Pride parade/festival for teens?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No we don't go. That overtly sexual, half naked, raunchy atmosphere is not what I want my kids idea of being gay to mean. I prefer my kids think that LGBTQ people are just like everyone else rather than the circus / freak show aspects of pride. Sexual orientation is about more than gyrating and being naked and being overtly sexual.

When I was a teen, my work hosted a large LGBTQ event. It was awful. Very overtly sexual with us as teens having to watch displays of sexual activity, mock sex, crude sexual comments to us as teens, grabbing and slapping the butts of teen guys working. Hundreds of men and women (mostly men) who made me see LGBTQ in a whole new light. I would never expose my kids to that with straight people, why would I expose to that with LGBTQ people.

This would imply that your kids don't know any gay people in their day to day lives. My daughter's godmothers are lesbians. Her dentist is gay. Her elementary school principal was gay and her middle school AP was gay. One of her favorite aftercare teachers from elementary school is gay and we've become close friends with him and his partner. Pride is just a celebration. She knows day to day gay people are just doing their jobs, doing their lives. They only bring out the ass-less chaps for special occasions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pride events can be overtly sexual.

So are movies, TV, and life. You mean seeing homosexuality.

I know, terrifying to see gay people kissing. Your child will be scared for life.

Actually my BIL is gay and finds these events diminish the community and promote stereotypes that are not accurate. Most gay people are not marching in leather whips or promoting their sex life everywhere. Most gay people want to be accepted as the same as everyone else and this stuff promotes fringe elements. Gay people are everywhere and people don’t know it because most they just live life.

Your BIL clearly hasn't been to a pride parade recently. They are overtly corporate events, and much tamer than they were even a decade ago. Yes, there are one or two floats with leather daddies (not a big deal IMO) but there are schools, businesses, bands, dance troupes, and every other kind of interest group under the sun. This is the one weekend out of the year when gay people can feel like they are not a minority. It's beautiful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pride events can be overtly sexual.

So are movies, TV, and life. You mean seeing homosexuality.

I know, terrifying to see gay people kissing. Your child will be scared for life.

NP here. It’s not the kissing that’s the issue. I have zero issues with sexuality, but I do have issues with men wearing only g strings tossing condoms at 8 year olds.

So the condom-tossing actually happened to my 8-year-old when my kids (then aged about 4 and 8) and I went to the Pride parade in Baltimore. The 4-year-old didn't know what condoms were and didn't care. The 8-year-old might have known what condoms were; in any case, I said, "Those are condoms, men use them" and we picked them up and threw them back into the crowd. The kids are now in middle school and high school, respectively, and as far as I can tell, no damage has been done to them.

I saw lots of happy teenagers in rainbow clothes on the Metro yesterday. Indeed, happy teenagers in groups, unaccompanied by parents!

My 16 year old DD went with her friends for the first time. They went by themselves by metro and had a Blast! She came home decked out in rainbows!

[Anonymous]

I think the real question about any parade isn't really about guys in leather but crowd control.

Washington is probably spacious enough and experienced enough to keep a large parade safe.

Crowd control in New York are great, but it's too crowded for a parade in Manhattan to be all that comfortable or safe. I'd avoid bringing kids to any parade in Manhattan at street level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, thanks.

Undoubtedly a phrase you hear often, PP, when you ask people to be friends with you. "No, thanks".

You'd like to think that, but no. I don't like Pride events because they're vulgar.

You have never been to one, have you? You are judging what you see on Fox, right? I am basically pretty conservative but having a gay brother has had me at many gay pride events and I do not hesitate to bring my kids.

We have taken the kids to the Gay Pride parade in West Hollywood since they were in strollers. It is great fun and a very positive environment of self-acceptance. It is nothing like what people see on the slanted, anti-gay news sites. Sure there are one of two "out there" things but nothing more than what an older child will see on TV.


I have to say I am surprised by so much homophobia on this site. I thought DC was much more educated and sophisticated than what I am reading.

Same here, PP, and I grew up here.

[Anonymous]

Wow. I am a conservative, Catholic, Fox news watching middle aged mom.

I've been to the gay pride parade in Philadelphia a few years ago. It wasn't planned, I just happened to be in the city, walking in the vicinity, heard the commotion, and went over to watch.
IT WAS FINE. People were wearing flamboyant costumes and having fun...but I didn't see anyone handing out condoms (especially to young children!!!) or gyrating naked. It wasn't anything I'd be uncomfortable with my kids seeing (and see above about me being conservative, etc.)
Honestly I'm shocked that any parent is ok with their young kid being handed condoms. There is absolutely no reason for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pride events can be overtly sexual.

Why is this? I'll respect anyone who doesn't act like a fool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. I am a conservative, Catholic, Fox news watching middle aged mom.

I've been to the gay pride parade in Philadelphia a few years ago. It wasn't planned, I just happened to be in the city, walking in the vicinity, heard the commotion, and went over to watch.
IT WAS FINE. People were wearing flamboyant costumes and having fun...but I didn't see anyone handing out condoms (especially to young children!!!) or gyrating naked. It wasn't anything I'd be uncomfortable with my kids seeing (and see above about me being conservative, etc.)
Honestly I'm shocked that any parent is ok with their young kid being handed condoms. There is absolutely no reason for that.

Where did anybody say that?

[Anonymous]

The Caps parade will be much more vulgar (hilarious that this word is in use here) and full of drunks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. I am a conservative, Catholic, Fox news watching middle aged mom.

I've been to the gay pride parade in Philadelphia a few years ago. It wasn't planned, I just happened to be in the city, walking in the vicinity, heard the commotion, and went over to watch.
IT WAS FINE. People were wearing flamboyant costumes and having fun...but I didn't see anyone handing out condoms (especially to young children!!!) or gyrating naked. It wasn't anything I'd be uncomfortable with my kids seeing (and see above about me being conservative, etc.)
Honestly I'm shocked that any parent is ok with their young kid being handed condoms. There is absolutely no reason for that.

Where did anybody say that?

The fourth post in this thread: "My DD is 15 and has been going since she was 1. It's not damaging to see naked bodies. When she was younger and given condoms I would just take them away and hand them off to someone nearby."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. I am a conservative, Catholic, Fox news watching middle aged mom.

I've been to the gay pride parade in Philadelphia a few years ago. It wasn't planned, I just happened to be in the city, walking in the vicinity, heard the commotion, and went over to watch.
IT WAS FINE. People were wearing flamboyant costumes and having fun...but I didn't see anyone handing out condoms (especially to young children!!!) or gyrating naked. It wasn't anything I'd be uncomfortable with my kids seeing (and see above about me being conservative, etc.)
Honestly I'm shocked that any parent is ok with their young kid being handed condoms. There is absolutely no reason for that.

Where did anybody say that?

Condoms are being tossed into the crowd, not specifically handed to six year olds. You just take it away and say “you can hav these stickers and beads- these are for grownups.

[Anonymous]

Was the DC parade any fun this year? The last time I went it was 90% politicians and corporations with very few creative floats, live music, or dancing.

[Anonymous]

We don't go. My 17 year old son is gay and out. We attend a lot of other LGTBQ friendly events. But the gay pride parades tend to be all about over-the-top expressions of sexuality. That's not who we are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pride events can be overtly sexual.

So are movies, TV, and life. You mean seeing homosexuality.

I know, terrifying to see gay people kissing. Your child will be scared for life.

No, that is not what I mean, you presumptuous ass. I happen to screen TV and movies as well. It is not appropriate for children so see blatant displays of any sexuality, no matter what the orientation. Responsible parents understand this. I was just warning OP in case she thought it was just all rainbows and floats like a regular parade.