Gay Pride Parade

Darragh29 · 26-09-2006 05:28PM

Smellyirishman wrote:

Sorry mate, I think your entire arguement and reasoning just went out the window. You may as well have said in the OP that you think being Gay is wrong and the parade is too, don't bring a child into your reasoning. Just because I have friends that do drugs does not mean that I agree with taking drugs. I think you are digging a hole OP.

I do think being gay is not in keeping with the normal order of things. I'm not overtly religious or right wing, I respect the right of other people to hold different values than I do, to be gay and have gay parades, have gay sex, be in gay relationships and do things that gay people do. However, I would not want my child to have the subject of sexuality literally forced upon them at 6 years of age by a gay parade. I would not want my child to be lying in bed at 6 years of age wondering, "I think I'd like to be gay when I grow up", after seeing a gay parade. In that respect, I agree with the OP...

Dragan · 26-09-2006 05:32PM

Darragh29 wrote:

I do think being gay is not in keeping with the normal order of things. I'm not overtly religious or right wing, I respect the right of other people to hold different values than I do, to be gay and have gay parades, have gay sex, be in gay relationships and do things that gay people do. However, I would not want my child to have the subject of sexuality literally forced upon them at 6 years of age by a gay parade. I would not want my child to be lying in bed at 6 years of age wondering, "I think I'd like to be gay when I grow up", after seeing a gay parade. In that respect, I agree with the OP...

But in fairness, to use a term like "I think i would be disgusted if my child told me they were gay" does kind of imply that you would feel that they had failed some expectation you had for them, no?

Besides, you see more ripped midsections in Premiership football than you do at a Gay Pride Parade, so maybe you might want to stop him watching that, in case physically healthy men inspire him to be gay?????

HelterSkelter · 26-09-2006 05:33PM

Just wondering, if you tell the kid that it is perfectly normal for two men to be together, will it confuse the kid? For example I remember fancying girls when I was 5 or 6. As far as I was concerned boys liked girls and girls liked boys, I never knew gay people existed. But if someone had of introduced this idea to me maybe I could have become confused and thought it was some kind of choice that people made and it was ok to kiss boys (even though I am hetro). I remember playing spin the bottle in school when I was 6 or 7, if a few of us had the same idea maybe some of the boys might have kissed (assuming they are hetro). Do people this this is right?

iguana · 26-09-2006 05:34PM

Darragh29 wrote:

that being gay is as perfectly normal as not being gay and in 10 years time he thinks that its normal for him to fancy a man and tells his Dad that he is gay???

a) Being gay is perfectly normal, so I would think it would be a good thing for a child to draw that conclusion.

b) I grew up thinking that being gay was normal. However any time in my life where the opportunity to be with woman was put before me, as curious as I was I just could not go through with it. Why? Because I am not attracted to women. Even women who I think are gorgeous and amazing and wonderful to be around. I couldn't have sex with her, but there were lots of times that I met a guy who I was only marginally attracted to and I could have sex with him.

You can be straight, gay or bi, but being aware of the fact that you can be any of these won't make you something that you are not. Some people can be straight and have sex with someone of the same sex out of curiousity, but that does not make them gay either. If someone is gay, they are gay. It doesn't matter how many or how few gay pride marches they walk past when the are young.

I will admit that it would be easier for all concerned if when I have children they are straight, but that is only so that they don't have to deal with bigoted attitudes. If they are gay I would rather they grew up knowing that this was an acceptable and natural way to be. And that I and my husband respected them for being who they are.

HelterSkelter · 26-09-2006 05:37PM

Darragh29 wrote:

I do think being gay is not in keeping with the normal order of things. I'm not overtly religious or right wing, I respect the right of other people to hold different values than I do, to be gay and have gay parades, have gay sex, be in gay relationships and do things that gay people do. However, I would not want my child to have the subject of sexuality literally forced upon them at 6 years of age by a gay parade. I would not want my child to be lying in bed at 6 years of age wondering, "I think I'd like to be gay when I grow up", after seeing a gay parade. In that respect, I agree with the OP...

I think a lot of people will jump on you for saying that but I think you have a valid point. When I have kids I would like them to be hetrosexual. If they turn out gay that is fine, I'd love them regardless, but I certainly don't want it presented to them as if it is some kind of choice they make.

Annasopra · 26-09-2006 05:38PM

I don't necessarily see having a gay pride parade as forcing sexuality on children. In fact what I really like about the parade is that their are children marching alongside their parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents.

I know I'm going to take serious flak for this, but I would be disgusted if my child told me he or she was gay, I'd feel like I had utterly failed as a parent...

Darragh29 what would you do if your son/daughter didn't tell you he/she was gay but committed suicide because they were too afraid to tell you. How does your child being gay reflect on you negatively as a parent?

Nevyn · 26-09-2006 05:40PM

SmoothyG wrote:

Mummies and daddies make babies, is the answer the hetro relationships, so i dont think it is over complicating it. Gay being a sexual preferance and having to explain that to a child is the complicated bit.

So the only reason people have hetrosexual relationship is to make babies ?
What bollocks.

My two kids think gay is a silly word. They don't understand the need for the term.

They know that some boys grow up to fall in love with boys, some boys grow up to fall in love with girls, some girls grow up to fall in love with boys and some girls grow up to fall in love with girls.

But until all children are taught that this is just the way of things and while 'gayness' is hidden away there is the need to raise the profile.

trilo · 26-09-2006 05:42PM

I was at Brighton Gay Pride last year. it was brilliant, the costumes the drama, the atmosphere and there were loads of families out to enjoy the day, even those of hetrosexual relationships. It appeared people thought of it was a fun day out, while also building awareness.

Homosexuality is not something to hide, even from young people and children. Its a fact of life.

As for homosexuality been forced on a 6 year old live this.. isnt hetrosexuality forced on people every day, every way we look, why shoudl we have homosexuality hidden.

Endymion · 26-09-2006 05:43PM

SmoothyG wrote:

so u think some Children are Gay? children shouldnt have sexual thoughts, that is puberty.

First of, that makes little sense.

secondly, going through puberty doesn't make you an adult.

azezil · 26-09-2006 05:45PM

LMAO @ Darragh29... my gawd you're such an idiot, I pitty you

BlitzKrieg · 26-09-2006 05:48PM

I fail to see where the difficulty in answering any questions?

Firstly you give him the its when two men or two women love each other.

And when the who has the baby question just tell the truth. They dont have a baby.

If he persists tell him about adoption.

I cant see any possible question he could ask where you will be forced to describe the 'sexual aspect' of any sexuality.

Sex doesnt need to come into the topic at all.

besides personnally (not when he's five) but when you give him the birds and bees lecture (better to come from family.) You tell him what homosexuality is. Dont let schools or other children explain it for him cause other kids will most likely turn it into a very horrible negative culture and so could the school depending where he is going.

I had my sister tell me about homosexuality and It was one of the better things she did for me when I was younger, compared to the sickening attitude some of my friends in school took compared to me.

SmoothyG · 26-09-2006 05:55PM

trilo wrote:

I was at Brighton Gay Pride last year. it was brilliant, the costumes the drama, the atmosphere and there were loads of families out to enjoy the day, even those of hetrosexual relationships. It appeared people thought of it was a fun day out, while also building awareness.

Homosexuality is not something to hide, even from young people and children. Its a fact of life.

As for homosexuality been forced on a 6 year old live this.. isnt hetrosexuality forced on people every day, every way we look, why shoudl we have homosexuality hidden.

i wasnt saying homosexuality should be hidden, i think sex isnt something that a 5yr old should be thinking about. homosexuality is something approached at the same time as the sex issue is raised with a child.

After all, homosexuality is having sex with a member of the same sex.

Trinity · 26-09-2006 05:55PM

BlitzKrieg wrote:

I fail to see where the difficulty in answering any questions?

Firstly you give him the its when two men or two women love each other.

And when the who has the baby question just tell the truth. They dont have a baby.

If he persists tell him about adoption.

I cant see any possible question he could ask where you will be forced to describe the 'sexual aspect' of any sexuality.

Sex doesnt need to come into the topic at all.

besides personnally (not when he's five) but when you give him the birds and bees lecture (better to come from family.) You tell him what homosexuality is. Dont let schools or other children explain it for him cause other kids will most likely turn it into a very horrible negative culture and so could the school depending where he is going.

I had my sister tell me about homosexuality and It was one of the better things she did for me when I was younger, compared to the sickening attitude some of my friends in school took compared to me.

Could not agree more. My family were very open about such things, there-fore i grew up very open-minded.

My best friend is gay and my family, mam, dad, uncles etc love him. And tbh i am very proud of them for that. You would never hear any member of my family expressing anything negative about him in regards to his sexuality.

If my son is gay, the only thing i would worry for him is i would hope that he finds true love. From experience with my friends it can be very difficult to meet someone for a long term loving relationship, as in hetro relationships too but they seem to have less options due to numbers!! thats just my point of view.

But my son will always be able to tell me anything. 2 boys in their early 20's i knew commited suicide as they just couldnt continue living a lie but could not tell their families.

SmoothyG · 26-09-2006 05:57PM

Carnivore wrote:

First of, that makes little sense.

secondly, going through puberty doesn't make you an adult.

so what does? isnt puberty turning from a child to an adult?

SmoothyG · 26-09-2006 06:00PM

BlitzKrieg wrote:

I cant see any possible question he could ask where you will be forced to describe the 'sexual aspect' of any sexuality.

Sex doesnt need to come into the topic at all.

.
.

Sex and sexuality are completly unrelated? sorry but i just cant understand that

Karoma · 26-09-2006 06:06PM

azezil wrote:

LMAO @ Darragh29... my gawd you're such an idiot, I pitty you

Time-out for you.
Reason: Personal abuse.

Folks, no name-calling or other childish crap please.

Endymion · 26-09-2006 06:06PM

SmoothyG wrote:

so what does? isnt puberty turning from a child to an adult?

It's merely a physical change. a 12 year old is not an adult.

iguana · 26-09-2006 06:08PM

SmoothyG wrote:

After all, homosexuality is having sex with a member of the same sex.

Sure it is. To the exact same degree that hetrosexuality is having sex with a member of the opposite sex.

I agree, 5 year olds don't need to be thought about sex, and it would not be your place to teach him anyway it's his parents. But when he asks what gay is, you talk to him in terms of what he understands a hetrosexual relationship to be. It's pretty simple.

Trinity · 26-09-2006 06:08PM

SmoothyG wrote:

Sex and sexuality are completly unrelated? sorry but i just cant understand that

But you said yourself children dont think/shouldnt think about sex. When you tell your nephew mummy and daddy love each other, thats all you tell them. He doesnt ask anything more. Why would you have to mention sex or physical acts?

can you imagine - "Well mummy and daddy love each other so therefore Daddy puts his penis blah blah........" - no of course you wouldnt do it to describe hetrosexual relationships why would you have to do it about gay relationships??

Love is love.

Young Children know nothing about sex, they dont know what it is or that it happens.

Worry about it when hes older - or better still tell him to ask his dad!! His Dad will love ya for it LOL

BlitzKrieg · 26-09-2006 06:13PM

SmoothyG wrote:

Sex and sexuality are completly unrelated? sorry but i just cant understand that

then your being far too simple. Being a homosexual is far more then 'blowing cock' it's also pretty much a lifestyle choice, (and I dont mean the tight t-shirt buns lifestyle choice.) its a choice on the sort of relationship your going to be in, two men living together so closely is different to going out with your mates or living with your girlfriend, different protocals and habits that extend far beyond the bedroom.

I mean did you look at the gay pride parade, there are huge elements of their life that is different to yours and thats what they are displaying in pride.

In the same way that sex is only a part of your heterosexual relationship, its only a part of theirs.

When you tell your nephew about you and your wife (If you have one.) I assume you dont focus on the sexual antics in the bedroom first. No you talk about how you met, why you love her, what the two of you do together outside the bedroom. I doubt your gonna tell him about your sexual antics until he is older. In the same way you shouldnt talk about homosexual sexual antics until he is older. And also judging by your knowledge on the subject expressed in this thread, it might be better to have one of your gay friends explain it to him.

koneko · 26-09-2006 06:16PM

Turning something into a taboo is how ignorance, fear and hatred breed. Whether you mean to or not, it's implying there is something inherently "wrong" with being gay, that children should know about. This is why they have parades. Because people can't accept they're normal and not freaks, and that it is not something they should be ashamed of.

You don't need to teach him about sex. You don't explain a hetero sexual relationship to a 5-year-old by telling him about the penis and vagina and what people do in bed, so why would you for a gay relationship? Iguana is right. His parents should explain it to him the way you would explain a relationship between a man and a woman.

Nevyn · 26-09-2006 07:20PM

I had my children tell me what sex is, literally one day out of the blue they clearly had a discussion between them and told me that "sex is kisses and cuddles with the person you are in love with and some time it is in bed sometimes it is not and sometimes you are naked but not always."
Which is enough for them to know as they are 6 and 8 but they figured out that much for themselves.

There have been converstaions with my 8 year old as some of the other boys in the class were name calling and using the term 'gay' he asked me was he gay ?

He knows what it means that if he was gay he would grow up and fall in love with another boy but he asked if he was gay and if he was how would he know.

I told him that it was far to early for even me his mam to know if he would fall in love with a boy or a girl and too early for him to know that he would have to wait until he had started to go through the changes that will turn his body into that of a man.

and I told him it didn't matter to me who he falls in love with as long as they love him back and care for him and make him happy.

It would be nice to think of a country were the gender of who you are attracted to was as big a deal as what eye colour you have and in order to achieve this we need to start with kids and make it normal and not a big deal.

FranknFurter · 26-09-2006 10:05PM

BlitzKrieg wrote:

I fail to see where the difficulty in answering any questions?

Firstly you give him the its when two men or two women love each other.

And when the who has the baby question just tell the truth. They dont have a baby.

If he persists tell him about adoption.

I cant see any possible question he could ask where you will be forced to describe the 'sexual aspect' of any sexuality.

Sex doesnt need to come into the topic at all.

besides personnally (not when he's five) but when you give him the birds and bees lecture (better to come from family.) You tell him what homosexuality is. Dont let schools or other children explain it for him cause other kids will most likely turn it into a very horrible negative culture and so could the school depending where he is going.

I had my sister tell me about homosexuality and It was one of the better things she did for me when I was younger, compared to the sickening attitude some of my friends in school took compared to me.

Exactly.
Sex and Love are two different things which is what people seem to miss more and more these days.

Children understand the word "Love" as it is, and thats all they *need* to understand until they are older.

To a child, "Somtimes men love men, and somtimes they love women. And somtimes women love women and somtimes they love men" is simple and appropriate.

Sex should not come into the equation at all. Being gay means you fall in love with somone of the same sex, it does not mean you have sex with somone of the same sex (That is what homosexual means, (sexual in all couples gay or straight is not somthing you can explain to a 5 year old FFS).
Its a "Gay Pride Parade" not a "Practicing Homosexuals Pride Parade".

B

Trinity · 26-09-2006 10:12PM

Thaedydal wrote:

I had my children tell me what sex is, literally one day out of the blue they clearly had a discussion between them and told me that "sex is kisses and cuddles with the person you are in love with and some time it is in bed sometimes it is not and sometimes you are naked but not always."
Which is enough for them to know as they are 6 and 8 but they figured out that much for themselves.

There have been converstaions with my 8 year old as some of the other boys in the class were name calling and using the term 'gay' he asked me was he gay ?

He knows what it means that if he was gay he would grow up and fall in love with another boy but he asked if he was gay and if he was how would he know.

I told him that it was far to early for even me his mam to know if he would fall in love with a boy or a girl and too early for him to know that he would have to wait until he had started to go through the changes that will turn his body into that of a man.

and I told him it didn't matter to me who he falls in love with as long as they love him back and care for him and make him happy.

It would be nice to think of a country were the gender of who you are attracted to was as big a deal as what eye colour you have and in order to achieve this we need to start with kids and make it normal and not a big deal.

I commend you on your obviously special relationship with your children - a bit more of this and there would be less hate in the world

Childrens conceptions of love are pure and innocent. They dont judge they just love and accept that people love each other. As far as they are concerned love is a feeling and there are no conditions on it. Leave it like that for as long as possible i say.

MicraBoy · 26-09-2006 10:30PM

OP you suck at being an uncle. All you had to say was ask Mammy and Daddy later.

Nehpets · 26-09-2006 11:09PM

MicraBoy wrote:

OP you suck at being an uncle. All you had to say was ask Mammy and Daddy later.

haha, brilliant!

YOU could have easily said the two men kissing were in love with eachother. Then about the babies tell the truth. They don't have them:rolleyes:

damien · 26-09-2006 11:18PM

MicraBoy wrote:

OP you suck at being an uncle. All you had to say was ask Mammy and Daddy later.

Yeah exactly or say "STFU like, you're 5."

abetarrush · 27-09-2006 01:06AM

Theres no point to have a gay pride parade at all, IMO

I've said this a bajillion times before, Pride means not bein ashamed of something, not celebrating it all the time
Whats next? Asian pride! Midget pride? there'd be a lot of interestin parades!!

They're even startin t put gay floats in next years Paddy's Day parade

That should be, interesting

Diogenes · 27-09-2006 02:26AM

abetarrush wrote:

Theres no point to have a gay pride parade at all, IMO

I've said this a bajillion times before, Pride means not bein ashamed of something, not celebrating it all the time

Whut? Several points.

1. No that is not a definition of pride you'll find in any dictionary. Period. Pride in this place means taking pleasure in belonging to a social subgroup.

2. Is every day pride day? No. Is one day pride day? Yes. Therefore they're not "celebrating all the time"

3. The origin of Gay Pride comes from the Stonewall Riots when homosexuals were forced into confrontation with the New York Police Department after violent raids at Gay Bars in the 60s. Seeing as homosexual violence and abuse is still part of our society, they've every right to tell you they're here they're queer get used to it. It seems the number of people with a "Now I have gay friends I just don't want them to shove it in my face" is remarkable. Would some of these posters be okay with their many gay friends kissing in Public,in front of them?

Whats next? Asian pride! Midget pride? there'd be a lot of interestin parades!!

Many Ethnic groups have celebrations. Are you equally opposed to the Chinese New Year celebrations that take place every year?

They're even startin t put gay floats in next years Paddy's Day parade

That should be, interesting

Shouldn't you equally be opposed to the St Paddy's day parades? I mean you did say;

Pride means not bein ashamed of something, not celebrating it

All those "Proud to Be Irish" hats? Shouldn't we just sit around in Mid March feeling "not ashamed" about being Irish?

Honestly, After Hours,
Giving the ill informed and incoherant a platform since 2000.

BlitzKrieg · 27-09-2006 02:43AM

abetarrush wrote:

Theres no point to have a gay pride parade at all, IMO

I've said this a bajillion times before, Pride means not bein ashamed of something, not celebrating it all the time

It is times like this that one must stop stupid people from watching south park.

Whats next? Asian pride!

Hell yeah Asian pride, too many twinkies!

Midget pride?

They have alot to be proud of.

there'd be a lot of interestin parades!!

Just had Pirate Pride!

They're even startin t put gay floats in next years Paddy's Day parade

my only curiosity about this is how the church is going to respond to this? Seeing as it is technical a saints day.

and for a brief serious answer.

The Pride Parade is to encourage discriminated groups to stand up and express their true selves without fear of being oppressed.

My wording might be a bit too formal though.

I remember the new york gay pride parade summer last year, that was amazing. really enjoyed watching that.

That should be, interesting[/QUOTE]

Gay Pride Parade

Comments