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The Rainbow Clause:
Giving us the right to choose who; where; when; why; and how.
Lesbian and Gay Pride - Essential for
Liberation and Equal Rights?
I have to admit that I love Gay Pride; I love
going to watch the amazing floats and carnival procession, the outrageous
and often very revealing costumes, and the fabulous party atmosphere that
always ensues. It literally fills me with tears when I see the endless sea
of rainbow flags, which are the symbol of Gay Pride, being waved vigorously
along the streets. I also adore seeing the smiles and laughter of so many
tens of thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered men and women
all at once. The feeling of freedom and liberation that we all share, even
if it's just for the one day or week when Gay Pride takes place in our country,
town or city, unites us in happiness!
However, some degree of sadness also churns
my stomach as I have begun to realize that many of the new generation of
lesbians do not even know the real reasons behind Gay Pride; they just see
it as an excuse for an amazing lesbian party! Whilst it's great to have Gay
Pride and have a great time, I think that every single lesbian out there
should understand its origins, what it stands for, and why we still need
Gay Pride parades and events today! This article acts as the perfect reminder
as to why Gay Pride exists.
Where Does Gay Pride Originate From?
The first Gay Pride marches took place in New
York City in 1969 and was a protest against discrimination and violence towards
lesbians and gays. It was set up as a direct result of the actions taken
by New York Police who raided a gay and lesbian bar called the Stonewall
Inn for no real other reason apart from the fact that it was a gay and lesbian
bar (although I seem to remember that they were using some excuse as enforcing
an alcohol control law that was seldom ever enforced). The patrons were so
fed up that they actually rebelled and fought back against the police and
for days afterwards there were protests, which became known as the Stonewall
Rebellion.
This was seen as the first step towards fighting
for equality, liberation and civil rights for the gay and lesbian community
and has been commemorated every year since with a Gay Pride festival and
march. Gay Pride is also celebrated all over the world, in major cities such
as Sydney, Amsterdam, and London. The first Gay Pride march in London took
place in 1972 and was organized by the Gay Liberation Front.
Is Gay Pride Now Just An Excuse For One Big
Party?
If I was an outsider looking in I would definitely
say that Gay Pride is just an excuse for one big bash of colorful vulgarity.
But as a lesbian looking beneath the façade of rainbow flags and
flamboyant queers that catch media attention I know that it's much, much
more than that. I think that it gives us an opportunity to illustrate that
gays and lesbians are here to stay in society, and that we have just as much
right to be on this earth as every heterosexual person that exists. It allows
us to celebrate the diversity of the human race and send out a yearly reminder
that we are only human and deserve just as many civil liberties and rights.
As for whether Gay Pride should still take place
then I think the answer has to be a resounding YES! Even if you are lucky
enough to live in the UK, where the Civil Partnership has been introduced,
we are still discriminated against because of our sexual preference. I like
to think that Gay Pride also takes place to raise awareness of the plight
of gay and lesbian people in countries where they are stoned to death, or
executed because of their sexuality. Also, when I look closer to home, there's
such a long way to go in the USA, too. There is only one state in the whole
of the country that allows gay marriages and we are still not allowed to
jointly adopt in most states simply because we are in a same-sex couple.
I think that Gay Pride provides us with a worldwide platform to express our
desires and fight for our civil rights. The next time you go to Gay Pride
enjoy yourself and remember the underlying cause. Worldwide gay liberation
is what we want to achieve and this will certainly take decades, if not hundreds
of years, to realize.
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