex.
No sex but a nice afternoon
DeleteSome people don't get it, and I think they don't WANT to get it. They resist the idea that being gay is more than "having sex," that it's a matter of identity, and that embracing that identity often comes at enormous personal cost. That accepting it often means redefining the lives we once thought we would lead, not only for our loved ones but for ourselves as well. We deserve the opportunity to be proud of the people we are. I'm glad you went to Prestatyn to "represent."
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, Steve.
DeleteSteve, beautifully put, I wish I had been so eloquent in my Facebook replies
DeleteMs moon , I’d love some of your pickles
DeleteVery well stated Steve. Linda from PA
DeleteLove this comment.
DeleteLive and let live is my motto. If people want to celebrate who they are, great. It is so sad that those out-dated and potentially inflammatory remarks are still made.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, what about this date? I hope you'll fill us in on (some of) the details! xx
Nothing to report, a nice afternoons chat
DeleteWhich was lovely
A nice chat is great. At least you weren't itching to escape. xx
DeleteNo I wasn’t not this time
DeleteIt's sad when the weather doesn't play ball.
ReplyDeleteThe pub looked busy , so I’m sure many people had a good time and it was lucrative for some of the towns businesses
DeleteThe ignorant will always live amongst us I suppose. Hopefully, one day after more of these events become commonplace, that old attitude will have eventually died out.
ReplyDeleteOne day we won’t need pride
DeleteSome do not get it, and they never will, because they are so busy 'loving the sinner but hating the sin' that they've forgotten altogether that pesky commandment about 'Thou shalt not judge'. I hope that the day comes when someone looks at the person in front of him and sees a human being, with all the rights and privileges that go along with that. Unfortunately, with our current leadership in the US, it seems like we are getting farther from that day instead of closer to it.
ReplyDeleteNicely put debby xxx
DeleteNice excursion and good to stand up for yourself and others but am so sorry it rained. What a soggy bother.
ReplyDeleteI've always had friends who happened to be gay but that wasn't central to our friendship and respect for each other. Those friends were good people who were good to be with and many were co-workers. Yes, live and let live.
Hugs!
Roger and I sat under my rainbow umbrella and waved
DeleteAll those questions by those who've no idea what it's like to be treated as less than, beaten as different, murdered as other.
ReplyDeleteYes bob , it isn’t rocket science but all they see is sex
DeleteLive and let live. The parade was attended pretty well and that's good. Sunshine instead of rain would have been the ideal.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your date!
The date was fine but there won’t be a second lol
DeleteThat's one of the reasons I generally avoid Facebook. I hope your 'sort of date' goes well. Xx
ReplyDeleteIt was a nice afternoon, unfortunately nothing more
DeleteBravo to everyone involved with Prestatyn Pride!
ReplyDelete🌈🩷🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷
DeleteAt least the mayor showed up, uncomfortable or not.
ReplyDeleteAnd the town cryer…didn’t know Prestatyn had one, she looked cheerful
DeleteEvery queer person who comes out publicly is helping someone who is afraid to do the same. And every straight advocate who speaks out against homophobia and all the stupid phobias is making a difference too. Too many kids who are gay and not getting any support choose to take their own lives. This is on our culture and we could end this if we truly wanted to.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes- a date? Enjoy.
Beautifully put dear heart xx
DeleteI'm glad you went to support even damply! Privilege is all about what you've never had to endure. Like the people commenting with such ignorance. Go you! And remember the people who do get it and care about you.
ReplyDeleteI know you do, and that is lovely
DeleteI live in ness\neston,not even a glimmer here!
ReplyDeleteLet's all go to prestatyn next year and celebrate in style xx
Let’s xxx
DeleteYour support fo Pride is important, good for you, and Roger and Janet. Ms Moon's point about young gay suicide breaks my heart.
ReplyDeleteWith the stupid questions--could you --we--refocus and educate? Gain supporters through tolerant dialog?
NYC Pride page has a button to donate to the cause and show support, for those in US who wish to do so.
DeleteAmerica for all its problems has led the world with PRIDE I love you for that
DeleteEvery bit of support and participation and education is vitally needed, in this country and elsewhere. We must not regress or turn our backs on our loved ones, whatever and whoever they may be.
DeleteXx
DeleteLack of education and empathy is one thing, and I have seen it make a difference in families and friends when a loved one comes out. Let's hope one day everyone everywhere feels safe to do so.
ReplyDeleteOn a positive note, there was several young families there with small children
DeleteNegative attitudes are sad. BTW, I just learned the meaning of "doomscrolling". I try to avoid doing that.
ReplyDeleteI do too, but sometimes it’s just THERE in front of u
DeleteMy work bestie and myself are "work mums" to a young, gay nurse. He's a good nurse, a good human being, and a wonderful bonus kid for both of us.
ReplyDeleteHe came out to his parents and was effectively shunned due to their religion. It put him off people his parents age. He seems to think his work mums and their husbands are a strange and wonderful perk. Our husbands treat him like any other young man which was a huge shock when he met them. As my husband told him, there have always been gay men in my workplace. My pal's husband is Black Canadian from a very old family and told him "every single person has struggles, don't let them define you".
And our bonus kid? He hates how Pride has evolved. He as you do, has his own ideas of how life should be celebrated. He's confused by the leathermen and other fetishes on display during the parades because as he put it "what they do in their bedrooms is their own business, I don't need to know who's into kink and latex"
I think he want Pride with dignity.
Thank u x
DeleteThe mayor is lucky he wasn't doing the walk in those spike heels - ouch! Someone sent me a lovely instagram clip entitled "Oslo Pride", wish I was savvy enough to attach it, very touching.
ReplyDeleteCeci
Why no straight white male day? Because every single day of the year is straight white male day. It's a shame they are frequently too bitter and resentful to appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteOnly 60 people!!! The one here (as you might imagine) is HUGE.
ReplyDeleteI can never understand the homophobic comments and slurs against people, often people they don't know. As I've mentioned before my son came out to me at about 15 after much gnashing of teeth and tears, where I could hear him in his bedroom wailing and I but not knowing what to do. Do I knock and ask him if he is ok or do I wait. Well he shouted for me to come in and said Mum I have something to tell you and I'm like Ok, and he said Mum I think I'm gay, I was so relieved it was something so ordinary I said something along the lines of oh thank god that is all! He's 37 this September and trying to live his best life with family support. I know he struggles (small gay pool in NZ) but he pushes on.
ReplyDeleteFair enough that people want to tak pride in their sexuality but we don't need it promoting in our lives to such an extreme. Why all the displays of fetish leather and bondage etc? Surely that isn't for public display in front of very young children and should be kept to the privacy of one's own house.
ReplyDeleteHopefully the gay and other communities will calm down and accept they're not different from any other human being but just want to shout about it more.
Our pride parade has over 25,000 marchers and thousands of people watching. That is in Toronto June 29
ReplyDeleteStrength in numbers
DeleteThe more unsophisticated the town, the more value there is in PRIDE.
ReplyDeleteVery true
Delete