Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - Black Lives Matter get police float kicked out of Pride Parade

ben voyonsdonc · 07-05-2016, 02:19 PM

I'm of two minds on this one.

I don't know if this was the best method for BLM to accomplish their goals. Backing Toronto Pride into a corner certainly made them sign the document but I don't believe that it reflected particularly well on BLM.

However, I believe that Pride has become a place for politicians to burnish their LGBTQ bona fides and as such, Pride itself has lost an important part of it's raison d'etre - activism. I think that it has become a corporate event that (while a lot of fun) has stripped away much of what Pride is all about.

Pride has a radical history. It was a way to stand up and say we are here, we are queer, and we aren't going away. There is much to celebrate for LGBTQ these days but sadly, there are still large number of LGBTQ who struggle - particular those of colour. QPOC (queer people of colour) face an intersection of race and sexuality and as such, their experience as a member of LGBTQ community is quite a bit different than white members of the LGBTQ. I think it is important that LGBTQ remember that while we have made progress, that progress has been much slower for many members of our community.

07-05-2016, 02:19 PM	#98
ben voyonsdonc Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Calgary, AB Exp:	I'm of two minds on this one. I don't know if this was the best method for BLM to accomplish their goals. Backing Toronto Pride into a corner certainly made them sign the document but I don't believe that it reflected particularly well on BLM. However, I believe that Pride has become a place for politicians to burnish their LGBTQ bona fides and as such, Pride itself has lost an important part of it's raison d'etre - activism. I think that it has become a corporate event that (while a lot of fun) has stripped away much of what Pride is all about. Pride has a radical history. It was a way to stand up and say we are here, we are queer, and we aren't going away. There is much to celebrate for LGBTQ these days but sadly, there are still large number of LGBTQ who struggle - particular those of colour. QPOC (queer people of colour) face an intersection of race and sexuality and as such, their experience as a member of LGBTQ community is quite a bit different than white members of the LGBTQ. I think it is important that LGBTQ remember that while we have made progress, that progress has been much slower for many members of our community. Last edited by ben voyonsdonc; 07-05-2016 at 02:24 PM.