stand tall.

Are you out and proud?

Every year, there comes a time when countless numbers of people take to the streets of their home town with their heads held high and their rainbow flags even higher. Yes, the colourful, and oh so camp time of Pride. Men and women of all shapes and sizes cavort down rows of streets, whistling, shouting, megaphoning, singing, dancing, squealing, openly flaunting their sexuality in front of everyone. “We’re queer, we’re here. Get used to it!”. I get it. I really do. You’re proud about your sexuality – you’re proud to be gay/lesbian/transgender but why rub it in everyone’s faces? Is it really necessary? I mean, do heterosexuals have a “straight pride”?

I understand the reason (the underlying and pretty much hidden one) behind Pride, is to try and promote acceptance of diversity in human beings, but is the event really doing anything for the “gay community”? If anything, I think that it further outcasts us; the whole thing is like an elaborate self-segregation. It also reinforces stereotypes of homosexuals. You only have to look at the way people dress and act at Pride to understand what I mean. It’s definitely not something I’m proud of.

If you don’t want others to think of your sexuality as a big thing, then stop making such a big thing out of it yourself.