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I see the Pride and Faith community group and First Church as beacons of light welcoming all people into God’s house” – Jonathyn Upcoming Gatherings These individuals have not experienced the love and joy of being part of an open and affirming community.
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Maybe the real question isn’t whether people at the parade, in an attempt to express themselves to the fullest, are perpetuating gay stereotypes, but whether onlookers can see beyond the sparkles - and the stereotypes - and recognize themselves.“As a Christian and a member of the LGBT community, it’s heartbreaking to know that there are individuals out there who feel unwelcome in the church. It’s not every day one can ride a float down 4th Avenue wearing nothing but a bra and a feather boa. It is an excuse to celebrate sexuality and love an opportunity to leave insecurity behind and honor who we truly are. “What some people may think of as distasteful flamboyance or radical expressiveness in the parades is truly joyous and welcome to those who understand what it means to survive any form of oppression and to live openly and honestly.”Īs a person who feels she has some understanding of and connection with LGBTQ culture, it is clear that Pride is no rowdier or more scandalous than any other party thrown by a bunch of young people in a vibrant city. Today’s Pride parades are truly a celebration of how far the LGBTQ community has come. “As the LGBTQ community has become more accepted and understood in the overall society, the term ‘march’ has fallen away,” says Paul. In earlier days, Pride parades were Pride "marches,” more activist than celebratory.
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This year's participants, for example, included Mormons for Marriage Equality, the ACLU, Delta Airlines, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Starbucks and the Filipino Youth Activities Drill Team, plus a multitude of small businesses, non-profits and politicians (like Ed Murray). “The parade has grown tremendously in lockstep with society's evolution over the last few decades,” she continues. They celebrate “dancing and music, nudity, drag queens, all manner of sexiness, lesbians on motorcycles, mysterious costumed nuns and so much more.” But they have also evolved over time to reflect the growing diversity of the LGBTQ community. Pride Parades embody “expressiveness and color and culture,” explains Paul.
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(The Pride Foundation doesn't fund, manage or plan Seattle’s annual Pride Parade and PrideFest.) Sure, says Marschel Paul, former Managing Director and current Interim Executive Director of the Seattle Pride Foundation, which supports the LGBTQ community. Put another way, do Pride Parades reinforce the stereotypes of the community they celebrate? If they were your only experience with or exposure to the LGBTQ community, how would it shape your view of its members? Pride parades are the largest and most visible celebrations of gay culture. It all made me wonder: Do events like the Pride Parade, with all its over-the-top sexuality and glitter, perpetuate gay stereotypes? Vendors pushed their carts through the crowd, hawking pink flamingos and small stuffed unicorns.
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In solidarity, grinning spectators wearing tutus or fairy wings and dousing themselves in glitter for the occasion cheered them on from the sidelines. They all seemed comfortable showing off their bodies and sharing passionate public gestures with their partners. On that unseasonably hot June day, countless scantily-clad marchers filled the streets.