Look at my avatar and tell me what you think my thoughts on it are.
For real, though, I totally agree. Nothing wrong with people who are LGBT (my issue lies solely with the community that come from my issues with all communities in general). If someone is gay, bi, trans, whatever. It's not gonna hurt me. Live and let live. It's when you try using it for ulterior motives such as oppression points that I start getting upset about it.
However, the concept of pride is something I have an issue with. People who don't have an issue with gays aren't "supportive," unless they're actively trying to get you laid. We shouldn't have to make a big deal of sexuality, yet we do. I understand that with the amount of people that hate gays even in Western countries it's sort of a middle finger to them, but I really do think they tend to go overboard. I've never been to one because I already have social anxiety and seeing people in fetish gear in public isn't gonna help that one bit. I also understand that it's about being proud to be yourself, but I feel being proud to be yourself typically means you don't feel the need to hold certain parts of you up for all to see at all times and act like it's this amazing thing. It's not, it's just a thing. Sexuality isn't good or bad, it simply exists, just as being trans is not good or bad, it's just a thing that you are. These things are purely neutral in terms of what kind of person they make you. I don't know, maybe I'm just a reserved person, but I don't like making one thing the epitome of my personality. It might sound rich coming from me, since I shitpost about that stuff a lot, but that's more along the lines of just laughing at myself so that I never take myself too seriously more than anything.
Another issue I have with Pride is that it seems redundant in a lot of the places that have the biggest celebrations. I understand the community aspect of it all, but if it's a middle finger to the bigots then they should really have them in more conservative states. I understand that doing that makes it pretty goddamn risky, but if it's what I understand it to be, I feel like more people would be willing to take that risk to make that point. I know they have them in pretty much every state and major city, but you'd think that the people in San Francisco would understand the redundancy of celebrating in a city known for being a haven for that community. I would think they'd want to spread their message and give people in places where it isn't as accepted the courage to make the system change so that they're not hated for things they can't help and harms no one.
The way I've seen pride parades act these days honestly makes me think they do more harm than good. Most people aren't smart enough or are too lazy/worn out from trying to put food on the table that they can't be fucked to do actual research or take the time to truly form their own opinion on most complex and/or touchy issues. All the fetish gear and open sexuality stuff just makes them look like that's all that they're about to the general public. Sure, the general public may be kinky, but most aren't parading it around in public. They should simply look like normal people if they want people to see them as normal. Not saying you can't be quirky with your unique look and style, but people might see you differently before they meet you. It's just human nature and that won't change.
TL;DR: Yes, but I don't like that I have to say that.
