Was there a educational seminar on the "gay gene" at this event?

"I never found it advertised in any major publication."

Maybe no one bought ad space.

Donald, it is fairly well known that GLBT people are still considered the modern-day leper. This is so even with the strides made in tolerance/acceptance.

And we both also know that the Triad area news media does not deal with Gay Pride events. Rather, it is more important to report on the Hog Calling Day in Spivey's Corner or Mule Days in Benson!

We all know that those things are older and been around MUCH longer than GLBT people!

Keep the faith Donald and become a one-person advertiser. Had I known, I would have been present with friends/allies!

Shalom

I'm sure Larry Craig will send his apologies for not attending.

What exactly is to be proud of?

hugh, people like Larry Craig only hurt the acceptance of GLBT people in our society. People like he, Richard Chamberlin, Rock Hudson, et. al. are NOT good examples of GLBT people!

nit, to focus on the "pride" aspect is to not comprehend what is sought.

The focus is about acceptance and self-worth, regardless of what others may think/say. These events are to show society that we are real people (some that may not even be known) who are your neighbors, co-workers, fellow congregants, etc.

For people to not care about how different people in our society are repressed is a tragedy in and of itself. To make comments such as some of the above, is an even worse crime.

I carry shame for my actions in bygone days. Yet, today I am thankful for seeing and correcting the error of my ways. Would that others do likewise.

Shalom

So free speech and not caring about repressed gays is a 'crime' now?

Who exactly passed the law making August 25 'gay pride day'. Sorry, but just stating such does not make it so. In fact, August 25th is Nitpicker day. Since Gay Pride Month is in June, don't you think it's kinda silly to put gay pride day in August?

I don't think the problem is that I'm not comprehending "what is sought". I think the problem is at best a misnomer. If you just want people to be aware that you exist, call it Gay People Awareness Day.

Any group that has to have a parade to bolster their self-worth needs professional help.

As far as awareness goes, you said it. Gay people are my neighbors and co-workers. I'm plenty enough aware of them without needing a parade.

If you want to celebrate something, celebrate something worthy of being celebrated. Being gay or being black is not much of an achievement.

There is a HUGE difference between tolerance and acceptance. I tolerate just about anything as long as it doesn't infringe on my rights and liberties. However, I'll never accept homosexuality as anything more than a perverse lifestyle with ruinous consequences.

Seems kind of silly to base one's personal identity on one's sexual behavior.

It also seems kind of silly to demand to be "respected" by others because of that sexual behavior.

Amen Christopher, the gay folks I know don't attend parades to flout their sexuality nor do they demand respect solely on the basis of their sexual orientation. Nor are they "repressed". They just live their daily lives with the ups and downs that the rest of us experience.

Quit playing the victimhood card Darryl & Mr. Miller, it's boring.

If you want to advertise your event, then buy ad space like anyone else. Look in the N&R or Rhino Times, people advertise their events all the time.

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Dan,
What about Gay adoption? Do you support that? If not, why? Do you think a gay couple should have legal rights as heterosexuals do--meaning inheritance, child custody, etc.? If not, then why not?
You said, in addition to "Amen", that
" the gay folks I know don't attend parades to flout their sexuality nor do they demand respect solely on the basis of their sexual orientation."

Dan, I understand how that must threaten you, but do you disparage African Americans who marched for civil rights in the same way? Do you disparage African Americans who have pride parades and want to show it, and build more pride in their culture?
I am not black, nor am I a homosexual, so I cannot imagine how they must feel when people relegate them to second class status based on their race or sexual orientation. Are you black or homosexual? If not, then at least enlighten us to how you formed your "family values". Are you threatened by gay people?
Your comments are very much like the comments made by Larry Craig, Ted Haggard, Mark Foley and others who have been on the forefront of "conservative" values. Like you and many others, they can't seem to get past the fact that homosexuals have been around forever and if God made you, then she made them too. Of course there's always the "Pray the Gay Away Jesus Camps" for the intellectually challenged.

Welcome back!

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Dan,
Thought of you when I saw this story:

http://video.msn.com/v/us/msnbc.htm?f=00&g=93badde4-9ece-485e-baff-629b38cc2b35&p=Source_Nightly%20News&t=m5&rf=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/&fg=

More of those "family values" Republicans terrorizing people making a "Legal" decision. Of course Larry Craig is Pro-life! LOL!

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Thanks for the welcome back Demon Deacon. I've actually been back for a week but have been too busy catching up on work to even think of posting on this site.

"but do you disparage African Americans who marched for civil rights in the same way?"

If you recall, blacks had to drink from separate water fountains, attend separate schools and ride in a different part of the bus. Gays don't have to do that.

I have never called blacks "African Americans" any more than I call myself "Irish American".

"Are you threatened by gay people?"

Nope, I have several friends and a nephew and cousin who are gay. We all get along just fine. As I said, none of them attend gay parades to flout their homosexuality just as I don't attend parades to flout my heterosexuality or anything else for that matter..

"Do you think a gay couple should have legal rights as heterosexuals do--meaning inheritance, child custody, etc.?"

I've said it before many times, no problem with civil unions and legal rights. However I consider marriage between one man and one woman.

The funny thing is.....I just spent two weeks in Africa. I saw many, many beautiful people and many, many beautiful sights. I saw people living in huts, I saw 30 kids sitting on the dirt in a primitive school, I saw a woman creating methane from cow dung to cook her food. I had orphans flocking all over me in appreciation for bringing them school supplies and toys. I saw a tribe living in stick huts with their cows, and wealth is measured by how many cows one owns.

We spent a night drinking beer, sitting on the porch, and talking to a couple guys who worked at one of the lodges where we stayed. They were grateful that we actually spent some time talking with them.

Yet they were all happy.

When we arrived at Amsterdam for the flight back to the US, I saw an American woman bitching and complaining that she couldn't take her water bottle through security.

Welcome back to American thinking.

My perspective has changed a bit. I've always been rather intolerant to bitching, whining, and complaining, but even more so at this point.

When Darryl is whining about "repression" I think of Samuel, a five year old orphan who begged me to pick him up. When I did so, he said "thank you" and gave me a hug. He was so very grateful to have a pencil and some notebook paper.

Go visit Africa, you will see that 90% of the stuff we bitch about is inconsequential.

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Dan,
Glad for your post. From it I glean hope!
You are well on your way to becoming an open minded person, or as some say, a "liberal". Why? Because of your traveling to other countries and seeing abject poverty! While you were away, my family worked on a Habitat House for a muslim family. It keeps one from becoming so myopic and will probably keep you from bitching as much about taxes like you do. neocon has called me "World Traveler" because of a post I made years ago saying that traveling made a person more open, and appreciative, thus making them more open minded. Your post is proof of that! we have nothing to complain about in this country when compared to the suffering throughout the world.
Good to have you back!

~

Wow, never realized I was a victim, at least not of homosexuality! I have been an accident and assault victim though; is that similar?

nit regarding this statement; "Any group that has to have a parade to bolster their self-worth needs professional help." Would you like to tell the veterans that on Memorial or Veteran's Day? How about Christians? Be careful what you ask for, you may get it!

I pity those who have eyes and yet cannot see; ears and yet cannot hear. May they find grace in their time of need when they have refused it for others.

Shalom

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Darryl,
Good response to ignorant post by Nitprick. :)

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It seems that "nitpicker" might have the

Senator Larry Craig virus!!

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