Pride - In The Name of What?

June, aka Gay Pride Month is coming to a close. Thank God.

Now, before any of you point fingers at me, call me names, and set forth with vitriol, allow me to state this clearly: I am a true friend of the LGBT community, not just here but everywhere. I have close friends and family in this community and I have always been welcomed by the community. I love all people, for that is the root of my faith.

 Gay Pride is, and I hate to have to be the one to tell you this, a sham! It is just another example of the greedy exploiting people for their own personal gains.

Yes, YOU should be proud of who YOU are. Who you are attracted to or sleep with should be just one miniscule aspect of your total being. Sadly, there are those in this world who have issues with it...but, those are their issues to deal with. Not yours or mine.  We should, each and every one of us, be proud of who we are, what we do, how we do it, and who our lives touch. To deliberately stand apart from the community at large and demand to noticed for such a trivial matter as sexual preference is absurd and seperatist. It is self-segregation...and that is how those who wish to exploit want to keep it.

Pittsburgh Pride is essentially run by the Delta Foundation, whose stated mission is "to increase awareness and understanding of and improve the quality of life for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community in Western Pennsylvania.”   In 2012, the Delta Foundation had no less than 44 corporate sponsors. One would assume that this, plus private donations, would cover the costs of Pittsburgh's Pride celebrations.

Sure, there are permit fees and licensing for such events. Upon researching this, I've found that the costs are very reasonable. Example, for a street fair/carnival, it's only $44 per day. There are bound to be costs involved for liability insurance, security, etc., but still, these costs are minimal and one would think covered by the corporate sponsorhips/private donations. Instead, the Delta Foundation seems to be making a nice chunk of change. Different events within the Pride program have their own costs but on top of those are these costs:

• Walking Contingent $30
• Vehicle $160
• Float $160
• Vendors:
• Non-profit Community Outreach $300
• Commercial/Business $500
• Food Vendor $600
• Additional Items:
• Chairs $20 ea
• Tables $50 ea
• Tent  $150 ea

$20 for a folding chair? Really?

Now, think how many different groups who feel their presence at this event is a must. That adds up to a nice chunk of change...allegedly being funneled back into the "community" but more likely being funneled into Delta's pockets.  (Note: this is just our local area, it could be similar or different where YOU live)

Pittsburgh Pride has been happening every year for a number of years now, yet I see no real change in the community or how the community is viewed by others. As I've said for years, most people really don't care who you sleep with. Sure, there are some with issues...but leave them to deal with it themselves.

If you really want to show pride in your own community, start at home. Be the best person you can be. If you want to make an event of it, allow me to suggest this: Rather than look for an excuse to partaaaayyyyyy,  why not do something for the community at large? Organize groups to help feed the hungry, clothe the homeless, clean up an area, paint houses for the underprivileged...anything...just don't be so damned self-serving! Serve your community! Show the world that the LGBT community is a POSITIVE force. Show that the LGBT community are GOOD PEOPLE. Show the love! By taking the time to just parade around, waving rainbow flags and getting drunk/high, all that is being done is showing the community at large that the LGBT community is nothing more than yet another self-segregating, self-serving bunch of whiners. If you want equality and inclusion, then be part of the community at large! Sure, there will always be idiots out there who don't like anyone...but they are more of a minority than anyone else. They just tend to be the most vocal.

I've wanted to write this piece for a few weeks now. I originally chose not to, until 2 seperate incidents happened this week that truly upset me.

On Tuesday, a friend who tends bar at a gay establishment, was beat up by heterosexuals. The reason? They came into his establishment, obviously drunk, and he refused to serve them. Just last night, a heterosexual friend of mine went to a gay establishment and was told by the server that she would not be served because the server "doesn't like straight people".

Both of these are truly sad incidents showing how little Gay Pride effects things. It shows that there are still assholes on both sides of the fence.

To the straight men who were denied service for being too drunk, guess what? You wouldn't have been served in any bar! And sadly for you, from what I hear, you were publicly and physically embarassed by a flamboyent gay man who is more of a bad ass than YOU!

To my friend who was denied service in the gay bar because the bartender "doesn't like straight people", have no fear. I've been told that the manager has had words with this bartender and this will never happen again.

If YOU have an issue with anyone; gay, straight, black, white, or plaid...the issue is with YOU, not them. You may well ask yourself WHY you have an issue. Don't rely on religion or politics for YOUR reasoning. You are neither a god nor a politician. You were blessed with a mind. Use it.

Be proud of yourself for who you are and what you do. As I've heard many times in life, never do anything that your mother wouldn't be proud of. Who you sleep with is NOT a reason to be proud. That's like being proud because you need oxygen to live. It's not a choice. It just is what it is.