No more Gay Pride. [View All]

[plantwomyn]

I was watching C-span tonight and saw Matthew Shepard's mom Judy at a forum at Stetson University in Florida.
This woman is very deep and almost had me crying. she told everyone to tell there story and educate people about us.
She talked about gay rights being civil rights and how in the 60's we all stood shoulder to shoulder to stop hate and discrimination. All hate and discrimination.
It started me thinking about the marches I participated in. Then things like Stonewall came to mind and even some small just us queers protests we had in Chicago. In the old days the Parade would pull into Lincoln Park and there would be speeches and political booths and people hanging out talking to each other. My years in San Francisco were much the same, especially when we found out how our boys were getting AIDS and how the government didn't give a shit.
Not so much anyone. My partner was asked to help carry the huge American flag with the Veterans in Chicago last year. It had been 5 years since our last Parade. It ended in Lincoln Park and everyone went to the bars.:shrug:
Judy Shepard is right. We need to stop and make them all listen. Judy said that when her son was murdered she and her husband didn't even know that we could be fired for being gay. She said that until we stand up and tell our stories we will never get our rights.
I agree with her. And I was thinking of how can we do it on a broader scale.
The Gay Pride Parade.
Can we make it less a drag show and more a showcase of gay citizens?
Don't get me wrong, I have GBT friends and have even fought with my trans friend's over who got to were which tank top. But I have been to the Parade and been embarrassed. Maybe I'm getting old but I don't think so. Straight or gay people with their body parts hanging out all over the place and rubbing on each other never has done much for me. Maybe I'm a prude.
I was thinking of the Lawyers in Pakistan protesting and how they got more notice by the media because they were respected in their own and our society.
Maybe if we marched as ourselves. Not Drag queens or kings, but as their cable guy, teachers, police officers, nurses and students. No more floats. Right down on the street, in their faces. Nice and slow and looking them in the eye.