[@Rica] Why do you celebrate in the way that you do? A simple google search for 'gay pride' already shows images of dudes licking phallic shaped lollipops, dudes dancing around with nothing but some shorts on and just generally things I don't want to see in public. [i]NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE GAY.[/i] Because it's shit that I don't want to see. If I go around licking lollipops shaped like a vagina that'd be a little fucking odd don't you think? I've told you before specifically the reasons [i]why[/i] I think celebrations in public in the way that they occur are fucking stupid (mostly because they're not enforcing acceptance or encouraging unity, but rather enforce non-unity and segregation and separation.) But I am actually interested in what you have got to say because I don't agree. Let's go. [quote=@Rica] [@Buddha]That's not what it is. You can keep ignoring the point of sometimes being openly gay in and of itself is a accomplishment because you don't live in a area where it's even mildly acceptable all you like but it still happens.[/quote] I'm not sure what your point is because your words are jumbled but from what I understand you're saying that because I am European I shouldn't get to speak on what I think of gay prides? I'm sorry. We have gay prides and I have attended them. Violence against homosexuals still happens (I highlighted specifically how/why in the last post but I can do it again; people are generally acceptive of people that are not straight or whatever, but Muslims in particular have a hard time accepting it. A close second are skinheads who also don't really like 'different' people but at the same time skinheads are also often the people who don't care so that's a double edged sword.) [url=http://www.verwey-jonker.nl/doc/vitaliteit/Poldis_rapportage_2012_7371_web.pdf]This report is in Dutch[/url] and it states that violence against homosexuals nearly doubled in the past years. Sounds bad right. No, it raised from 600 odd to 1100 odd. ([url=http://www.nu.nl/binnenland/3772882/geweld-homoseksuelen-en-lesbiennes-verdubbeld.html]Source in Dutch[/url]). Over a populace of 17 million people that's really not that much. But it's there and we face it. [i](Also I think the definition of violence against homosexuals is weird in the Netherlands; it includes cussing at for example. Sorry, if you can't handle being cussed at and need to file a police report for that, maybe you should stay inside.)[/i] Also please stop putting words in my mouth. I never said I don't see the point. I said I don't see the point in taking pride in your [i]sexuality.[/i] I don't mean you can't be proud of being gay (though frankly I find that weird, I'm not proud of being heterosexual because that's just who I am) I mean you shouldn't be proud of the fact that you are sexual. It's the difference of being proud of surviving hate against homo's, and being proud of being a guy and sucking dick, or being a girl and eating pussy. That's nothing to be proud of. [quote=@Rica] I got lucky. Very lucky. I know this. I know I'm privileged to have a family that doesn't care and loves me and was essentially just waiting for me to work it out on my own. But that's just it. I'm [I]lucky[/I] and I still deal with a lot of issues from others and society due to being queer.[/quote] More power to you. I'm happy for you. [quote=@Rica]That's not even touching on my best friend who's mother denies he's transgendered. Or his partner who's mom is fine with anyone else being queer but them.[/quote] Anecdotal evidence at best but I'll bite. Yes, a lot of people (specifically in USA, if we're gonna ignore countries like Arab countries and African countries) are not accepting. This is a fact of life. The way to acceptance is in my opinion NOT having a gay pride, it's fitting in and showing you are just as human as the next person. At the same time transgenderism is a mental disease (that makes it sound bad, but really, it is.) Your brain feels like a woman/man when your sex is the opposite. There is a cure namely a sex change. I think that transgender people deserve all the help they can get in this process, however I want to remind you that the amount of people that commit suicide after a sex change is very high (because often the sex change isn't what they 'wanted' so to speak) so this is kinda a weird issue. Regardless I hope you can understand what I mean with this. Not saying that transgenders are 'ingrates' or anything. They are just mentally not well and need help to fix that. [quote=@Rica]So can you kindly stop ignoring the idea that we're celebrating a life we're leading that has been full of suffering but we're still here.[/quote] Oh lord, you have a life full of suffering. Self-pity is a wonderful thing isn't it. Everyone has issues. Again, get over it. I don't see a 'depression pride' anywhere. It's fucking baffling how people think having a parade can fix anything at all. It doesn't fix anything. [b]And before you say it:[/b] [i]yes[/i] straight people have issues too. It just so happens that their issues don't have anything to do with sexuality. But I've seen you speak on hetero's before and your tone is generally filled with disdain (non intended, I'm sure, as you seem like a relatively nice person otherwise.) so I'd like to ask you to reconsider your stance ever so slightly to compensate for the fact that everyone has issues, not just you. [quote=@Rica]Because not all of us makes it that far. Especially seeing as the amount of abuse and bullying we can suffer (not always but can) makes us far more likely to commit suicide in our youth.[/quote] There are lots of things that can make people commit suicide. You should see the suicide statistics. [img]https://usercontent2.hubstatic.com/8177531.jpg[/img] For example being male already gives you statistically triple amount of chance to commit suicide. [img]http://bullyingisfourlosers.weebly.com/uploads/2/0/5/3/20534658/794655_orig.jpg[/img] Correlating slightly to the previous image. I'd seriously like to see a study that shows the differences between LGBT suicides and 'cishet' suicides. Because there is none according to me an what I see here. The fact of the matter [i]seems[/i] to be that men commit suicide more often, with gay men and straight men making up 3 quarters of the suicide demographic which [i]seems[/i] to infer that the main driving factor for suicide is in fact GENDER and not SEXUALITY as you'd like me to believe no? Interesting sidenote: whites are noticeably more represented in suicide demographics. [quote=@Rica]Not to mention we're more likely to be killed. Or how bisexual people are more likely to suffer from domestic abuse.[/quote] Your first suggestion seems to infer that you're the most likely group to be killed which is actually not true. It's certainly an aggravating factor though. I like to think people that are in gangs are still more likely to be killed but what do I know. I'm not sure on the bisexual thing. If it's true I'd like to know why the factor that they are bisexual [i]specifically[/i] makes it more likely. Could be true. [quote=@Rica]I could keep going. Hell I can even provide the numbers if you'd like.[/quote] No need, I did it for you, but you can counter me with your sources if you want. [quote=@Rica]We have everything to be proud of.[/quote] Arguably, I never said you have nothing to be proud of. But if you are choosing your sexuality (AKA YOUR SEXUAL ACTIVITY) as a thing to be proud of then I would like to ask you why your life is so bad that you have nothing else to be proud of. Ever won a medal? Be proud of that. [quote=@Rica]We as a community suffered so much and we fought and we came out stronger.[/quote] I'm sure you did. [quote=@Rica]That's worth celebrating.[/quote] I agree. Behind closed doors. In a venue that is rented off. You know, like all other minority groups do? Let's forget the whole straight-pride aids fest because I agree that's just stupid, as I am against 'pride' in general. Straight-pride is just how people deal with the fact that they're being vilified (which is true, you should see the tumblr posts that some of these gay-pride/LGBTQ+++ drama queens make stating all hetero's should die, right?). Think for a moment about another minority. [i]What other minority gets local parades?[/i] I can think of 1. Black people have 'black history month' which arguably is just as stupid as a gay pride. That's all I can think of. If you want to be equal, then be equal, and do as we do. As everyone else does. Celebrate your gayness or whatever the hell you wanna celebrate in private with the people who also want to celebrate. [i]Don't shove it into my face.[/i] I am happy for you that you've succeeded in life but fuck, I don't wanna see grown men walking around with bondage equipment around their chest licking phallic shaped lollipops. I'm sorry. I just don't want to see that, please fucking respect that and have some decency.