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Pride is about equal rights, not differences

8:10am Monday 23rd November 2009 in


SIR – As a local resident who identifies as LGBT, I am delighted that Worcester will host its first LGBT Pride event next year. However, I am disheartened by responses from some other residents, who clearly misunderstand the purpose of the event. LGBT Pride is not about “trumpeting our differences”. LGBT Pride is about: l Commemorating the 1969 Stonewall Riots, a turning point when gay people fought back against government-sponsored persecution.

l Remembering LGBT people who died in homophobic attacks. My partner recalls having to evade “gay bashing” as a sport.

l Remembering LGBT people in other countries less fortunate than we are in Britain. In some, being LGBT is punishable by imprisonment or even execution.

l Celebrating progress the gay rights movement has made, including being able to contribute toward community causes.

l Meeting other LGBT people in a safe environment.

l Offering help and advice to people who are struggling with their sexuality, because we’re still not always safe. The upsetting comments on this newspaper’s web forum demonstrate this.

Anybody who supports equal rights is welcome at Worcester Pride. I am looking forward to it

V Smith
Worcester

Comments(13)

Common Sense says...
8:19am Mon 23 Nov 09

What's LGBT, please?

The world is obsessed with intials!

MOTCO man generally does not understand them, sorry.

(Now say you don't know who MOTCO man is!)

CS.

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clerken says...
11:42am Mon 23 Nov 09

I am lost as to why homosexual wish to parade around glorifying their sexuality. I am hetrosexual, but feel no urge to parade around expounding its virtue.

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Paul Griffiths says...
12:16pm Mon 23 Nov 09

Perhaps if you and your friends had been persecuted for your heterosexuality, Clerken, you might have some understanding.

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MrStJohns says...
12:46pm Mon 23 Nov 09

I think CS that LGBT is short for being either lesbian, gay, bi sexual, or transvestite, don’t quote me because im not 100% on that. Im looking forward to the event next year, having attended a few of these events in other cities with friends its great Worcester is hosting one. It goes to show the high level of diversity, which I feel is great, that can be found in Worcester. Of course its free choice to decide to attend or not, however I don’t see the need for criticism of such an event, when the Worcester news advertises such events as the Worcester beer festival, which well in excess of 10’000 people attend. I don’t recall reading any comments relating to alcohol, of which im sure people have very strong feeling, ect. So why not offer the same courtesy to this event and just come if you want if not find something else to do on that day that you don’t find so offensive. Simple really

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MrStJohns says...
1:06pm Mon 23 Nov 09

I think CS that LGBT is short for being either lesbian, gay, bi sexual, or transvestite, don’t quote me because im not 100% on that. Im looking forward to the event next year, having attended a few of these events in other cities with friends its great Worcester is hosting one. It goes to show the high level of diversity, which I feel is great, that can be found in Worcester. Of course its free choice to decide to attend or not, however I don’t see the need for criticism of such an event, when the Worcester news advertises such events as the Worcester beer festival, which well in excess of 10’000 people attend. I don’t recall reading any comments relating to alcohol, of which im sure people have very strong feeling, ect. So why not offer the same courtesy to this event and just come if you want if not find something else to do on that day that you don’t find so offensive. Simple really

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CJH says...
1:09pm Mon 23 Nov 09

I'm afraid that some people on this website have hi-jacked this event to vent their homophobic feelings. (See the Your Say section for some interesting and some frankly scary views). They are missing the point - this is an event to raise money for charity, and if people get some enjoyment out of it as well, that's a bonus. No-one is making them attend if they don't want to. They need a bit of 'live and let live' here. MrStJohns makes a good point about the beer festival. I don't drink, but it doesn't mean that it shouldn't happen because I don't understand its attraction.

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Common Sense says...
1:44pm Mon 23 Nov 09

Well please don't include me in the "hi-jacking" CJH.

I only asked what LGBT stood for.

(...and MOTCO man is "Man on the Clapham Omnibus"! The public!)

When I was in business, I happened to meet several gay people, in various local towns within a 20 mile radius and to a fault they were polite, kind, generous, law-abiding, tax-paying and kept their gardens tidy and cars clean! They dressed nicely and - quite frankly - we could do with a lot people more like that - especially on TV!

Now in fairness, you can't say that about everyone, can you? Maybe I was just lucky in my contacts, but it didn't feel that way.

It's only a single gene difference (not a fault - a difference), in the whole human body, that any one of us could have at birth - so it's "there, but for the Grace of God"!

CS.

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clerken says...
2:07pm Mon 23 Nov 09

To answer Paul Griffiths, Jews were persecuted during the 30's and 40's, if not as long as anyone can remember, they don't parade around. I'm not against gay people, I just wonder why they feel they need to make a fuss about it.

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CJH says...
2:47pm Mon 23 Nov 09

Common Sense - I did mention that the critics were on the Your Say forum, and you didn't make a posting on that particular topic. As far as I can tell your comments here are supportive, not negative. Not sure why you would think I would include you?!?

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Common Sense says...
3:38pm Mon 23 Nov 09

As a busy pensioner, CJH, this computer is only one of several occupations during the day and I don't have time to go on Your Say as well - I would like to, but the boss says I spend far too much time on this thing, as it is! (I run a news mailing list, with jokes and news articles from across the country)

She ignores feeding the cat and cleaning the litter tray, filling and emptying the dishwasher and a dozen other little jobs to help - like most households, we now share the chores. Then there's all the many doctor's, hospital and dental appointments and shopping - where does the time go?

I am neither "in favour" nor am I against the gay community - I just believe in live and let live - as long as it doesn't affect me personally, then I do tend to get involved.

Except for politicians, of course - most of those I would cheerfully string up!

I said it how I found it - they were "decent" people and I have had no reason to change my mind - so far. Not one wore a baseball cap on back to front, if you get my drift.

Fair does, you did say "some people on this website..." and were not specific.


CS.

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varien says...
7:52pm Tue 24 Nov 09

On the 1st April this year the human resources department of Worcestershire County Council sent an e-mail to all employees saying how wonderful the LGBT movement was and that the Council was giving the LGBT movement support its full support and if anyone needed advice or counselling about their sexuality then the council would be able to provide it.

At first a most employees thought it was a joke particularly as it was dated 1st April. When it was discovered that it was no joke it soom became evident that this e-mail had offended a lot of people at county hall because of its discriminating nature against heterosexual people.

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Bravo the Righteous says...
12:14pm Thu 26 Nov 09

Isn't it refreshing that we live in a city where the biggest news story and topic of conversation is about a little knees up the gays want to put on! When was the last example of gun crime / knife crime / murder etc in the news round here, or have we all forgotten we live somewhere nice where everyone gets along? Personally, I've not got that much time for mincers but in exactly the same way I've got no time for the Scots, Tottenham fans, Coldplay or the town of Telford. Now will all of you get over yourselves? Everyone's going to this Queen's Parade, because everyone goes and supports every major event round here. Party On The Pitch - packed. Bonfire night - packed. Booze festival - packed. We're all friends here, so we're all going to act like it. Be nice.

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chris peacockpeacock says...
7:44pm Thu 26 Nov 09

Thing about us gays is, we really know how to party! Judging by how uptight a lot of the people of the faithful city are, i think you could all do with a slice of quiche and a boogie. Come down and enjoy it- we'll be able to see the straight people a mile off- the lager drinking and appalling dancing are a give away- so you don't need to worry about your machismo appeal overpowering us. Come down, enjoy the night and RELAX people of Worcester.

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