Gay Pride Month

[Johnny D ModeratorPEGym Hero Find all posts View Profile Close Johnny D]

In addition to raising awareness and tolerance, as Incogneeto was getting at, another function would be to lower the level of discomfort which members of the community might feel. That's the pride part. Perhaps not so much about being proud of being gay (broadly, LGBTQI) but being proud of yourself even though you often still feel that there's something to hide or, worse, to be ashamed of.

[Dangler Senior Administrator☼ Wizard ☼ White Tiger Award 2015 Find all posts View Profile Close Dangler]

I remember back before the words 'queer and gay' became associated with homosexuality. It is like those two words have been hi-jacked/redefined. Sad.

[somebodyelse Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close somebodyelse]

intersex people are actually people who were born intersex. like genetically not male or female (what many call genital deformation) and end up with unwanted surgeries (requested by misguided parents) when they're younger that can leave them scarred for life, and sometimes incapable of having sex with someone they may fall in love with.

Intersex is a physical thing that causes many IS people to end up being transgender because of a genetic misfire. Some of those people decide not to identify as either.

Queer, on the other hand, is for people who aren't exactly gay or straight. Where their definitions of Bisexual and Pansexual don't exactly fit. Asexual is not the same as demisexual but there are people who are a mixture of a numerous different identities...

And for the benefit of people who gruff and bemoan the idea of people finding themselves and the value in their existence in a world that only values how far you can grind your bones into dust for Mega Corporations to continue to get richer, They simplify it...

"Queer" is a combination of, or a lack of fitting into the LGBT labels Used specifically when someone is tired of explaining, or as a shorthand for people who just can't begin to care what everything means.

LGBT- Queer | Intersex | Asexual | +plus other identities

LGBTQIA+

[somebodyelse Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close somebodyelse]

As far as why it's needed, well... because the number of transwomen murdered by men for simply existing is startling. Apparently transwomen have life expectancies as low as 30 years old due to murder and suicide.

Having pride in finding the existence that you were born into is part of it...

Also, just like I didn't choose to be attracted to women as a cisgender man (Physical Sex Matches Societies Version of my Gender), gay men didn't choose to be attracted emotionally and physically to other men. It's not a "Preference"... it's an "Orientation." Every gay man I know hates that they aren't attracted to women because "men suck" as they say. One said, "Do you think i would wake up and get out of bed everyday as a gay man if I had the choice? It's fucking dangerous"

They have to find pride in being gay because that's the ONLY thing they can be.

I know a bunch of men who try to be straight, but it just doesn't work, and many become drug abusers, alcoholics, and many times end up committing suicide trying to ignore parts of themselves.

These are people i know and knew today... Pride is about not letting society push you into the margins. I know to folks on the straight and fair side, it looks good, but when you see the world from the other side, you can see just how many hurdles still exist, and how far the power structure is willing to go to continue enforcing unfair treatment for no real reason.

[CUSP82 Administrator Admin of the Month Dec 2014PEGym Hero Find all posts View Profile Close CUSP82]

I always thought it was far more important to be proud of you, just you and what you are.Take pride in being a good person,a kind person, a caring person;why separate myself. The minute I say I am a gay person or black person or a whatever person I now separate instead of include.
Are transgender people murdered by men for being what they are? Sure. Are blacks, women and the old man being walking down the street being murdered as well? Sure because evil exists.

Maybe if we identified as people , no different from anyone else; maybe if we stop running around pointing out our differences just maybe we'll realize we're all children under the same God.

[djmotion Senior Member Member of the Month March 2019 Find all posts View Profile Close djmotion]

I agree. I think you should be far more proud to be a good person in a world that tries to bring out the worst in you rather than be proud to be gay. There's nothing against being gay but it's basically saying that straight people shouldn't be proud??

I don't think good people are given the credit they deserve either. They mostly get treat like shit.

[djmotion Senior Member Member of the Month March 2019 Find all posts View Profile Close djmotion]

They also do separate it into categories which is wrong. When filling in documents like applications for uni or work, etc. you have to list sexual orientation on some as well as whether you're transgender.

[somebodyelse Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close somebodyelse]

I agree. If everybody just could respect everyone's existence and autonomy to be who they are, then there wouldn't be any issues.

The problem comes in when people use their social and political power to enact legislation to limit the freedoms and protections of those people. So, like black people getting profiled and more harshly punished for the same crimes committed by whites, or gays being unable to have the legal protections that come with "marriage" (including health decisions and tax incentives) to women's reproductive health choices.

When a group of people enact their "will" on others who are just trying to live and mind their business, that "respect" goes right out the window.

When you become the target of violence (look up the UpStairs Lounge Massacre) because of just existing as gay, to identify as gay becomes dangerous ergo... to have PRIDE in it is to proudly be in danger. Transgender people have been legislated out of the military again. Lots of civilrights are being rolled back.

People's civil rights are literally under attack right now, so taking pride in not shrinking in the face of people trying to kill you is one thing.

Straight people aren't being persecuted for being straight. Straight clubs aren't being bombed or shot up. Straight people aren't denied marriage rights or the ability to join the military because they're straight.

That's the point of having pride... saying "Fuck You" to the people trying to limit your access to happiness.

"Fuck you! I don't have to be like you to be worthy of full, inalienable rights" is what Pride is. Pride in owning the things you can't change about yourself even though society tells you that it's wrong.

[djmotion Senior Member Member of the Month March 2019 Find all posts View Profile Close djmotion]

Actually, Pride is one of the seven deadly sins

[somebodyelse Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close somebodyelse]

Actually, Pride is one of the seven deadly sins

This is true.

[Rasputine Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Rasputine]

next they'll have every letter of the alphabet