Magic Mountain Gay Pride Night

Coasterhound36 said:
"My sister has married another woman, my female cousin has married another woman. Sorry, I don't feel comfortable in my religion acknowledging their union as anything more than a legal partnership."

OBXKevin, youll feel completely different if your partner should leave this Earth before you and his family swoops down to try to take EVERYTHING that you and he acquired TOGETHER! Or better one...If he ends up in the hospital taking his last breaths and his family denies you visitation because of your non-union status. You might want to think about not just YOUR relationship, but how certain laws an aspects of societal dictates may affect others around you. Just because you dont agree with the aspect of a civil union and you think people should marry the opposite sex, it doesnt mean their arent heinous consequences to your 1940s ideologies.

Don't be so dramatic. It's called a will, and it's legally binding whether you're married or not, straight or gay.

Mlnem4us, don't put words in my mouth. I never said what you implied.

Jeff got exactly what I was saying. When is the last time you saw a swingers group have a parade? The AVN Expo is in a private convention center. Yes there may be stray instances of lewd behavior in public associated with these events, but by-and-large these are private events held behind closed doors. It's not the large display of lewd behavior generally seen at Pride events. Yeah, I've been to one, so don't tell me the lewd behavior is a small part of the whole event. My guy and I can't take his ten year old daughter to that. Doesn't matter, gay or straight, lewd behavior in public is not acceptable.

And dude, you're starting to sound exasperated in your posts cause not everyone agrees with you. I applaud you if you in anyway help young people deal with their sexuality or education against drugs and disease which is such a large part of our culture. Otherwise, sorry we can't agree on this. Nothing personal, I assure you.

On another note, I can't believe how far this thread has advanced without getting closed. I think it shows how we have grown as a community here. Thanks for acting like adults, everyone.

kpjb said:

Coasterhound36 said:
"My sister has married another woman, my female cousin has married another woman. Sorry, I don't feel comfortable in my religion acknowledging their union as anything more than a legal partnership."

OBXKevin, youll feel completely different if your partner should leave this Earth before you and his family swoops down to try to take EVERYTHING that you and he acquired TOGETHER! Or better one...If he ends up in the hospital taking his last breaths and his family denies you visitation because of your non-union status. You might want to think about not just YOUR relationship, but how certain laws an aspects of societal dictates may affect others around you. Just because you dont agree with the aspect of a civil union and you think people should marry the opposite sex, it doesnt mean their arent heinous consequences to your 1940s ideologies.

Don't be so dramatic. It's called a will, and it's legally binding whether you're married or not, straight or gay.

Sorry for the double post, didn't want to try to edit this into my last.

Thanks kpjb, that's kind of what I was getting at. While I don't like to say they are married, I do recognize their LEGAL partnership. My guy and I have other arrangement already made. Our families are not like that.

Whose being dramatic? Ive ACTUALLY SEEN THIS happen to some friends of mine. Just saying that legalizing marriage could help prevent some of the ensuing turbulence that heterosexual dont face in such situations.

And OBXKevin, Im rather surprised the thread is still open as well, but I think as long as everyone conducts themselves in a respectable and productive manner, this could go on for a bit. Im just sorry we cant have this discussion at Hamburger Marys in Palm Springs or Orlando. =)

My two cents on what is acceptable: If a white heterosexual male cannot do the same act (or its equivalent) in public without being arrested/shunned/etc. then a non white heterosexual male should not be able to do that act either.

First, I still say that "Gay Days" are some of the best days to visit amusement parks. By and large I found the crowds during those events to be more laid back than on traditional days. And, I don't really have a problem telling my kids that some girls like other girls and some boys like other boys. They are going to figure it out eventually.

As for specific celebrations...I don't think you can criticize gay groups for having these types of events without criticizing African Americans for having a "Black History Month" or any other group from having a day/week/month of uniform celebration.

Now, the real clincher to me is that these types of events are well publicized these days. If you really don't want to expose yourself or your family to them...avoid them. If I was that concerned with questionable behavior, for instance, I would have not gone to Fantasy Fest. I some disturbing stuff from the LGBT community but no more disturbing than I saw from the Hetero community. A fat, topless woman is disturbing whether she is gay or straight.

On another coaster forum a couple years ago, someone brought up something about "Gay History". I commented on that saying that I don't understand why any group would want to segregate itself into having it's own history, then be upset when they're treated differently as a group.

Personally, I don't think there should be a Black History Month. I understand the reason for it's inception, much like what some have said about the origins of Gay Pride, and in either case, I think they were stated with the idea of acceptance.

I'm not saying that America has gotten over it's racial, homophobic, or religious intolerance issues. However, at this point I feel that only studying black history one month out of the year does a disservice to everyone in the American School system. Why study for one month? Why focus for only one month? Why can't we study American history and touch on all races, religious groups, and subcultures within reason? Heck, we take history classes in some shape or form for a 12 year minimum, that's plenty of time to discuss all history.

It is probably THE most single important event in the community that shows the world who exactly LGBT people are versus what radical Christian conservatives or the media have pegged us to be.

I'm sorry, but what exactly is so different about LGBT people than everyone else? I don't care what radicals think about anyone, and if You do, why do you pay them any attention? P.S., there are radicals in other religions besides Christianity, and the fact that you're singling Christians out is to me offensive.

When you're whole life revolves around your sexuality, regardless of what your sexuality is, there is something wrong. You act like people who are gay that don't make an issue out of it are doing so because they've got problems, but people that don't make their sexuality an issue are normal, regardless of what their sexuality is. And there are straight people that make their sexuality an issue as well.

If someone wants to buy the park out and have a gaycentric event, I don't have issues with that. It's like a gay bar, if that floats your boat, so be it. But when events that used to be used to fight for rights turns into displays of a lifestyle that the majority of the group it is supposed to be representing don't live, I have to wonder what the point is.

obxKevin said:
And dude, you're starting to sound exasperated in your posts cause not everyone agrees with you. I applaud you if you in anyway help young people deal with their sexuality or education against drugs and disease which is such a large part of our culture. Otherwise, sorry we can't agree on this. Nothing personal, I assure you.

I am not exasperated at all, nobody ever agrees with me on here so why would I suddenly start worrying now?! But, I am not going to allow someone who, by your own admission said you have been to ONE Pride event, mischaracterize a whole group of people based on that one experience.

Then what about what Moosh said, who has apparently been to more than one and stopped going and pretty much characterized it the same way?

Jeff said:

There's only one time you can do that? That seems kind of dramatic. I think it was 'Moosh who once said, "Every day is gay day when I go to the park."

That was me, though I'm sure it's the same when Moosh goes to a park ;)

wahoo skipper said:
First, I still say that "Gay Days" are some of the best days to visit amusement parks. By and large I found the crowds during those events to be more laid back than on traditional days. And, I don't really have a problem telling my kids that some girls like other girls and some boys like other boys. They are going to figure it out eventually.

As for specific celebrations...I don't think you can criticize gay groups for having these types of events without criticizing African Americans for having a "Black History Month" or any other group from having a day/week/month of uniform celebration.

Now, the real clincher to me is that these types of events are well publicized these days. If you really don't want to expose yourself or your family to them...avoid them. If I was that concerned with questionable behavior, for instance, I would have not gone to Fantasy Fest. I some disturbing stuff from the LGBT community but no more disturbing than I saw from the Hetero community. A fat, topless woman is disturbing whether she is gay or straight.

+1 - Wahoo Skipper for President!

One Pride event was enough. The event itself mis-characterizes a whole group of people.

My former, who is still one of my closest friends, just got back from Toronto Pride, enjoyed himself, but feels the same as I.

EDIT:

Coasterhound36 said;

Why can't we sit down and discuss for a bit? I'm in Orlando a couple of times a year. My sister and her "wife" live 45 minutes south.

wahoo skipper said:

A fat, topless woman is disturbing whether she is gay or straight.

Unless, of course, you happen to like fat, topless women. :)

^ Would that be part of the Gay Gluttony parade?

^^ That would be the Dikes on Bikes part(usually at the beginning of a parade) :-)

obxKevin said:
My guy and I both feel the same. We work on cars, target shoot, watch b-ball, explore historic places...in other words, most people would never guess. That's the way we like it and probably a more common way of gay thinking than most of you know, since your biggest exposure is through pride.

Pride is so fringe, I can't stand it.

So you can do macho things, how do you treat 'your own'? Do you say "I'm not a fag, because I'm not feminine?" It's a hate amongst hate that seems to be OK even within our own group. It's not ok.

Most people would never guess? How about being out and proud? Be proud to hold your guys hand in a non-glbt place. Then they don't have to 'guess'. You will be giving back and doing for the future gay folks...

Most of the big macho, masculine, butch-doing-things gay men I meet are spineless clones (I can do all that stuff too. Luckily, I feel comfortable with my masculinity). Look back to the riots, the drag queens and sissies fought (and still do) - so we can be safely 'out' today. Just because we may not look and act like what society labels a stereotype gay, doesn't mean we are better - we are part of.

how do you treat 'your own'?

Again with language that segregates people into a different group. My own are other humans, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, etc. Taking away anyone's human rights is wrong, but demanding someone support something that they don't is just as wrong.

Seems that there's a rather fine line between:

"I'm fine with who I am and I'm not ashamed"

and

"Look at me, I'm different, get used to it"

and where you guys (I say "you guys" as a straight male) differ is where that line is drawn.

But that's just my non-professional opinion. :)

^When I said 'your own' it was by default all other people. Not just glbt folks, however, they are included in that. I was trying to get across the phenomenon of hate amongst each other in minority groups. It's very common, and there are reasons for it (EGO, fear, ignorance). But there are also solutions, and understandings :)

People can demand whatever they want, demands are goofy - but equality is not.

CoasterDemon said:

obxKevin said:
My guy and I both feel the same. We work on cars, target shoot, watch b-ball, explore historic places...in other words, most people would never guess. That's the way we like it and probably a more common way of gay thinking than most of you know, since your biggest exposure is through pride.

Pride is so fringe, I can't stand it.

So you can do macho things, how do you treat 'your own'? Do you say "I'm not a fag, because I'm not feminine?" It's a hate amongst hate that seems to be OK even within our own group. It's not ok.

Most people would never guess? How about being out and proud? Be proud to hold your guys hand in a non-glbt place. Then they don't have to 'guess'. You will be giving back and doing for the future gay folks...

Most of the big macho, masculine, butch-doing-things gay men I meet are spineless clones (I can do all that stuff too. Luckily, I feel comfortable with my masculinity). Look back to the riots, the drag queens and sissies fought (and still do) - so we can be safely 'out' today. Just because we may not look and act like what society labels a stereotype gay, doesn't mean we are better - we are part of.

3 pointer there CoasterDemon. Great post.