Reflections Flag

How much of our civil liberties do we owe to Pride Parades?

Consider that after the stonewall riots (where drag queens were beating police officers with their stilleto heels) we finally began to see gay people in the media.

It’s very much due to events that increase the visibility of the LGBT community like pride parades that we are debating same-sex marriage today, and not still fighting against police brutality.

We owe A LOT to the “freaks” that participate for pushing the boundaries of what is socially acceptable so that “normal” gays and lesbians can live in relative peace.

Visibility and solidarity are key weapons in our war for equality, and pride parades have been an extraordinarily powerful way of delivering them straight into the mind of the public at large.

Forty years ago, Americans literally freaked out when Tiny Tim appeared on national television WITH LONG HAIR (hard to believe, but true). Now, many people don’t even bat an eye at leathermen and drag queens. They have become “tamed” and assimilated.

Pride parades are one of most powerful ways to expand and solidify our rights. Any right-thinking gay man or lesbian should feel morally obligated to attend and make themselves visible as a sign of solidarity and gratitude for the generations of parade participants that could only dream of having the rights that we have now.

Good luck!

Peace-making Under the United Nations Flag: Reflections on a Quarter Century of Mediation