Three posts on LGBT stuff: "Pride Festivals" (2)

SF Pride is never that exciting for me.

Pride has lost its authenticity, in my view. It is always swarming with non-LGBT people who attend "just for the experience" and as an excuse to wear silly rainbow costumes and to get drunk. Additionally, the parade is pretty much a processional of corporate sponsorship for LGBT rights. It can be a huge positive marketing ploy if your company brands itself as an ally and marches in the parade. The freebies that many companies hand out while processing is also an easy way to advertise. And, groups that hand freebies out detract from other groups that perhaps are more legitimate for the LGBT cause but are not handing freebies out. The parade gives the impression that corporate allies are the face of LGBT rights.

All this wouldn't be that much of a problem for me if Pride would just be honest about what it is. But the fact that it keeps trying to brand itself as a community solidarity and bonding event is just plain misleading.

A friend of mine posted an on-point status:
"Dear non-queer people in SF today:
Today is not for you. Pride is not a rite of passage for you to get "cool points," nor does it exist so you can finally get turned up in your rainbow tutu.
In light of the recent SCOTUS decision, this day is even more for those who lived through the HIV/AIDS crisis without being able to visit their partners, and for gay and lesbian couples to finally know that should they choose to, their love is now protected legally in about 1,300 new ways.

Pride is for my community to be visible, to be celebrated, to reflect and to re-commit to lifting up all in our community. We are grateful for our allies and happy to have you at our party.
But this is still not your party."

And this article sums my issues up pretty well too:
When, Exactly, Did Pride Become A Party For Straight Teens?