Yes or no: Pride events

Notorious sporan-wearing Yorkshire poof Piggy McPigster made a very good point about Pride events in a comment on my previous post. Here it is:

"I really can't stand all this 'Pride' shite.

As I see it, it's no longe about being 'out' and getting some kind of acknowledgement for actually existing and (hopefully) gaining some kind of acceptance.

The whole thing has been commercialised to the point of becoming vomit inducing - the bars out to fleece everyone for every penny in their pocket, the clubs doing the same thing and - and this is where it really fucking annoys me - help only to strengthen the 'gay ghetto'.

I don't know about the dykes, but as far as the poofs are concerned, it's just one long jolly - everyone out to get as pissed as they can and to shag anyone they can get their hands on. Hence why you see the same old faces at every pride event around the country and beyond.

I don't feel the need to visit or take part in Pride events. I also have no need to line the pockets of the straights who once would never touch us but have now discovered the money to be made from us. I also don't need to visit such events to feel 'love' or to be part of a so-called community (biggest crock of shite I ever heard).

I'm a human being, first of all and that makes me feel proud enough. Events such as this do nothing to enhance the image we have, despite what anyone says."


He's right of course. The Village in Manchester is teeming with people making money out of people who they probably don't care too much for. The takeaways and taxi firms there are run by people of a certain religion that would happily see all LGBT people hanged, stoned or burned to death. During the Big Weekend, stall holders rake it in selling tat, the main bars have floats on the parade that are manned by muscular straight boys, some of whom clearly find approaches by enthusiastic gay blokes quite distasteful. Then again, given some of the enthusiastic gay blokes, most gay blokes would probably find them distasteful.

So why support Pride? Why line the pockets of those who hate us? Why put on a freak-show display for the sake of straight people who think that being gay is all fun and games, a constant party?

Let's have a look at some of the messages from the parade itself. First of all, the Christians and the National Front were positioned at prominent locations on the route. This is a leaflet the Christians were handing out:

Then there are the statistics in the UK:

Attitudes towards people with HIV/AIDS:

The global attitudes to homosexuality:

So I guess it's important to show ourselves to the world every now and again to remind people that yes, we're normal, but no we're not the same. Some like to get the message across a little more subtly:

Not all Christians are obsessed with being shocked and appalled at who people have sex with:

Of course, some just like to make a show of themselves.

And some fuckers get to ride a tank through the streets of Manchester!

I think Pride is an important and necessary event. Gay people are still not accepted. I still have difficulty with things, still have to pretend to be "living with a friend" to my family. You still have to be careful about where you go on holiday, and worry about whether you can hold your partner's hand in public in certain parts of town.

For an interesting angle on Manchester Pride and how people find it abhorrent that, while businesses make up to about £20m from the event, the charities that it is supposed to support get about £65,000, check out www.get-bent-manchester.com. They even invaded the main parade.

So, think on and look sharp. And if you don't want to line the pockets of the bar owners, try to slip a bottle vodka in your man bag, or under the back of your mullet.