Happy Pride

Religious definitions of marriage, my gentleman, are up to those religions. They can and do decide what is a covenant before their god and many include same sex couples. We do not have a religious government in the United States. The law is not based on any prophets. We do have a Constitution that explicitly states equal protection under the law. Law is based on that Constitution and not on any religious text. There are about 1500 federal rights and responsibilities related to marriage, as well as rights granted by states. Not being married absolutely denied equal justice, my gentleman. Being married takes nothing from the followers of any prophets. They can still believe as they choose. The majority in the USA choose to support marriage equality, in fact, my gentleman.

The legal definition of marriage has changed multiple times including in the United States where at one time, not that long ago, marriage meant the woman lost all control over her property because by law it all belonged to the man. Where wages were paid to the man when a whole family worked. Where rape of a wife was legal because she was the man's property. So was beating a wife. The woman as property is very old indeed. Being old is not necessarily being good.

"the gay"? Is that some kind of new syndrome?

If you can't defend your position that Pride is divisive, change the subject and pretend that US law is based on prophecy.
This horse has left the stable, MarAzul. You can't unmarry us, my gentleman.

 

Ugh... that's exactly what I thought when I read, "it’s co-opting queer identity as a way to make money". Seriously?!?

It reminded me of an article about a college campus where African American students had successfully sued to get their own meeting spaces and menu items because the place had basically become too inclusive.

I get to the point where I want to yell, "WTF do you want from me?!?"

I'm pro-human being. That doesn't mean I'm going to understand anyone else's struggles (born with, acquired, related to, etc. whatever they may be) but if you want me to understand "Your Thing" at least show up and try to explain it to me!!! It's just divisive and, while there may be some truth to it, it just makes people like me (a middle aged white woman who doesn't qualify for any kind of Pride Day) feel like there is really no hope of resolution at all... why should I care if you don't?

 

Spud, you qualify for Pride as an ally.

 

Thank you crandc... but do you get what I mean? The very fact that it has been "appropriated" by corporate America means that the message IS getting through. It's like everything the Pride cause wanted but now this guy is going, "You're doing it wrong." It's very frustrating for me, I feel like that guy is judging ME and the whole point of the thing is acceptance.

 

Nope, not judging you. Pride has not been appropriated, it has become what, mainstream? Like I said, we have no purity test.

Screw anyone who thinks they can judge you.

 

Exactly, mainstream is the perfect word... not too corporate, too white, etc.

I get what the man is saying, the meaning has definitely changed a lot over the years. But if we just look at Orlando alone, there's an obvious need for outreach in places that corporate America can't or doesn't reach. But at least Corporate America is onboard. It could be (and has been in very recent history) much worse. Good and bad, they're going to wring every penny out of it they can because... greed.

 

This made me giggle because I remember a time not to long ago where the biggest insult one man could throw at another man was to accuse him of being gay. We're having this discussion about the Pride movement becoming too corporate and I'm picturing the attorney Denny Crane. Who instantly turns into Captain Kirk marching in the parade. I do remember Captain Kirk being very open minded when it came to dating.

 

So show up, Denny! No one is stopping you. We don't do DNA testing for the gay gene at the doors of BART trains.

Sadly, Spud, accusing someone of being gay is still an insult among straight dudes - go to any sporting event and you'll hear it in the crowd.

 

Can't deny that it still happens, but I'm positive it is much less prevalent. I know that I practically never hear it from guys around my age (24) anymore.

 

Back in the 80s I told a female co-worker that I was going to go see a movie by myself the next Saturday afternoon. She was a minister's daughter and got married right out of high school so she was really naïve, very sweet but totally sheltered. She could not believe I was going to be seen in a movie theater by myself because someone might think I was gay.

I started laughing because the connection was so random... movie theater alone means gay? What?!? I said, "Considering I'm going to be there by myself, at least they find me interesting or attractive enough to assume I'm getting lucky".

 

Never in my life have I heard "gay" used as an insult at a sporting event.

Maybe it's just because you live in such a shithole, anti-American town that you experience hostility and bigotry. America is the world leader in freedom and choice so an illegal-alien refuge city is bound to be less so. You should crawl out of your bubble and meet some Real Americans for a change.

 

I was unaware that Oakland and Sacramento are unreal Americans. But I hear "fag" and "pussy" shouted out at sporting events a lot. And I am absolutely not the only one nor is that unique to Oakland and Sacramento. However, I am very happy to hear that real Americans don't use antigay slurs. Sadly, that must mean there are a hell of a lot of unreal Americans around.

Spud, going to a movie alone makes you gay? Or means you are gay? That is a new one on me!

 

Platypus, there was such an event yesterday as well. A white supremacist rally in Sacramento. Is that a straight white male parade?

You can organize one if you want. You need a permit, speakers, stage, sound system, sanitary facilities, publicity. Or maybe, just go to the Republican convention!

 

Well, that was an unexpected response to my story.

 

I know, right?!? I was even living in Seattle at the time! It was one of those awkward moments where I couldn't stop giggling. It never would've occurred to me that strangers in a movie theater would even notice me much less make up a whole personal life for me and then judge me for it.

She was a big ball of anxieties... she had really been raised to get in line and stay in line like good girls should.

 

MARIS's posts have this sheen of LSD overdose to them sometimes.