Thank god I am a straight, white, middle class male =)

And, uh. Even here in -new zealand- we spent like, ages learning about "the civil rights movement" in the USA for fifth form history. It was hilarious. Well, uh... not -hilarious-, more ironic.

Sorry to do a minor hijack, I don't have much to say about Febuary, save I was born in it, but what really annoys me is when people say "Zionism is Racism." Cause that seems to imply that all Jews are the same race, which they are not. I mostly just hang out with Jewish people but I have a very ethnically diverse group of friends. I always hated Black History month because it ment that nobody cared about my birthday, since my birthday is on the first of the month.

I'm biased.

I dislike any month/day/thing relating to the history of a culture.

I dislike how the victims of the Jewish families get compensation for the Holocaust, even though Russians/Irish had been getting slaughtered, forgotten, beaten, and blah for hundreds of years.

Thats all I really have against racial-politically-correct-things.

Jewish Families don't get compesation for the Holocaust unless they can prove what was stolen from them by the Nazis. My family has never gotten any compensation of any kind, save the fact that our family is still alive.

I guess I just don't appreciate it because I already have places in Sydney where I feel safe walking down the street holding my boyfriends hand *shrug*. Where abouts in the US are you anyway?

When I was in high school.. I'm and not saying its perfect because I had a lot of problems in high school, not because of my race. Well.. because I was me, but when it came to thinks like tolerance about sexuality, interracial relationships and so on no one seemed to care. We had gays openly going to the prom together. There was this art exhibit this one guys put up in the main hall "Nobody Knows I'm Gay" which was just hilarious because well.. Everyone knew.

I think the school can thank me for the tolerance and togetherness they showed, because had they not a person like me to gang up on and routinely kick my ass I think things will have fallen into disarray. I was glad to do my part.

I actually hate gay pride 'season' not because I hate gays, I do not approve of the lifestyle, but it is your choice, not mine. What I hate about it is the political side, gays spend all of this time and money trying to convince everyone and the laws that they are the same as a straight person, then they go out and have this gay pride parade which doesn't show they are the same, but waves their differences, and shouts their differnces.

Make up your minds, you are the same, or you are different, you can't have both.

Agreed, on the part of the differnces, not on the first.

Thats a very faulty argument Nementh.

The point of the parade, (well atleast during the 60s) was to show the government that there is a large number of people who are infact people and not just some label without a person behind them.

The point of these parades is to -normalize- what is going on, so that they get "equal treatment" since they are "normal" and not some offshoot of society.

And call me whatever you want, but I believe some activities should just not be normalized.

I think you've got it a bit mixed up. While I actually dislike the overly sexual nature of many gay pride events (my, aren't I a prude?) it is not so much about flaunting differences as much as it is about saying "we're here".

The vast majority of most countries are very hostile towards open displays of homosexual affection ("Oh I'm ok with gays, I just don't want to see it! Ewww!!!") so having a parade, for example, where aspects of the gay subculture are displayed is like a bit of a reminder that we're still waiting to be treated the same (and not just during pride month, or season, or whatever).

Because no one else posted: That is because australia, for lack of a better word, rocks.

I got over the "OMG, He/she's black thing when I was 6.. its sorta sad that America -still- hasn't, stupid rednecks.

And Nementh: The reason that happens is because gays aren't recognised as being the same as everyone else. Its like black people in the 50s (and today in some places) Australian Aboriginies in some places and immigrants from Europe during the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and today.

The fact is that most people can't deal with things that are different to what they either like or are familiar with. Until it gets to the stage where people are able to ignore two gay people kissing as they would ignore two straight people kissing (or stare entranced because they aren't getting any ) gay pride week, parades, etc, etc, are going to occur.

I don't understand what the gay "lifestyle" is though..

I hate it when I'm in line at Disneyland and a couple of 15 year olds who happen to have friend who works at disneyland sits there in line making out infront of everyone. I always feel the need to throw up a cubicle and give them some privacy.

And I don't think you want to know what the gay "lifestyle" is.

Well, yeah, that bothers me with straight people too, but that's because like Laneth I am just a prude, so I can't really complain too much.

Actually I do, so I can then say if that's a stupid thing to say or not

As for the 15year olds - a cup of icy cold water is always good, gnehehe.. not that I've been to Disney Land.

Why is it that being a prude automatically means you have no voice in the matter?

We need a prude pride parrade! And look, its even an illiteration.

I would suggest watching HBO's specials to get an interesting view of lifestyle.

I don't know what a HBO is, and the reason me being a prude means I have less voice in the matter is because I'm rather irrationally so. If I had a really good justification it wouldn't be.

Yeah, name TV shows, not HBO. All I know about HBO is that its a tv show making thing.. right?

HBO is Home Broadcasting Office, its a subscription movie channel.

...which I bet I don't get in Britain. What with my 5 chans and all. Ah well. *go to bed*

HBO is in every Western country.