HETEROS ONLY: Would you attend a Gay Pride parade or rally?

[Delano]

Poll question: HETEROS ONLY: Would you attend a Gay Pride parade or rally?

I haven't been before. I live in SF, and I always figured it would be too much of a zoo even if I did want to go.

But this year, CHAKA KHAN is performing, and I wanna see me some FREE Chaka!, So I think I'm going.

Would you attend a Gay Pride parade or rally?

[Ellen Forradalom]

1. It's the best parade in town!

Who'd want to miss it?

[Delano]

3. I was thinking about taking the tots, 4 and 6...

...but I wonder if some of the costumes would be a bit too revealing?

[Liberal Veteran]

7. Possibly....but not much different than taking them to the beach.....

It's mostly in fun, so no big deal.

[meegbear]

2. She's also performing at Toronto's

while I'll be at Montreal's.

[terrya]

24. She will be?? Wow, I'm going to be there! "Chaka Khan", Terry whispers...

in awe...

:-)

[Fenris]

4. Those parades look like a lot of fun.

Why not?

[southpaw]

5. Sure!

Attending with a gay friend would be cool, but I would go alone or even with my girlfriend.

Not many gay pride events happening in Anniston, Alabama, though. I'd have to travel.

[GumboYaYa]

6. I have a real good friend who is an older gay man.

A few years ago he had just broken up with a long-term lover right before the gay pride event here in St. Louis. I'm no great looker, but I am tall, thin and a decent dresser and a far better catch than my friend's former lover. So out of spite, my friend asked me to be his "date" to the event so he could rub his former lover's nose in it. I'm a happily married hetero man, but I went for the fun of it and to help my friend get even. I ended up having a great time.

[PopSixSquish]

34. You Rock Mr. Ya-Ya

Most definately rock!

:toast:

[GumboYaYa]

37. Thanks, but there was really no nobility in it; It was just two guys

playing a harmless but fun joke on an old lover and getting really drunk in the process.

[jukes]

35. !

cojones grandes!





joking. unfortunately these days i'm an agoraphobe (not angoraphobe!)& i stress out in any crowd.

you're a good guy to help out a pal!

:toast:

[XNASA]

8. I would and I have.

And let me tell you....it was fantastic!!

[Fenris]

10. Or was it fabulous?!

[XNASA]

18. Oops, I meant........"It was fabulous!"

Nice catch.

[lovedems]

9. Absolutely!

(I used to live in Noe Valley in San Francisco. Loved it! Hell, San Francisco is the prettiest city in the country if you ask me.)

I wouldn't have any issue with going to the parade.

[ronnykmarshall]

11. Don't be scared!

Come to the parade! We won't hurt you!



Look at the pretty picture and think how nice it would be to be gay!


Buuuuuuuwwwwwwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

[jono]

25. LOL

I love that graphic!

[Rabrrrrrr]

12. Yes, and I have marched with my church a couple times in gay pride parade

Had a blast! Much fun, indeed.

[kodi]

13. i have, after mark shephard was murdered

went to support some of my homosexual friends both male and female.

[Fenris]

15. His name was Matt.

No offense.

[Droopy]

14. No, but not because I'm too embarrassed

or because I hate gays. I just wouldn't want to deal with all the traffic and walking. I guess I'm just a lazy S.O.B. I wouldn't go to any other kind of parade or festival, either. Hell, I won't even go to concerts for those reasons.

[Lisa0825]

16. I've been parades by gay groups, with very mixed audiences before,

but not any events for which the audience that was primarily gay. But I plan to go to one this month, I think. A friend invited me, and I think it sounds like a blast! I've supported gay rights for years, but I figured it's about time I actually participated in some events to make my support public.

[chicaloca]

17. I have!

I've been to the ones in Milwaukee and Chicago. LOVED it. :) :bounce:

[bikebloke]

19. Went in Seattle

For a few years, I lived a block away from Seattle's parade. But they always occurred on those rare sunny days when I'd ride off on my bike. Finally, a fairly cloudy day coincided with the parade. So I attended.

[tilsammans]

20. I've been to the one in NYC, and it was . . .

. . . really fun!

Don't pass up a free performance by Chaka!

[ceile]

21. Used to live in Montrose

My mom and my sis and I would walk down to the end of our street and watch. What a blast!

[bratcatinok]

42. I lived in Montrose years ago

long before they were having any type of parades. I used to go to the arts festival they'd have down there. I always had a good time, ate and drank alot, bought stuff and mingled with the crowds.

I just went to look to find the last t-shirt I bought down there. I know it was in '81. I wasn't able to put my hands on it so I guess I'll have to go on a quest now.

[Sushi-Lover]

22. Yes and I have.

If you don't like crowds it isn't for you though. It is a lot of fun and rather circus like (in a good way). Thats what I think of when I see people belly ache about pride parades and 'why do they have to flaunt their gayness .. blah blah'. I think to myself nice family values you circus-hater.

[eyesroll]

23. I went to the Midwest GLB College Conference

when it was hosted by my college.
It was fun, and pretty illuminating -- I'd never been a sexual minority before.

There was an assumption that all of the attendees were non-heterosexual (one particularly obnoxious straight guy kept announcing his straighness to everyone -- he went because his advisor told him it might be good for him). There were a few instances in which mentioning I had a boyfriend would have been pretty natural. (As in, "oh, my BF and I saw that movie last week".) But I found myself stopping mid-sentence...I didn't want to "admit" my heterosexuality, even though I was in a supportive group.

It gave me a great sense of empathy, and probably made me realize how ridiculous "Don't Ask/Don't Tell" is -- it is nearly impossible to conceal one's orientation in common conversation. You can't even talk about what you did last night, or who you have to check with to see if you're free on Saturday, in a DADT environment.

[Speck Tater]

26. Yes, if I ever went to rallies, which I don't. So I guess that's no. (nt)

[Kellanved]

27. why not?

I did attend the Berlin Christopher Street Day during our 2001 State Election Campaign (our Lord Mayor is gay) - no biggy :shrug:.

[HuckleB]

28. I've gone before, and I'd go again.

[Mrs. Venation]

29. Chaka Khan

was one of the performers at Equality Rocks, the concert in conjunction with the Millennium March. I thought she was the best performer of all! Don't pass us a chance to see her; she is truly awesome!

[Lisa]

30. yes! I helped carry the banner for my political party (NDP) ...

The parade organizers were chortling about how a certain neo-con local politician was elbowing people out of the way in order to be photographed next to the lead float. She wouldn't have given them the time of day, a few years ago. But there's an election coming up.

Anyway, one local gay activist turned to the NDPers as she was schmoozing her way through the crowd, and said loudly, "We know who our real friends are."

[supernova]

31. I would and I have

marched in a Gay Pride rally. I did when I lived in the DC area.

They aren't that common around here... yet.

[Beetwasher]

32. Not Only Would I, But I Have

n/t

[Beaker]

33. My wife and I always go to the Chicago parade...

It's a great time, and lots of fun.

[MrSlayer]

36. No, because I'm indifferent.

I don't care enough one way or the other to be bothered.

[Mr. Blonde]

39. Exactly the way I feel

I don't feel strong enough to go to a parade.

[Kat45]

38. Sure! I've gone a number of times.

It's always such a blast! I'm bummed that I missed the Boston parade last week, since it was extra-special with some newly married couples there.

[FarLeftRage]

40. "Other"

I did once in 1988.

My girlfriend(at that time)were in Boston to see her brother among the drag queens.

When I first met him, I honestly thought that he was a younger "sister"...gee, was I wrong.

I'd probably go again, if I got the chance.

[mulsh]

41. first five years

I marched in every parade in SF, this was when I was teenager, with a group I believe was called "Straights for Gays" or some such, its been a long time. the following couple of years I was there to cheer my buddies on who were in floats or marching groups. Over the years I've gone to either the parade or some parties. go, enjoy, it's a blast.
doesn't really matter if you're gay or straight. have fun.

[mitchum]

43. I'm a straight guy who has marched in several Gay Pride parades...

and also played Gay Pride benefits (the latter was where I told Chastity Bono that I abhorred her father's politics, but admired him for co-writing "Needles and Pins")

[GoddessOfGuinness]

44. You're damned straight I would!

It's about lending support to fellow human beings who are oppressed.

[geniph]

45. I'm not strictly straight,

but people think I am (because I'm a femme-appearing woman married to a very masculine-appearing man - and both of us are bisexual). We haven't missed Seattle's Gay Pride Parade in about 8 years. The last two years, I've been in the parade, and this year, I'll be in the parade and performing after it with the Seattle Lesbian and Gay Chorus.

It's the best parade of the year, by a long shot.