Happy Gay Day Los Angeles! I miss you!

I wonder why heterosexual America doesn't take us seriously?

@Thom Freeheart: If you can't accept all of me, then accept none of me.

@Thom Freeheart: Get ready for the angry hateful, juvenile sandbox words to come your way, you know you are not allowed to think outside of the box here!

I have no problem with gay pride other than the fact that its never as diverse as the gay community as a whole is, how may floats do you need with roided, tweaked muscle bois on them, oh yeah, that's 'hot,' ugh.

This is an honest question, so I hope no one here gets annoyed:

What is Gay Pride supposed to symbolize? Or does it not symbolize anything about gay culture? Is it just a party? I've never been to one (I actually forgot it was coming up until a friend reminded me last night), but as a LA-native, I'd love to swing by one year.

Am I taking this question waaay too seriously? :)

@SteamPunk: It's a fair question. My answer: it evolves and becomes what it needs to be that year. During the beginnings of the HIV crisis, it became a way to affirm that we were still standing, and a fundraiser for emergency agencies. Even if it is "just a party" some years, can you imagine how powerful it is to some 17, 18 y/o kid to see 300,000 people who don't hate him because of how he likes his sex? I don't like a LOT of what I see at pride events. I don't get a lot of prideful feelings seeing naked tweakers or men in leashes.. but I go to be part of the crowd for myself and for others.

When this first started in 1970 and through 1975, it was a march, not a parade. We marched for gay rights. Then the gay "conservatives" and the bars took it over and turned it into a parade with all the twinkies and men in leashes. It's been a real disaster ever since. Granted, for someone in the closet in Ohio to see a bunch of gays in Los Angeles celebrating is great, but is this really what we want to show him or her?

@SteamPunk: Gay Pride in West Hollywood is more than just a gay event, it is a community event. Going to watch the parade it is not unusual to see your straight neighbors there also watching the parade. This parade is part of West Hollywood's identity as you will see many of the local businesses, gay organizations, LAPD, West Hollywood Sherif's Department, Fire Department, sometimes the Mayor of LA and always the Mayor of West Hollywood. Because Los Angeles is such a large city, this is a place you see friends that maybe you lost touch with or have seen in a long time. Whatever the urgency of the day is, it is represented there such as the AIDS crisis in the 80's or Equality today. I do not focus on the boys in speedos and shirtless or the drag queens and leather daddy's when I think about gay pride, I think about all the people in one place just to be together.

The festival is lots of fun with interesting vendors selling various items, organizations looking for people to get involved, dance tents with various music, food, drinks, and usually big name entertainment on the main stage.

This event is great in so many ways, I met my husband there 14 years ago.

@SteamPunk: It's worth noting that the first pride march, in 1970, was to commemorate the first anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. That's why most Pride events in the US and many around the world happen in June.

I only caught a little of the live stream, and I don't usually like watching any parades, but this felt a little bit like watching the commercials on Logo with a DVD commentary. Just sayin'.

@ Thom Freeheart – Heterosexuals get to cut loose and act wild as hell during Mardi Gras and Spring Break, Gay Pride is our Spring Break and Mardi Gras. We don't judge all heterosexuals by the actions of a few at Mardi Gras, so why should gays be judged for cutting loose at pride? Seems a double standard ( I hope that isn't catagorized as an "angry" reply).

In cities around the world, LGBT people are celebrating Pride Month, but Roanoke (Virginia) Pride makes its queer community wait until September. Today at "Rev. Steve's Cyber-Pulpit" The Rev. recalls his first Pride experience in Washington, DC, circa 1978 and tells local Pride organizers: "Have Some Pride in Yourself!" http://tinyurl.com/lodxcc

@InExile: COngratulations to you and your husband. I remember the parade in LA back in the 1980's when I lived out there. I always thought it reflected the general mood of gay California. Lost. No direction. No sense of community because of massive diversity in the ranks. I do mean that. There never was no one agenda that brought everyone together and there really was no one place where people gathered out there for things such as the fourth of july fireworks or New Years eve celebration. It was just a mess.

It got so bad not too long ago they were questioning whether to keep holding the parade. Attendance and participation had dwindle to lows that justified that type of thinking. You know it had to a bad situation with this happening AFTER West Hollywood incorporated. Gays were in control and this is what was happening on their watch.

I do hope things have improved and some for of jubilation has pryed it's way into the spirit of the attendees and participants. Watching float after float of muscle marys showing off their International Male briefs got old.

Good luck California. You need it.

pride |pr?d|

noun

1. a feeling or deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one's own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired;

• the consciousness of one's own dignity

• the quality of having an excessively high opinion of oneself or one's importance

• a person or thing that is the object or source of a feeling or deep pleasure or satisfaction

• the best state or condition of something

2. a group of lions forming a social unit.

I wonder if this is "gay pride" or "pride in the fact that I've got a sixpack".

L.A. does not have a pride. WeHo has a pride. L.A. does not…just like they voted in favor of Prop 8

@Jeff: LA did NOT vote in favor of Prop 8. I don't have the URL handy, but it is very clear where Prop 8 won: the central valley and Orange.

@Fitz: L.A. voted in favor of Prop 8 50.2 to 49.8, Lady.