[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]YourValentine wrote: [/QUOTENAME]Gay Pride parades are held because "normal people" (see above) do NOT accept gay life style. There is no necessity to have straight parades because straights are the majority and don't need to fight for acceptance. Gay parades are political, they are not some self-indulgent Fellini excesses. To raise public awareness it's necessary to be provocative.
It's easy to say "I accept gay lifestyle as long as I do not see it, as long as they stay in their closets and do not force it on me".
Once gays have equal rights and are not discriminated anymore, there won't be any need for gay pride parades.
[/QUOTE]
Agreed.
Oh, and Haystacks...you gave yourself away by calling heterosexuals "normal people". Kinda proves that you are a reactionary bastard.
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[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]YourValentine wrote: [/QUOTENAME]Gay Pride parades are held because "normal people" (see above) do NOT accept gay life style. There is no necessity to have straight parades because straights are the majority and don't need to fight for acceptance. Gay parades are political, they are not some self-indulgent Fellini excesses. To raise public awareness it's necessary to be provocative.
It's easy to say "I accept gay lifestyle as long as I do not see it, as long as they stay in their closets and do not force it on me".
Once gays have equal rights and are not discriminated anymore, there won't be any need for gay pride parades.[/QUOTE]
I disagree. Especially with the bit where you deem it necessary to be provocative to raise public awareness; I don't think it does gay people as a whole any good in terms of helping them eliminate discrimination.
Whilst I respect your opinion I don't agree with you when you compare it to something like a civil rights march, which you seem to be doing here.
It's easy to say "I accept gay lifestyle as long as I do not see it, as long as they stay in their closets and do not force it on me".
Once gays have equal rights and are not discriminated anymore, there won't be any need for gay pride parades.[/QUOTE]
I disagree. Especially with the bit where you deem it necessary to be provocative to raise public awareness; I don't think it does gay people as a whole any good in terms of helping them eliminate discrimination.
Whilst I respect your opinion I don't agree with you when you compare it to something like a civil rights march, which you seem to be doing here.
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]YourValentine wrote: [/QUOTENAME]Gay Pride parades are held because "normal people" (see above) do NOT accept gay life style. There is no necessity to have straight parades because straights are the majority and don't need to fight for acceptance. Gay parades are political, they are not some self-indulgent Fellini excesses. To raise public awareness it's necessary to be provocative.
It's easy to say "I accept gay lifestyle as long as I do not see it, as long as they stay in their closets and do not force it on me".
Once gays have equal rights and are not discriminated anymore, there won't be any need for gay pride parades.
[/QUOTE]
I agree with most of what you said...but I do have some issues with it. There is a difference between being homosexual (by definition being attracted to members of the same sex) and the behavior demonstrated in those gay pride parades. The behavior demonstrated there is about exhibitionism, a need to show off things like sex, which in most people's world is a private thing. I could understand the need for the gay pride parades to act like that if straight people were out having sex on street corners...you don't normally see that, unless you are in a red light district somewhere. Like I said before, most homosexual men and women I have spoken to disapprove of those gay pride parades, because they recognize the difference between being homosexual and being an exhibitionist. They have also realized that those gay pride parades are just shooting yourself in the foot. Acting like that in public, whether you are straight or homosexual or bisexual or a transvestite or whatever is NOT going to win you respect. If respect and an end to discrimination is what they want (and indeed, it is what they deserve!) they need to stop with the parade behavior. It only makes straight people look down on them, even the moderates who could be led to agree with gay rights...If all you know of gay life is what you see on the parades, it's not a surprise people are against gay rights. Respect and toleration is what they need to advance the cause...and those parades don't do it.
I also take issue with you comparison of this to civil rights parades. Those were parades of men and women who marched, sang songs, but just marched for the most part. It didn't involve stripper like costumes, public sex and loud gay club music. This is not a comparison you can make with any logical standing.
It's easy to say "I accept gay lifestyle as long as I do not see it, as long as they stay in their closets and do not force it on me".
Once gays have equal rights and are not discriminated anymore, there won't be any need for gay pride parades.
[/QUOTE]
I agree with most of what you said...but I do have some issues with it. There is a difference between being homosexual (by definition being attracted to members of the same sex) and the behavior demonstrated in those gay pride parades. The behavior demonstrated there is about exhibitionism, a need to show off things like sex, which in most people's world is a private thing. I could understand the need for the gay pride parades to act like that if straight people were out having sex on street corners...you don't normally see that, unless you are in a red light district somewhere. Like I said before, most homosexual men and women I have spoken to disapprove of those gay pride parades, because they recognize the difference between being homosexual and being an exhibitionist. They have also realized that those gay pride parades are just shooting yourself in the foot. Acting like that in public, whether you are straight or homosexual or bisexual or a transvestite or whatever is NOT going to win you respect. If respect and an end to discrimination is what they want (and indeed, it is what they deserve!) they need to stop with the parade behavior. It only makes straight people look down on them, even the moderates who could be led to agree with gay rights...If all you know of gay life is what you see on the parades, it's not a surprise people are against gay rights. Respect and toleration is what they need to advance the cause...and those parades don't do it.
I also take issue with you comparison of this to civil rights parades. Those were parades of men and women who marched, sang songs, but just marched for the most part. It didn't involve stripper like costumes, public sex and loud gay club music. This is not a comparison you can make with any logical standing.
I did not compare Gay Pride parades with any civil right marches. They are political in a sense that they have a tradition of fighting for equal rights - in fact fighting for not being arrested for being gay (Christopher Street Parade.)
I have not seen a Gay Pride parade yet where people actually had sex or were nude or violated any laws. Maybe they did offend the taste of people who have an issue with "indecent" clothing, strippers etc. You may be offended by lingerie, make up or suggestive behaviour but the same behaviour can be seen on the Love Parade each year and I never heard that people think "straights" are outrageous because of the Love Parade and "normal people" have to look away. Ask yourself if you make a difference.
"If respect and an end to discrimination is what they want (and indeed, it is what they deserve!) they need to stop with the parade behavior. It only makes straight people look down on them, even the moderates who could be led to agree with gay rights...If all you know of gay life is what you see on the parades, it's not a surprise people are against gay rights"
I don't agree. I think gays deserve equal rights, period. There cannot be prerequisites like "only if there are no gay pride parades and only if they do not offend the moral majority, they are entitled to equal rights". The right to live an open gay life is not something that is generously granted by the straight majority. In a free society the right to live an open gay life is a given right imo. The whole idea of tolerance means you "bear" the difference even if you do not approve. I am truly convinced that such parades would be obsolete if gays were granted the same rights as straight people.
I have not seen a Gay Pride parade yet where people actually had sex or were nude or violated any laws. Maybe they did offend the taste of people who have an issue with "indecent" clothing, strippers etc. You may be offended by lingerie, make up or suggestive behaviour but the same behaviour can be seen on the Love Parade each year and I never heard that people think "straights" are outrageous because of the Love Parade and "normal people" have to look away. Ask yourself if you make a difference.
"If respect and an end to discrimination is what they want (and indeed, it is what they deserve!) they need to stop with the parade behavior. It only makes straight people look down on them, even the moderates who could be led to agree with gay rights...If all you know of gay life is what you see on the parades, it's not a surprise people are against gay rights"
I don't agree. I think gays deserve equal rights, period. There cannot be prerequisites like "only if there are no gay pride parades and only if they do not offend the moral majority, they are entitled to equal rights". The right to live an open gay life is not something that is generously granted by the straight majority. In a free society the right to live an open gay life is a given right imo. The whole idea of tolerance means you "bear" the difference even if you do not approve. I am truly convinced that such parades would be obsolete if gays were granted the same rights as straight people.
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]YourValentine wrote: [/QUOTENAME]
I don't agree. I think gays deserve equal rights, period. There cannot be prerequisites like "only if there are no gay pride parades and only if they do not offend the moral majority, they are entitled to equal rights". The right to live an open gay life is not something that is generously granted by the straight majority. In a free society the right to live an open gay life is a given right imo. The whole idea of tolerance means you "bear" the difference even if you do not approve. I am truly convinced that such parades would be obsolete if gays were granted the same rights as straight people.[/QUOTE]
That is the equivalent of saying, "Well, if you just gave PETA what they wanted, they'd stop blowing up buildings."
Just like gay pride parades, blowing up buildings does absolutely nothing to advance one's cause. They are merely outlets for people with a cause. True logic should dictate, "Homosexuals should be granted equal rights AND they shouldn't march in offensive parades." It's not a matter of "Homosexuals should stop marching in parades AFTER they are granted equal rights." The two things have no logical connection to each other.
I don't agree. I think gays deserve equal rights, period. There cannot be prerequisites like "only if there are no gay pride parades and only if they do not offend the moral majority, they are entitled to equal rights". The right to live an open gay life is not something that is generously granted by the straight majority. In a free society the right to live an open gay life is a given right imo. The whole idea of tolerance means you "bear" the difference even if you do not approve. I am truly convinced that such parades would be obsolete if gays were granted the same rights as straight people.[/QUOTE]
That is the equivalent of saying, "Well, if you just gave PETA what they wanted, they'd stop blowing up buildings."
Just like gay pride parades, blowing up buildings does absolutely nothing to advance one's cause. They are merely outlets for people with a cause. True logic should dictate, "Homosexuals should be granted equal rights AND they shouldn't march in offensive parades." It's not a matter of "Homosexuals should stop marching in parades AFTER they are granted equal rights." The two things have no logical connection to each other.
to your valentine
you obviously havent seen the parades ive seen.im all for gay rights but what i dont want to see is hairy arsed beer bellied men in their 50's just wearing chaps flaunting their sexuality in these marches.march by all means but do it with dignity and style.the cause will get more support that way i feel.
if its meant to be a party parade thing like a mardi gras then so be it but if its to put their cause across then it needs a bit more decorum.
no gay person i know would act like that in public and to be honest nor would any straight person i know.
you obviously havent seen the parades ive seen.im all for gay rights but what i dont want to see is hairy arsed beer bellied men in their 50's just wearing chaps flaunting their sexuality in these marches.march by all means but do it with dignity and style.the cause will get more support that way i feel.
if its meant to be a party parade thing like a mardi gras then so be it but if its to put their cause across then it needs a bit more decorum.
no gay person i know would act like that in public and to be honest nor would any straight person i know.
I find gayparades horrible, it's a crime towards humanity.
But mostly to the gay community herself. There are an awful lot of normal gay persons. Deadly normal. But the extravargant types get all the attention just because their acting strange. This way a wrong image of homosexuality is created. And with gay parades these extravargant homosexuals only help those wrong images, they make them even bigger. It's really horrible and their making it a lot harder for other homosexuals to life!
Despite of that it's unappropriate and gross. Keep sex in the bedroom, that's all I say.
But mostly to the gay community herself. There are an awful lot of normal gay persons. Deadly normal. But the extravargant types get all the attention just because their acting strange. This way a wrong image of homosexuality is created. And with gay parades these extravargant homosexuals only help those wrong images, they make them even bigger. It's really horrible and their making it a lot harder for other homosexuals to life!
Despite of that it's unappropriate and gross. Keep sex in the bedroom, that's all I say.
damn i better lift my feet up
the s**t is getting deep
the s**t is getting deep
I've never seen one, so I guess I can't add anything constructive. ;-)
Your Valentine,
You are damn right that gays deserve respect...just like everyone else. They should be allowed to marry, adopt, use their partners medical coverage, things like that. I fully agree on this. Period. Other posts here will attest to my stance on this issue, particularly of gay marriage.
I do not judge homosexual people. Just like the straight people that I meet, what they do in their bedrooms is their own business, as long as they are consenting adults. I don't judge them for kissing or holding hands in public (actually quite a bit of this goes on at CMU).
The issue here is that you are equating homosexual behavior with the behavior seen in those parades. It is NOT the same thing...it's gay times 1000. The participants in said parades do not act like that the next day when they are at work, I can guarantee that. I have NEVER seen a homosexual person behave like that in public, as I've NEVER seen a heterosexual person behave like that in public. The homosexual friends I have hate those parades for casting a false image of what it means to be homosexual, and even the people in those parades will admit that it's not who they are. To be homosexual is not all that you are, just like being heterosexual is not all that you are. It is only a facet of your person. As a matter of fact, it is dangerously close to homophobic to think that homosexuals are defined solely by their sexuality. I'm not saying those who do behave like that don't deserve their rights...we all deserve our rights. I merely point out the fact that they have to use the channels available to them to get those rights, and if they behave in such a way that closes those channels, they will never get those rights. They should be who they are, be proud to be who they are, and work side by side with people to get the government to give them those rights.
I detest people who are fake, in any way. The way those people act in parades is not who they are, as you admitted previously. It's fake and meant to be provocative. That's fine, but if you think you need to be fake to make it acceptable to be who you are, then there are deeper issues you need to attend to. Be yourself, be who you are, and work for equal treatment. Being fake will only hurt the cause you proclaim to advance. That may not be fair, I don't agree with it, and it's not pretty. But it's reality, and since homosexuals want their rights in reality, they have to deal with the reality of the situation. The reality is they are discriminated against, and will have to prove to some homophobes that they aren't disgusting, degenerate people who aren't worthy or rights. Again...it's not fair that this is the case, and in an ideal world they would have their rights, just like I want them to and you want them to. But this isn't reality. That world we want can be achieved, but it's not here yet. Let's stop pretending that it is and get down to business....you'll get more done that way.
You are damn right that gays deserve respect...just like everyone else. They should be allowed to marry, adopt, use their partners medical coverage, things like that. I fully agree on this. Period. Other posts here will attest to my stance on this issue, particularly of gay marriage.
I do not judge homosexual people. Just like the straight people that I meet, what they do in their bedrooms is their own business, as long as they are consenting adults. I don't judge them for kissing or holding hands in public (actually quite a bit of this goes on at CMU).
The issue here is that you are equating homosexual behavior with the behavior seen in those parades. It is NOT the same thing...it's gay times 1000. The participants in said parades do not act like that the next day when they are at work, I can guarantee that. I have NEVER seen a homosexual person behave like that in public, as I've NEVER seen a heterosexual person behave like that in public. The homosexual friends I have hate those parades for casting a false image of what it means to be homosexual, and even the people in those parades will admit that it's not who they are. To be homosexual is not all that you are, just like being heterosexual is not all that you are. It is only a facet of your person. As a matter of fact, it is dangerously close to homophobic to think that homosexuals are defined solely by their sexuality. I'm not saying those who do behave like that don't deserve their rights...we all deserve our rights. I merely point out the fact that they have to use the channels available to them to get those rights, and if they behave in such a way that closes those channels, they will never get those rights. They should be who they are, be proud to be who they are, and work side by side with people to get the government to give them those rights.
I detest people who are fake, in any way. The way those people act in parades is not who they are, as you admitted previously. It's fake and meant to be provocative. That's fine, but if you think you need to be fake to make it acceptable to be who you are, then there are deeper issues you need to attend to. Be yourself, be who you are, and work for equal treatment. Being fake will only hurt the cause you proclaim to advance. That may not be fair, I don't agree with it, and it's not pretty. But it's reality, and since homosexuals want their rights in reality, they have to deal with the reality of the situation. The reality is they are discriminated against, and will have to prove to some homophobes that they aren't disgusting, degenerate people who aren't worthy or rights. Again...it's not fair that this is the case, and in an ideal world they would have their rights, just like I want them to and you want them to. But this isn't reality. That world we want can be achieved, but it's not here yet. Let's stop pretending that it is and get down to business....you'll get more done that way.
@ Music Man:
I did not say: gays should be granted equal rights and then they should stop gay parades - in fact, I don't think they should stop at all. I say: gay parades are held BECAUSE they do not have equal rights. I do think that if gays had the same rights there would not be any gay parades in the future because it would be normal to be gay.
About the "hairy asses and beer bellies" - I see these on any public beach but I swear I could not tell if they are straight or gay - the public is not offended, I wonder why.
@ CMU History Girl:
I know you are a liberal person and if you had a say there would not be any discrimination. If you look back in time you'll see that minorities only ever were accepted when they were loud and when they insisted they were not 2nd rate citizens because they were different. Straight people do not need to defend their sexual orientation - it is considered to be "normal" to be straight. Therefore it does not make sense to compare gay parades to (non-existing) straight parades. It's like men did not have to fight for the right to vote but women had to: Look what was said about the suffragettes who marched for womens rights, in fact up to these days they are laughed at and called "un-female". In those days women who took to the streets were considered just as outrageous, indecent and offensive as gays with a pink plastic penis seem to be today.
It was never the members of a minority who "blended in" who made a change: it was always the ones who went to the street and forced their difference on the majority. You say they can have the same rights behind closed doors and I am sure there would not be any gay parades if they actually did have the same rights but you do not GET these rights if you try to blend in and look "normal". The "normal" majority has to swallow the fact that gays are different.
Surely, I never saw a gay parade like you did because I live in another country. I saw several gay parades in Cologne which is also a main city of carnival and people are used to colourful parades. I did not see anything illegal or offensive there. I saw a lot of funny people, though. I am proud that it is possible here - 65 years ago gays were still murdered in concentration camps. 50 years ago gays were still considered as mentally ill and 40 years ago it was still illegal to have a gay relationship. It was the gays who went public who brought the change. Today gays can marry, we have openly gay politicians, actors, teachers and writers and most people have swallowed the fact that a considerable minority in this country prefers same sex relationships.
I did not say: gays should be granted equal rights and then they should stop gay parades - in fact, I don't think they should stop at all. I say: gay parades are held BECAUSE they do not have equal rights. I do think that if gays had the same rights there would not be any gay parades in the future because it would be normal to be gay.
About the "hairy asses and beer bellies" - I see these on any public beach but I swear I could not tell if they are straight or gay - the public is not offended, I wonder why.
@ CMU History Girl:
I know you are a liberal person and if you had a say there would not be any discrimination. If you look back in time you'll see that minorities only ever were accepted when they were loud and when they insisted they were not 2nd rate citizens because they were different. Straight people do not need to defend their sexual orientation - it is considered to be "normal" to be straight. Therefore it does not make sense to compare gay parades to (non-existing) straight parades. It's like men did not have to fight for the right to vote but women had to: Look what was said about the suffragettes who marched for womens rights, in fact up to these days they are laughed at and called "un-female". In those days women who took to the streets were considered just as outrageous, indecent and offensive as gays with a pink plastic penis seem to be today.
It was never the members of a minority who "blended in" who made a change: it was always the ones who went to the street and forced their difference on the majority. You say they can have the same rights behind closed doors and I am sure there would not be any gay parades if they actually did have the same rights but you do not GET these rights if you try to blend in and look "normal". The "normal" majority has to swallow the fact that gays are different.
Surely, I never saw a gay parade like you did because I live in another country. I saw several gay parades in Cologne which is also a main city of carnival and people are used to colourful parades. I did not see anything illegal or offensive there. I saw a lot of funny people, though. I am proud that it is possible here - 65 years ago gays were still murdered in concentration camps. 50 years ago gays were still considered as mentally ill and 40 years ago it was still illegal to have a gay relationship. It was the gays who went public who brought the change. Today gays can marry, we have openly gay politicians, actors, teachers and writers and most people have swallowed the fact that a considerable minority in this country prefers same sex relationships.
The gay pride parade I saw in person was in Paris France, when I was there for a study abroad, so that is another country for me. But I have seen snippets of the one in NY on TV, and it seems very similar to the one I saw in France.
I believe we are caught up in an issue of perception. The common perception in the US (because a majority of gays remain closeted) is that all gays behave like the ones in the parades...this is why certain conservative nuts won't give them rights; they see it as a blow to morality and family values, not to mention the Bible says no to it (but I have issues with people who base their morality on a work of literature from 2000 years ago...topic for another thread I guess).
I'm not arguing that it shouldn't be done, and I personally am not offended by the parade behavior that is exhibited there. But I also know many gays who know that those parades are not helping the gay image. People think that gays are defined by their sexuality, and they are not. Sure, there are some gays who hide it, and remain in the closet for years. But then there are gays who are just like the "normal" majority because that's who they are. They don't want to be defined by their sexuality...that's what they are fighting against, and that's where they see those parades as harmful; those parades perpetuate an image of gays that an ignorant and biased public is only too ready to believe. My gay friends and I agree that if you got the public together, showed them that gays are people first, and that homosexuality does not define who they are, a lot more people would be won over to the cause of championing gay rights.
I believe we are caught up in an issue of perception. The common perception in the US (because a majority of gays remain closeted) is that all gays behave like the ones in the parades...this is why certain conservative nuts won't give them rights; they see it as a blow to morality and family values, not to mention the Bible says no to it (but I have issues with people who base their morality on a work of literature from 2000 years ago...topic for another thread I guess).
I'm not arguing that it shouldn't be done, and I personally am not offended by the parade behavior that is exhibited there. But I also know many gays who know that those parades are not helping the gay image. People think that gays are defined by their sexuality, and they are not. Sure, there are some gays who hide it, and remain in the closet for years. But then there are gays who are just like the "normal" majority because that's who they are. They don't want to be defined by their sexuality...that's what they are fighting against, and that's where they see those parades as harmful; those parades perpetuate an image of gays that an ignorant and biased public is only too ready to believe. My gay friends and I agree that if you got the public together, showed them that gays are people first, and that homosexuality does not define who they are, a lot more people would be won over to the cause of championing gay rights.
I'd just like to say to CMU HistoryGirl that your posts are very well written - you're getting the same points accross that I was trying to but wasn't sure how to.
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]CMU HistoryGirl wrote: [/QUOTENAME] The gay pride parade I saw in person was in Paris France, when I was there for a study abroad, so that is another country for me. But I have seen snippets of the one in NY on TV, and it seems very similar to the one I saw in France.
I believe we are caught up in an issue of perception. The common perception in the US (because a majority of gays remain closeted) is that all gays behave like the ones in the parades...this is why certain conservative nuts won't give them rights; they see it as a blow to morality and family values, not to mention the Bible says no to it (but I have issues with people who base their morality on a work of literature from 2000 years ago...topic for another thread I guess).
I'm not arguing that it shouldn't be done, and I personally am not offended by the parade behavior that is exhibited there. But I also know many gays who know that those parades are not helping the gay image. People think that gays are defined by their sexuality, and they are not. Sure, there are some gays who hide it, and remain in the closet for years. But then there are gays who are just like the "normal" majority because that's who they are. They don't want to be defined by their sexuality...that's what they are fighting against, and that's where they see those parades as harmful; those parades perpetuate an image of gays that an ignorant and biased public is only too ready to believe. My gay friends and I agree that if you got the public together, showed them that gays are people first, and that homosexuality does not define who they are, a lot more people would be won over to the cause of championing gay rights.
[/QUOTE]
nice one girl :-]
I believe we are caught up in an issue of perception. The common perception in the US (because a majority of gays remain closeted) is that all gays behave like the ones in the parades...this is why certain conservative nuts won't give them rights; they see it as a blow to morality and family values, not to mention the Bible says no to it (but I have issues with people who base their morality on a work of literature from 2000 years ago...topic for another thread I guess).
I'm not arguing that it shouldn't be done, and I personally am not offended by the parade behavior that is exhibited there. But I also know many gays who know that those parades are not helping the gay image. People think that gays are defined by their sexuality, and they are not. Sure, there are some gays who hide it, and remain in the closet for years. But then there are gays who are just like the "normal" majority because that's who they are. They don't want to be defined by their sexuality...that's what they are fighting against, and that's where they see those parades as harmful; those parades perpetuate an image of gays that an ignorant and biased public is only too ready to believe. My gay friends and I agree that if you got the public together, showed them that gays are people first, and that homosexuality does not define who they are, a lot more people would be won over to the cause of championing gay rights.
[/QUOTE]
nice one girl :-]
I wonder if the gay pride parades would receive any media attention it was not provocative?
Of course not.
Hence the spectacle. Plus the pressure to be closeted has to have an outlet for some people occasionally (like in the parades).
The pressure to maintain social "norms" even extends to the North American Queen convention. There is no hand holding or affectionate contact, and of course men dancing together is still taboo. I might have been oblivious and did not notice, but I think my closet homophobia (yes I have some homophobia bias, but I attempt to control it occasionally) would have detected something "abnormal". LOL
So all you homophobes out there - attend the North American Queen convention this summer (Is it going to be held?).
I am sure the homophobes won't be offended at the convention, as the "undesirables" will probably be well behaved. "God" forbid if any men hug or anything.
Of course not.
Hence the spectacle. Plus the pressure to be closeted has to have an outlet for some people occasionally (like in the parades).
The pressure to maintain social "norms" even extends to the North American Queen convention. There is no hand holding or affectionate contact, and of course men dancing together is still taboo. I might have been oblivious and did not notice, but I think my closet homophobia (yes I have some homophobia bias, but I attempt to control it occasionally) would have detected something "abnormal". LOL
So all you homophobes out there - attend the North American Queen convention this summer (Is it going to be held?).
I am sure the homophobes won't be offended at the convention, as the "undesirables" will probably be well behaved. "God" forbid if any men hug or anything.