Every bit of me - and every bit of you - is worth celebrating.This article's lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points. I’m very proud - obnoxiously so - to be Greek American.
I’m also a proud graduate of the University of Utah. And, it’s only one aspect of what defines me as a person. That experience helped me realize that being a gay man is a very important part of who I am. I recognized myself among the crowd and in the marchers at my very first Pride, including myself as a future dad. It sends a potent message: You Are Not Alone. It’s the recognition you get when you see someone just like you who’s marching or dancing or laughing with friends. No, I’m not talking about politicians or companies recognizing that we exist - although that’s certainly important. In spite of all the faults people can find in Pride, I think there remains one powerful reason supporting the need for the celebration: recognition. They’ve even developed a way for people to buy one ticket and donate another to someone who otherwise couldn’t afford to attend the festivities. The fact that our celebration has events geared towards our families speaks volumes. The Beehive State leads the country in LGBTQ+ parents (according to the Movement Advancement Project). I applaud Utah Pride for striving to make the festivities accessible to everyone. However, it also serves as a reminder - a celebration of the battles we’ve fought and the victories we’ve won. It may even reinforce some people’s preconceived ideas of what gay men are and what we do. Do too many companies try to make a quick buck off of the community? Most definitely. Is there a lack of diversity? I think so. Some even argue that Pride reinforces stereotypes (especially for gay men) of single-minded partying and an existence defined entirely by sexual orientation.īut I think Pride is still very important. It’s unfathomable for them to imagine a time when rainbow flags didn’t fly in the suburbs and two women holding holds in a grocery store wasn’t scandalous. They point to the massive progress that has been made to advance LGBTQ+ rights over the past decade or so. I’ve also had younger guys tell me that Pride isn’t necessary anymore. They all want me to include in this column whatever product they’re hawking, from cartoons to matching bracelets that vibrate. You wouldn’t believe the number of pitches from public relations people I find in my email box this time of year. Ironically, Pride Month also creates new visibility – companies wanting to cash in on it are suddenly all about slapping rainbow stickers on their products and running advertisements with a couple of happy lesbians fawning over matching hers/hers throw pillows. Pride has become terribly corporate, and the lack of visibility of seniors – and often people of color – can feel very unwelcoming. I have to agree with several of the points he made. A couple of years ago, AIDS/HIV activist Aundaray Guess wrote a piece for Poz Magazine in which he outlined the reasons he does not celebrate Pride.