Thread: Sochi Olympics and the Law against Gays in Russia +

Can't help bringing this up: Gay-Pride Parade Sets Mainstream Acceptance Of Gays Back 50 Years
I think this sarcastic piece perfectly summarises feelings of ordinary heterosexual person about gay parades

Originally Posted by xdns

Can't help bringing this up: Gay-Pride Parade Sets Mainstream Acceptance Of Gays Back 50 Years
I think this sarcastic piece perfectly summarises feelings of ordinary heterosexual person about gay parades

Actually, that article was hilarious!

The parade, organized by the Los Angeles Gay And Lesbian And Bisexual And Transvestite And Transgender Alliance (LAGALABATATA), was intended to "promote acceptance, tolerance, and equality for the city's gay community." Just the opposite, however, was accomplished, as the event confirmed the worst fears of thousands of non-gay spectators, cementing in their minds a debauched and distorted image of gay life straight out of the most virulent right-wing hate literature.

Hahaha.... oh that's so true. That's why so many gays and lesbians in the US are tired of all this "over the top" wackiness. I actually think it offends them more than heteros these days, which may explain why the pride parades I've been to are nothing like those described here. I've never seen giant phallus floats or people waving dildos... ever... our pride parades were just people, walking down the street, carrying rainbow flags. Of course, I do not live in Los Angeles!

Now, my opinion about recent anti-"gay propaganda" laws in my country:

I think that our MPs, probably, have nothing more important to do.
So they have to make up these rubbish laws which criminalize so called "gay propaganda", insults of "religious feelings" etc.
They even suggested a law to ban Russian mat on the Internet (I wouldn't be surprised if they approve that law too)!
It is nothing but bigotry and cheap moralism.
Opposition speakers nicknamed current Duma as a "mad printer" because of these non-agenda laws.

I'm not very fond of gay parades as a heterosexual (they are just not my type of parades ).
I'm sceptical about gay "marriage", because I think it steals some special "olde" feeling about marriage as a union of woman and man. I do, however, support civil unions for gays.
I'm undecided about adoptions by gay couples. I think that traditional couples should at least have priority in this matter - because child can't choose by himself and should be given a chance to end up with a traditional family first.

BUT these scum dressed in all those "God forbid" T-shirts who come to beat harmless campaigners should be put in jail! Our society should not tolerate violence.

Originally Posted by xdns

Now, my opinion about recent anti-"gay propaganda" laws in my country:

I think that our MPs, probably, have nothing more important to do.
So they have to make up these rubbish laws which criminalize so called "gay propaganda", insults of "religious feelings" etc.
They even suggested a law to ban Russian mat on the Internet (I wouldn't be surprised if they approve that law too)!
It is nothing but bigotry and cheap moralism.
Opposition speakers nicknamed current Duma as a "mad printer" because of these non-agenda laws.

I'm not very fond of gay parades as a heterosexual (they are just not my type of parades ).
I'm sceptical about gay "marriage", because I think it steals some special "olde" feeling about marriage as a union of woman and man. I do, however, support civil unions for gays.
I'm undecided about adoptions by gay couples. I think that traditional couples should at least have priority in this matter - because child can't choose by himself and should be given a chance to end up with a traditional family first.

BUT these scum dressed in all those "God forbid" T-shirts who come to beat harmless campaigners should be put in jail! Our society should not tolerate violence.

That about sums up my feelings too. The laws against "offending the sensibilities of religious people" especially bother me! But we have a large, very vocal, group of people in the US who would LOVE to have the same "cheap moralistic laws" here. (great expression by the way.) I was just reading yesterday how there are seven states which have laws against atheists serving the governments. Seven states with constitutions which basically say "any man may serve in a civil capacity - provided that he believe in the Almighty God." I wish I was kidding.

Originally Posted by xdns

I'm not very fond of gay parades as a heterosexual (they are just not my type of parades ).
I'm sceptical about gay "marriage", because I think it steals some special "olde" feeling about marriage as a union of woman and man. I do, however, support civil unions for gays.
I'm undecided about adoptions by gay couples. I think that traditional couples should at least have priority in this matter - because child can't choose by himself and should be given a chance to end up with a traditional family first.

Hmmm, I'm "queer as a three-dollar-bill" and I agree with you on all of these points. Although on the subject of gay parades, I will admit that the FIRST one I ever attended (just about 20 years ago, when I was in college) was very significant to me. And I think that a lot of other gay people would say that these parades can be valuable when you're just beginning the process of "выход из подполья". But after the novelty wears off, you start to realize: "Wow, this is kind of stupid."

Originally Posted by Deborski

That's why so many gays and lesbians in the US are tired of all this "over the top" wackiness. I actually think it offends them more than heteros these days, which may explain why the pride parades I've been to are nothing like those described here. I've never seen giant phallus floats or people waving dildos... ever... our pride parades were just people, walking down the street, carrying rainbow flags. Of course, I do not live in Los Angeles!

When I lived in NYC (1996-2003), I was surprised at how low-key and even "family friendly" the Brooklyn gay parade was compared with the BIG one in Manhattan, just a few miles away. Another thing to keep in mind about the really huge gay parades in some cities is that they are, to some degree, deliberate imitations of the "Carnavale" and "Mardi Gras" traditions: