Due to one of my readers commenting on the Scenic or Not post I put up a few days back I thought I’d rather put his response in as a new post. I think he makes some valid points…
“A homosexual person is someone who is attracted to the same sex psychologically, emotionally, and of course, physically and while homosexuality is being increasingly recognized as an alternative and acceptable lifestyle, there are countries that still exist that do not recognize homosexuals as human beings. For example, in Africa, the penalties for homosexuality range from being fined to several years in prison. In Muslim countries, homosexuals have been sentenced to life in prison or even death!
The stonewall riots that happened in New York City in June 1969 marked the most significant turning point for what we now know as the gay, lesbian, bisexuality, and transgendered (GLBT) community. These spontaneous riots were born out of a policeraid of the Stonewall Inn brought on by social ignorance and legal oppression of homosexual people. Before the riot, homosexuals were a secret legion of people that were known of but their existence was denied, laughed at, or despised. This was possible due to the fact that they were socially invisible. Homosexuals had no physical or cultural markings, no language or dialect from which to distinguish one another. Although this act of social rebellion was fueled by passion, anger, and violence, this writer believes that it was just and necessary; everything that the GLBT community needed, to make their voice heard, to make the world acknowledge their existence and to promote, an arguably still-overdue equality among the respective contemporary societies. These riots sparked the creation of organizations that aimed to protect the rights of homosexuals like the Gay Liberation Front and the Gay Activists Alliance. Homosexuals today should feel a great sense of gratitude for the freedoms that they are able to enjoy, built upon by the countless individuals who fought the obstacles of oppression, suppression, ignorance, and discrimination. While “Gay Pride” events around the world were an indirect result of these riots and seemingly show a sense of appreciation and dedication to fighting for homosexuality equality, have we gone too far? Have we lost sight of what we are fighting for and what our fellow counterparts from 1969 had fought for?

Assimilation into any discourse is crucial for our development as individuals and groups. For years, homosexuals have been fighting for the right to “belong” and the right to be considered equals with their heterosexual counterparts. While the revolt against oppression, suppression, and discrimination had initially allowed homosexuals to stand up for who they were and to fight for a deserved place in society, the sense of overcompensation that contemporary homosexuals exhibit, ironically, segregates us further from society. The Gay Pride Parade is an international event and happens during different times of the year in many cities; in Vancouver, it happens at the end of August. It takes an incredible amount of time and effort to put on something of this caliber and requires a lot of volunteers. Floats of all sorts are created and paraded down Pacific St. where thousands of people gather to watch. From “Dykes on Bikes,” to barely clothed men showing off their Speedos, the gay pride parade seemingly has all the ingredients required to make a happy pride. However, beneath the swarms of people, floats and fun, lurks a subtle hint of insecurity. What kind of message are we trying to send non-homosexuals? We try so hard to get them to understand who we are and how we are not as different from them as they think, yet, when given the chance, we succeed to confuse and mock the very foundation on which our freedom and relative acceptance was built upon. Many people associate being gay with sex. Everybody has sex and we are each entitled to our own likes and dislikes about sex and all that encompass it. Some people like bondage, some like feet, others leather, and the list goes on and on. This is not exclusive to just homosexuals yet, it is portrayed that being gay means you have some type of sexual deviancy. Granted that having sex with members of the same gender does not represent the whole population, and by default, is in fact, “deviancy,” sex should only be a part of who we are and should not identify who we are.
There are masculine homosexuals as there are feminine heterosexuals. Yet, what people see and may perceive as homosexuality is fetishes, men in skimpy clothing, public nudity, and social rebellion as portrayed in the pride parade year after year. That is not what being gay is and this gives others a false impression of what it truly means to be a homosexual. The “pride parade” as they call it, should therefore be accordingly renamed, the “gay culture parade.” It shows small parts of who we are and if misunderstood, will reinforce stereotypes that all gay men are camp, like to wear drag, and enjoy leather, bondage, feet, and other fetishes that have been attributed to gay men.
The gay pride parade is there to celebrate the advancement of homosexuality as an accepted lifestyle and to raise awareness that homosexuals exist and it is perfectly natural. The fact is, a large proportion of people marching in those parades do not represent the interests of gays overall. A protest against homophobia in the workplace is arguably legitimate, but what is the point of having a gay pride parade in contemporary society? To prove that we’re gay and proud of it? Maybe. But is it really something to be proud of? Are you proud of your hair color? Eye color? Skin color? We are gay and that is our identity; there is little reason to be proud of something that you cannot directly control. That’s like saying we should have a parade tomorrow because we are proud of being white. You were born white, and you’re proud of it, why not tell the world how happy you are to be white? Because it’s inappropriate, just like having a parade dedicated to what we perceive as the meaning of gay pride, is inappropriate. In Canada, you are more than welcome, and by all means, to be proud and celebrate your culture because we are a cultural mosaic. To celebrate that you are proud of being gay is nothing noteworthy as I can also celebrate having brown eyes; both innate characteristics. Being gay is not an achievement. Conversely, celebrating the equalities we have gained is a noteworthy cause for a gay culture parade and should, appropriately, be celebrated. Perhaps a more subtle and insidious parasite lives among us and the idea of inclusivity with exclusivity eludes many individuals. Movies portray fraternity houses on university campuses as an exclusive club through which one must be initiated by public humiliation and exemplification of relative self-worth. In real life, the rules that govern such practices are less apparent to varying degrees, depending on the locale and nature of the individuals that oversee these initiations. A safe assumption to make is that such hazing practices rarely exist and it is easier to become members of these fraternities. However, not just anybody can be a member; potential applicants still have to prove how the fraternity would benefit from them being included and what they have to offer to better the reputation of said fraternity. Once a member, the guilty pleasure of passing judgment upon future applicants becomes inherently acceptable, and pride-worthy. It is easier to place oneself above others because this is what you went through to get here and it is appropriate that you subject others to the experience you had, whether it may fall in the negative-positive spectrum. This concept can be directly applied to homosexual culture and the dynamic of the power struggle that exists between homo- and heterosexuals.

Having been ridiculed and discriminated against in our early days for being gay, now that we are free and comfortable to act as gay as we see fit, we hypocritically treat nonmembers with the scowl and shame that they seemingly deserve. We are proud to finally be included, but revel in the idea that we also proud that it is exclusive to us homosexuals and resentment and loathing for those that have hurt us, seem more justified. We cannot allow ourselves to use the acceptance and relative equality we have worked so hard to achieve fuel segregation, ignorance, and hypocrisy. We can only hope to change others’ minds through logic, reason, and example. In the writer’s opinion, the most effective way to combat homophobia is to live according to who you are with no regrets or shame; make no apologies for your character, if you so choose. Easier said than done, but entertain this small example: nobody in your place of employment know that you’re gay and you don’t have any immediate plans to “come out of the closet” as you’ve garnered the respect and camaraderie of your co-workers and superiors through hard work and dedication, mutual respect, etc. So why chose to “come out?” Because not “coming out” is a tacit admission of your guilt and shame as a homosexual. Granted that your “staying in the closet” will save you from the potential ridicule, discrimination, and loss of respect that may encompass the aftermath of your truth, the potential of working in a place where you don’t have to hide who you are and receiving even more respect from said co-workers and/or superiors, is an equally appealing outcome. This writer understands the delicacies of such actions, but the confidence, professionalism, and skill that you exude will indirectly allow for a change in one’s misconceptions about homosexuals much more effectively than if you were to celebrate your homosexuality in a pride parade.
Let who you are dominate your life, not a portion of what you are.”
Nicely said!