Flames at Pride reaction

[PsYcNeT]

mfw "libertarian ideals"

[heep223]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

mfw "libertarian ideals"

Thank you...I felt slightly disappointed that everyone was ignoring that

[chid]

Don't think I've ever seen nudity or even a ton of sexualized outfits at Calgary pride. Toronto, yes. With the weather today I doubt it will be too scantily clad. I've found it is mostly businesses and political parties in the parade handing out rainbow branded paraphernalia with their company logo. I saw more butt cheeks, midriffs, and cleavage at Stampede tbh.

[FlamesAddiction]

The whole "heterosexual pride" argument is hilarious. I don't recall heterosexuals ever having issues where coming out as a heterosexual might affect how they are accepted by others.

The biggest contributor to homophobia is that homosexuality was treated by mainstream society as being forbidden or taboo, to even deviant and morally wrong by some people. People tend to be afraid about things that are "hidden" from plain view. By bringing out in the open, it challenges those perspectives.

There really isn't anything wrong about being a proud heterosexual and displaying that pride publicly has never been an issue. That's why even bringing it up to counter gay pride celebrations is a dead argument.

[jayswin]

The whole "I don't think the Flames should be involved in any parades/events" response when questioned about not wanting them in the Pride parade just reeks of bull****. Sorry to be so blunt, but you can't convince me there's people in here that actually dislike the idea of the Flames going to parades/festivals, simply because you don't want them doing that, or you think they should stick to hockey.

Don't insult the intelligence of the posters here. You're not completely comfortable with the LGBT community, it is what is, but just own it, don't squirm around the issue, trying to show your disdain while pretending it doesn't bother you. It's awkward and silly.

Again, homophobia has become a very damning term and I understand no one wants to think they are or be labelled as such, but it kind of is what it is. I'll post the definition again...a lot of you guys on here and facebook fit this definition, it's unfortunate but you do, and you should reflect on that and hopefully change for the better.

unreasoning fear of or antipathy toward homosexuals and homosexuality.

And I'm not marginalizing or attacking you guys, like you seem to think everyone is. I was homophobic until my early twenties for no other reason than everyone else was too. I'm equally at fault in the discrimination of the LGBT community, but I changed with the times and am disgusted that I was ever anything but completely welcoming and accepting of their community, you can change too.

[craigwd]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Don't insult the intelligence of the posters here. You're not completely comfortable with the LGBT community, it is what is, but just own it, don't squirm around the issue, trying to show your disdain while pretending it doesn't bother you. It's awkward and silly.

I felt the exact same way during the Gay Straight Alliance non-issue that seemed to paralyze the government last year.

[TorqueDog]

If Illuminaughty was a libertarian, they wouldn't give a crap whether the Flames marched in a parade, visited sick kids, or did anything aside from hockey. Given that isn't the case, I'm dubious of the claim.

Possibly unpopular opinion time; Illuminaughty is right to a point; marching in the pride parade is totally different than visiting sick kids.

Curveball time: I think the Flames participating in the Pride and showing support for LGBT equality has a much greater impact and is far more beneficial to society at large than visiting sick and/or terminally ill kids. That doesn't mean I think they should do one over the other, or 'stick to hockey'. Both are important and they should continue to do both if they so desire.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

If Illuminaughty was a libertarian, they wouldn't give a crap whether the Flames marched in a parade, visited sick kids, or did anything aside from hockey. Given that isn't the case, I'm dubious of the claim.

Possibly unpopular opinion time; Illuminaughty is right to a point; marching in the pride parade is totally different than visiting sick kids.

Curveball time: I think the Flames participating in the Pride and showing support for LGBT equality has a much greater impact and is far more beneficial to society at large than visiting sick and/or terminally ill kids. That doesn't mean I think they should do one over the other, or 'stick to hockey'. Both are important and they should continue to do both if they so desire.

Yeah, I wasn't going to touch that one because there's no way to say it without sounding insensitive to sick kids, but in the context of the point they were trying to make, which was to put it simply;

Visiting sick children and supporting the children's hospital saves lives while marching in a pride parade doesn't, so therefore we're okay with the Flames visiting sick kids but would prefer they don't march in parades.

It's ridiculous, and the point I was going to counter with is that yes supporting the children's hospital financially and as a team saves lives, but individual visits of terminally ill children doesn't save lives, it just makes someone's day/life better.

Well guess what? So does the Flames marching in the pride parade, and it's completely ignorant to think otherwise.

[Jbo]

Seeing the comments on the Flames and Stampeders website is disappointing and really makes me feel like this city is not nearly as progressive as we like to think. Actually makes me kind of sad. This strikes me a little closer to home today. Some of the comments about Burke and Jon Cornish were downright savage.

Last night I was out at a scotch tasting night at the Cellar downtown, an event a week before a wedding im going to. Great people, friends and family. Had a blast and made some new friends. The detail that is unimportant? They are two men getting married. But that doesn't change anything. Two people in love and getting married is something to celebrate. This was something awesome, natural and beautiful.

I'm sad that some people still get offended by that. I really am.

[EM11]

Originally Posted by Illuminaughty

That if you have a problem with the flames marching in the gay pride parade, it is solely because you are a homophobe.

That's because you *are* a homophobe when you make this argument. If you are spending a lot of time arguing that you're not a racist, not a sexist, not a homophobe, you are probably the last one to be aware of your big obvious problem.

Proud of the Flames and Brian Burke for their leadership today. It's not 1980 anymore.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Jbo

Seeing the comments on the Flames and Stampeders website is disappointing and really makes me feel like this city is not nearly as progressive as we like to think. Actually makes me kind of sad. This strikes me a little closer to home today. Some of the comments about Burke and Jon Cornish were downright savage.

Haha, speaking of that, I had one of those mild heart sinking moments on youtube the other day. I was watching a viral social experiment video of how Canadians react when a Muslim is mistreated in public.

The racist actor gets berated and eventually punched by some redneck looking guys who stood up for him. Anyways, despite the awfulness of youtube comments I decided to read some on this video and it was actually really nice.

Just comment after comment of Muslims from other countries saying they want to move to Canada and people from all over the world saying how great Canada is and how amazing the people were here when they visited, etc. It was really heart warming and a huge Canada lovefest until....

"Canada is amazing but I heard the city of Calgary is quite difficult to live in as a minority", followed by a couple dozen responses just to that post with support for the idea that Calgary and Alberta aren't very welcoming or friendly for minorities.

My first thought was "of course that would happen while I was enjoying these comments for once", but there's some days I think the idea that Alberta is behind when it comes to equality and acceptance is BS and there's days where I think it's deserved.

[Lanny'sDaMan]

I wasn't gonna post because well this is a really garbage thread and I honestly feel that these complex social issues are best fought in real life and not on some message board, but watching you guys gang up on that dude and call him all kinds of names isn't cool at all. You want to educate him, show him why you feel he's wrong? Rock on. But you sure as faecal matter aren't going to sway his opinion by ganging up on him and calling him a homophobe.

Or put another way, discuss this like rational adults and stop acting like a bunch of mealy mouthed x-box players. You are all exponentially better than this. Grow up.

My 2 cents.

[RougeUnderoos]

Interview today with Burke in the Globe and Mail about the pride parade/this topic. And they don't (or don't on this page) have a comments section!

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...service=mobile

Local organizers are expecting more than 50,000 people to take in the parade. Does that surprise you?

No. I’ve marched four times in Toronto’s gay parade, so I know what this is about. The first I attended was with my son Brendan, who was gay, and we just watched. After we lost him in the car accident [in 2010] I marched the next year. Rick Mercer has marched with me; kids have marched with me; a number of players have marched with me. [Flames players] Mark Giordano and Sean Monahan marched with me last summer. I’ve gotten great support … My goal is that one day we won’t need a parade. But for now, I’m glad we do. Keep in mind: If you’re an average Calgarian and you’re not a member of the LGBTQ community, this is your chance to say, ‘This community is important. These people are important. They matter.’ I think it’s a big day.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Lanny'sDaMan

I wasn't gonna post because well this is a really garbage thread and I honestly feel that these complex social issues are best fought in real life and not on some message board, but watching you guys gang up on that dude and call him all kinds of names isn't cool at all. You want to educate him, show him why you feel he's wrong? Rock on. But you sure as faecal matter aren't going to sway his opinion by ganging up on him and calling him a homophobe.

Or put another way, discuss this like rational adults and stop acting like a bunch of mealy mouthed x-box players. You are all exponentially better than this. Grow up.

My 2 cents.

While the general sentiment is good, it's hard to take you seriously if your method of discouraging name calling is through name calling.

[Lanny'sDaMan]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

While the general sentiment is good, it's hard to take you seriously if your method of discouraging name calling is through name calling.

Yup fair enough. Not that I actually care if anyone takes my silly old ass seriously.

Point is we understandably get very emotional with these kind of topics and then people go off the edge and act like children. Myself included. It's time to have the conversations free of emotion so we can actually effect change going forward.

[Minnie]

Oh dear, calling a homophobe a homophobe. Oh the huge manatee. But no, let's tiptoe around the delicate flower and pat him on the back and just say he's misunderstood. Eff that. Let's not get delicate with the vernacular. Jeebus.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Lanny'sDaMan

Yup fair enough. Not that I actually care if anyone takes my silly old ass seriously.

Point is we understandably get very emotional with these kind of topics and then people go off the edge and act like children. Myself included. It's time to have the conversations free of emotion so we can actually effect change going forward.

Meh, it hasn't been that bad, and nothing changes the minds of ignorant people than an over whelming majority saying "You know what? What you're saying doesn't belong in this day and age".

All homophobic means is that you aren't comfortable with homosexuals. That's what's on display with a few posters in this thread, so calling them homophobic isn't the terrible, degrading attack you think it is. It's just literally what they are.

[Lanny'sDaMan]

Originally Posted by Minnie

Oh dear, calling a homophobe a homophobe. Oh the huge manatee. But no, let's tiptoe around the delicate flower and pat him on the back and just say he's misunderstood. Eff that. Let's not get delicate with the vernacular. Jeebus.

Thank you for proving my point. This does NOTHING to move the conversation forward or to help this fellow see why so many feel his stance is wrong. But you just go ahead and keep up the name calling. That's going to make things SO much better

Originally Posted by jayswin

Meh, it hasn't been that bad, and nothing changes the minds of ignorant people than an over whelming majority saying "You know what? What you're saying doesn't belong in this day and age".

All homophobic means is that you aren't comfortable with homosexuals. That's what's on display with a few posters in this thread, so calling them homophobic isn't the terrible, degrading attack you think it is. It's just literally what they are.

No it's what you have inferred he is. He has said nothing about the LGBT community outside of he feels the Flames shouldn't be in this march. The rest of his views are wholly unknown to us. For the record I am not defending his stance, I just think we can be so much better at educating each other when we are wrong.

[Minnie]

I'm sorry you're too delicate to deal with the fact that calling a homophobe a homophobe is what should happen. Just like calling someone a racist when they're being effing racist is how it goes. Funny how you seemingly have no issue with that word, but oh golly gee whilikers, homophobe is the end of the bloody world. Please. Just please.

[MissTeeks]

Ready to march: