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Friday, 06 November 2009

OLDIE, BUT GOODIE: ATL GAY PRIDE


WHEN I WROTE THIS BLOG ENTRY, I THOUGHT LONG & HARD ABOUT WRITING THIS BECAUSE I HATE BEING NEGATIVE…MY GOING TO PLACES WHERE I SOCIALIZE WITH SAME-SEX INDIVIDUALS ALWAYS LEAVE ME WITH MATERIAL FOR MY BLOG. I DON’T KNOW THAT’S A GOOD THING, BUT IT IS WHAT IS…I HOPE THAT THOSE OF YOU THAT READ THIS CAN DO SO WITH AN OPEN MIND BECAUSE IT WAS WRITTEN WITH AN OPEN HEART…



Back in the 1950s and 1960s, the only place that it was safe for GAYS & LESBIANS to gather was GAY bars. In the 1960s, the police would often raid these bars and arrest the patrons. Back then, there were laws on the books that said it was illegal to wear more than two pieces of clothing of the opposite sex. Police would arrest men for wearing dresses and women for wearing pants. One day in June of 1969, the patrons of the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village, New York decided they were not going to put up with the police raiding their bars any longer. When the police came, the bar patrons fought back. That event has gone down in history as the Stonewall Riots. Ever since, GAYS, LESBIANS, BISEXUALS & TRANSGENDER people celebrate pride and call for basic civil rights by commemorating Stonewall. Across the US and all over the world, GAYS & LESBIANS remember the brave men and women of Stonewall in GAY PRIDE celebrations. However in Atlanta I feel that the celebrations there actually warrant the treatment of that in the 1950s and 1960s. 



Atlanta is the capital and the most populous city of the state of Georgia, and the core city of the ninth most populous metropolitan area in the United States. Every Labor Day Holiday weekend thousands of SGLP gather for what in my opinion should be a celebration of the struggles those before us endured. I have heard stories about the things that go on @ events during this time in Atlanta and got an opportunity to see it first-hand. I find it sad that they honor STRONG N’ FIT bodies for SEXUAL reasons and not for the reasons intended by those that came before us. When an individual is seen as STRONG N’ FIT others within society does not see HIM/HER as a WEAKLING rather they are seen as the MEN & WOMEN that they are. The amount of CRUISING & FUCKING that goes on is rather SAD because I am sure @ least 80% of them are not protecting themselves. The homosexual of color is not involved in the events that non-colored folks arrange and get into. TOPS DOWN & BOTTOMS UP is the order of the day. @ The mall, the parking lots in the club and the parks are all used as opportunities to get off. I am aware that not every single MAN or WOMAN that go to Atlanta for GAY PRIDE get involve in such activity; after all I didn’t…I am saying that the majority of the persons there are seeking such activities. It’s as if they don’t know that GAY PRIDE refers to a world wide movement and philosophy asserting that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals should be proud of their sexual orientation and gender identity. I wish they understood that the movement has three main purposes: THAT PEOPLE SHOULD BE PROUD OF THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATION & GENDER IDENTITY, THAT SEXUAL DIVERSITY IS A GIFT & THAT SEXUAL ORIENTATION & GENDER IDENTITY ARE INHERENT & CANNOT BE INTENTIONALLY ALTERED.


NOW @ THE WATERING HOLE…THE PLACE WHERE ALL HOMOSEXUAL COME TOGETHER AS ONE COMMUNITY IN CELEBRATION OF EACH TURNS OUT TO BE A PLACE THE MIRRORS THE WATERING HOLE IN NATURE. I feel that I came to Atlanta to PENETRATE THE DARKNESS & SHED SOME LIGHT on my fellow KIN BROTHERS & SISTERS. One would think that WE would recognize animals as teachers and see their traits as something that we should emulate entirely. After all we are the domestic creatures, the ones that a step above the animals. Nonetheless, the behavior displayed leaves a lot to be desired. I wish that HOMOSEXUALS knew that they are STRONGER than they know. We have the capacity to cope successfully with life's challenges far outstripping OUR feeling that we need to. We have the opportunity to spread OUR wings and fly. We are different but we display the bad things that make us this way to the world. Mere words cannot describe how I wish we could be right now; we should be the LIGHT that has conquered the darkness by pushing it out of the way. We have to go into the darkness and transform it with brilliant, positive energy. However, this is not the case GAY PRIDE is wasted every year and the community does not move forward. THIS EVENT IS USED AS A TIME WHEN WE EMBRACE OUR FELLOW MAN BECAUSE WE WANT TO GET IN HIS PANTS. WE COMPETE AGAINST EACH OTHER FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS WHICH DOES NOT MAKE US ANY BETTER THAN THE OTHER. SO NOW I ASK HOW DO WE CHANGE THINGS? HOW DO WE TAKE US TO THE NEXT LEVEL? HOW DO WE HONOR THE REAL REASON FOR GAY PRIDE?


 



13 comments:

  1. What gets me when I see a post like this is that the author makes it appear that the debauchary only occurs in my fair city of Atlanta. Therefore we have a reputation that's not so squeaky clean. Why do people never examine "Pride" events in other cities such as LA, NY, Houston, or wherever? The same things happen in those cities, but people choose to vilify only Atlanta.

    If you lived here, you would know that the things that go on during Labor Day Weekend are not necessarily that things that go on during the rest of the year. 90% of the people who attend events people don't live here.

    People, please stop bashing the city of Atlanta. It's not a good look.

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  2. Don't take it personally, Dude! Gayte-keeper was making a valid and necessary point. Gay Pride, wherever it takes place, is forgetting about the reason it is celebrated in the first place. Each Gay Pride seems to degenerate into a sex fest. There are some wonderful educational events that take place, as in N.Y., which hosts a week long celebration. But the vast majority of folks are not looking for education, they are looking for a good time.

    I suspect this is primarily because the young folks do not know their history and cannot appreciate what their forefathers (and sisters) went through so that they could walk proudly through the streets of whatever city they may find themselves.

    This is what Gayte-keeper is trying to remind us of. Just like they say for Christmas, "Jesus is the reason for the season." We need to keep in mind why we celebrate Gay Pride in the first place.

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  3. I agree with Thomas, I don't think TG-K was bashing Atlanta specifically.

    I also agree with TG-K, that the real reason for gay pride is lost.

    However - boys will be boys. What can you do? There will always be those who take the easy route and lose themselves in the pleasures of the flesh - and the rest. I'm sure the same was true in the old days.

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  4. GAYTE you make a valid point which could also be said about other cities. But also there is ONE CRUCIAL fact that you didn't mention but I'm not sure if you are aware of this fact or not being that you're not from Georgia. The fact is that there are actually 2 so called Pride festivals that goes on within each year, one that was Officially established in 1971 by the city and then there's the one that was "Unofficially" established which is really just a weekend gathering during Labor day weekend which turned into Black Gay Pride. I hate to put it this way but basically what you have is a "white folks" pride and a "black folks" pride , only one is the "Real Deal". Although both are becoming more and more desegregated by the year.

    Now this is the interesting part because I find that you will hear or get more of an ear buzz about what "Went Down" during BGP(Black Gay Pride) but you won't too much get anything from AGP(Atlanta Gay Pride). I will say though that Atlanta Gay Pride is MORE of a FESTIVE event in the sense of the coming together or uniting as SGL people to celebrate or represent our rights and passage and proudness on this earth. Atlanta Gay Proud also has WAY BETTER sponsorships, and they really get you into embracing the SGL community more as brothers and sisters which isn't the case for Black Gay Proud.

    Could it be that we as SGL African Americans are more stuck on the sexual side/physical aspect of each other than SGL Caucasians are?
    I'm pretty sure you can find some of the same "dirt" that goes on during BGP happens during the AGP, but it's more apparent at BGP which I think is a problem. Instead of advertising that God loves us and how to stand strong, we pass out more flyers on how to get to who's house for all kinds of "parties".

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  5. THAT DUDE - I ONLY WRITE WHAT I SAW...

    THOMAS - YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD...

    GARCON - YOU ARE RIGHT, I AM OUT TRYING TO BASH ATLANTA...JUST HOW GO ABOUT CELEBRATING GAY PRIDE...

    JB - I'VE HEARD OF THE SEGRETED PRIDE EVENT...@ THIS POINT I THINK THEY SHOULD BE CALLED BLOCK PARTIES OR SOMETHING...

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  6. Oh Shyte! I have an idea what you're saying, and I do not agree totally simply because I have an better idea of what actual transpires at Pride Celebrations.

    On the other hand I do agree that there are some folks that solict and warrant bad behaviors such as that transpired during Stonewall. Many of the bad apples are not from Atlanta and take their trip there to let their hair down in the worst way, not once entertaining the thought of what "Pride" represents.

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  7. JB WORKED THAT SHIT!!!! I was agreeing with him....I am going next year so I will be judging for myself!

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  8. CHET - I KNOW IT IS A GIVE N' TAKE TYPE OF SITUATION...JUST WISH BETTER THINGS FOR US...

    REGGIE - YOU DO THAT...

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  9. Gayte-keeper it is sad that you even had to add that caveat before this piece. I know I've only been visiting your blog since July, when I first started blogging, but even I know your intent would never be to harm or judge. You are inclusive if nothing else. That is rare in humanity and it was one of the first things I noted about your writing.

    I hope for more from our community as well, but unfortunately the differences and varied perspectives which should give us strength, simply divide us most of the time, especially on a national or international level. We have lost focus; I'm not sure we ever had it. We waste so much valuable time and effort trying to emulate flawed constructs, and we never realize they are holding us back.

    I suppose it is one reason I retired from activism. I was tired of the segregation, the hypocrisy, the smiles on faces, knowing they were there for show. I use the one on one advocacy approach now. It isn't as nearly as fast, and there isn't any guarantee it will change anything, but it is true and honest to my principles and I can always make sure it is inclusive. Maybe I can pass that on. Maybe someone else can use it. Maybe not.

    Anyhow, rambled on way too long. I thought this was a great piece, just wanted you to know that.

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  10. KYLE - YEAH, I KNOW...MY INTENT LIKE YOU SAID IS TO BRING US ALL CLOSER TOGETHER, BUT IN ORDER FOR THAT TO HAPPEN WE HAVE TO FACE SOME HARSH REALITIES...

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  11. I fully understood that you weren't trying to be malicious, but I was simply stating how I felt at that moment. I'm just letting you know that it's not just Atlanta. This is an issue with Black and Gay men and women all over.

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  12. My brother you said it best. And while issues of how black gay men see Pride are probably miscontrued in other cities, it is very evident in Atlanta. Instead of trying to become defensive TDRT, you should try to tell what are the good things that can be noted about Atlanta Pride. After attending my first Black gay pride event in Atlanta, I understand where Gayte is coming from. I think that who are LBGT leaders who were in charge of the SGBA (State of Black Gay America) summit would perhaps reassess the way they advertise and also promote the reasons why pride IS REALLY IMPORTANT, it would change the experience for black gay people who come to Atlanta.

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  13. JAMAR - I THINK IF I WERE YOUNGER I COULD OVERLOOK THE THINGS THAT DIDN'T WORK FOR ME...MAYBE I WILL GIVE IT ANOTHER TRY...

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOICE...

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