19 Comments

I'm a 70yo gay man. I remember what it was like before the Stonewall riots. Gay men were treated like criminals and nearly no effort was put into policing the predators that preyed on the gay community until a body was found the next day. The prevailing opinion among law enforcement was that we largely brought the predations on ourselves with our perversions. All any of us ever wanted was to be treated like every other citizen entitled to the same minimalist protection from law enforcement. A lot of us old heads were offended by the demands for celebration and completely mystified by the transgender movement. "We never marched for tranny rights" is a common refrain in MY community.

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I can sympathize, although I'm certain that MOST straight people never did anything to you. Depending on circumstances, at various times and in various places, whites get attacked, blacks get attacked, Hispanics and Asians get attacked, etc. These are not distinctions, these are commonalities. There are hateful bigots in the world, and we must always work TOGETHER, to stop them.

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Most straight people are not homophobes, just like most gay men are not pedophiles. It was being treated as second-class citizens undeserving of police protection that most of us felt galling. And probably my state adopting "shall issue" concealed weapons permits did at least as much. I can assure you that the world is a more polite place when no one knows who is carrying a piece and who isn't.

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"An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life" - Robert Heinlein

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I grew up reading Heinlein. Some would say that's part of my problem but "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" remains the classic it always was.

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Stranger In A Strange Land is my favorite. LOVE Heinlein.

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I used to have several acquaintances who were active in a group called Pink Pistols. Their slogan was "Pick on Someone Your Own Caliber."

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I remember those days as well, and while although the first comment offered, I definitely saw the violence, exclusion and bigotry of the time. The right for legal gay marriage was an absolute necessity, but in solidly with Heather on her disgust with where this train is going... I've seen it happen before my own eyes. I have also known trans people who knew the solution to their particular problem was a abberation, but accepted the trade-offs for a bit of sanity and rest, quietly hoping they could just be accepted as living as the opposite sex. They certainly did not want to be poster children for the trans craze, created mostly by narcissistic autogynephiles and the passivity of a those with an honest desire for inclusive organization. )And possibly a faction of the CIA, who revels in chaos and division and always has...)

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"Universal tolerance is anarchy."

Wow. Nailed it.

When the history of the fall of the West is written (but who will be left to write it?), that sentence will be key.

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Jul 23·edited Jul 23

"The parade itself was uninspired—no floats, precious little live music, and few elaborate costumes"

This has always been my take on Pride and similar contemporary LGBT displays - it's just packaged degeneracy devoid of legitimate creativity and art.

One of my favourite musical acts of yesteryear is Rough Trade, who were an experimental new wave/punk group out of Canada in the 70s/80s. Fronted by Carol Pope, the band's lyrics, music videos and stage shows were filled with lesbian and other sexually explicit themes, images, and theatrical acts. They had a popular radio hit "Highschool Confidential", about a high school lesbian crush, which featured cross dressing/drag in their live performances (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euqNbgL8YP8).

While a staple of of the LGBT art scene back in the day in Canada, the band was so much more than their LGBT label - they were phenomenal musicians, Carol Pope is a powerhouse vocalist and stage performer, and their music is formidable (such incredible bass in songs of theirs like Butch - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4DKqpFDrqQ).

But what's also important, is that they never pretended to be anything other than adult entertainers.

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"There were people wearing Covid-era masks—because respiratory viruses are an existential threat to people outdoors, but cross-sex hormones and surgical mutilation for people too young to vote is a birthright."

Absolutely brilliant, Heather

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As a breast cancer survivor, this reminds me of the appalling corporate colonization of October with the incessant pinkwashing -- some of my neighbors actually have pink 55-gallon trash bins that are supposed to, in some retarded way, "promote breast cancer awareness." Yeah, right...I had no idea breast cancer existed until you blocked the sidewalk with that monstrosity.

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These clown rainbow people are boring in their sameness, and I have sorrow for the children dragged to this debauchery by the things you referred to as moms.

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For lack of a better term I refer to them as MBP's. Meunchausen's By Proxy. My spelling is terrible but look it up.

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Excellent term. I've been referring to those creatures as Munchausen for a few years now. These creatures are a prime example of that psychiatric disorder.

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I preferred the Pride Parades when they were not family friendly, public kink was expected, and everyone knew that and didn't bring their kids.

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Eh, you can write, lass. Though I only got half-way due to feeling an up-chuck coming on. Appreciate the lamprey paper, tah for that. Tah to the commentariat too; good on you all.

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A spectacle from which the best thing I learned was lampreys are pentachromats (and a new word)! Nature is always wonderful, more than us lowly sapiens.

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Nature is also cruel, and occasionally seemingly senseless... how easy it is to forget that Nature *includes* humanity, we are *part* of Nature. The proclivity to raise us as gods, and to demean us as devils is all of a coin, I'm afraid

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