Each year I get invited to literally dozens of ‘gay’ events, but isn’t this just segregating us from them? I understand that the argument goes that they (being straight people) remove themselves from our world as much as possible?
My answer to that is ‘no’. I don’t think that they do. We often hear about homophobia because we douse our lives in it. I’m not saying that is bad- because ANY homophobia is unnacetable. But on a majority, I don’t think it goes as far as people purposefully removing themselves from homosexuals; however I believe that gay people creating ‘gay’ only events is purposefully doing that.
Yes, it is definately a great way to create a ‘safe’ environment for people to withdraw to, but is this the best about going about it? I like the idea that alot of events now include ‘straight’ on the list, while previously it was for ‘queers only’. But is it still over the top? This falls inline with a very pressing argument that ‘pride’ is something that people should not be displaying in the way that they should. Pride is a personal thing, and should be expressed however an individual deems neccessary: that shouldn’t be repressed. But I can definately see where they were coming from- if straight people had a march down the main street of their cities each year just to show that they were so proud of being born straight, we as a gay community would jump right at it saying that they were rubbing it in our face, that they shouldn’t be allowed to do that.
BUT, when we do it and hear the same cries as we would shout ourselves, we claim that we should have the right to rub it in their faces?
Look, don’t get me wrong. I’ve marched in the pride march for the last 4 years; I’m a rather big advocate on rights. But I also see the flipside and see that pushing something in peoples faces is sometimes the worst thing to do. Instead of taking the ‘do it enough and they’ll get used to it’ approach, we should be taking the ‘lets ease into it and not saturate them with ideas until they hate it’. Which is what’s happening!
Next time you’re in a situation, think to yourself ‘is that over the top?’ and ‘am I excluding straight people?’. We’ll be the first to scream discrimination when it happens to us, but will we also hede our own warnings?
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yes damm it abolish our community….. any one who wants it should live in iran…
yeah, even though i’m not big on gay march and stuff, i’m still for gay only events, like you said it’s a safe environment for queers to be themselves. but in saying that i’d be okay if it was open to straight people, but who knows what trouble that could cause?
Ha ha, I’m going to give you one of my favorite quotes…
I get sick of listening to straight people complain about, “Well, hey, we don’t have a heterosexual-pride day, why do you need a gay-pride day?” I remember when I was a kid I’d always ask my mom: “Why don’t we have a Kid’s Day? We have a Mother’s Day and a Father’s Day, but why don’t we have a Kid’s Day?” My mom would always say, “Every day is Kid’s Day.” To all those heterosexuals that bitch about gay pride, I say the same thing: Every day is heterosexual-pride day! Can’t you people enjoy your banquet and not piss on those of us enjoying our crumbs over here in the corner?
– Rob Nash
My big problem with gay community events and gay only events.. is the emphasis on the sexual part of homosexual.. I believe in sexually diverse community events and opening peoples minds to other ideas. I dont let my sexuality dictate how i live my life, the arts i produce, the friends i have.. its just a part of it.. I dont understand why sex is such a HUGE part of most gay events, such as the feast festivals culmination with the sleaze ball.. alternative sexuality doesnt mean alternative sex.