Nenshi to lead gay pride parade

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by SeeGeeWhy

Well, Bash Toronto all you want but they had 1 million people show up for the pride parade. Will Calgary get 20% of their greater metro area out for this year?

I really dislike how somehow support and attendance of a pride parade is supposed to be a guage of acceptance of the gay community. I have no trouble supporting initiatives to bring more equality to the gay community and in my heart of hearts I accept gay and lesbian people on the same terms and merits as any other people I encounter. I support the 'Morgan Freeman' philosophy that sometimes these things actually create social constructs that can be used to be divisive. I'm sure there are legions of gay and lesbian people that hate that the overt sexuality of pride parades in a lot of ways shape other's opinions of them as opposed to all the other qualities they possess that are not tied to sexual identity.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

I really dislike how somehow support and attendance of a pride parade is supposed to be a guage of acceptance of the gay community. I have no trouble supporting initiatives to bring more equality to the gay community and in my heart of hearts I accept gay and lesbian people on the same terms and merits as any other people I encounter. I support the 'Morgan Freeman' philosophy that sometimes these things actually create social constructs that can be used to be divisive. I'm sure there are legions of gay and lesbian people that hate that the overt sexuality of pride parades in a lot of ways shape other's opinions of them as opposed to all the other qualities they possess that are not tied to sexual identity.

Sometimes I think that the gay pride parades actually feed the stereotypes of the anti gay crowd.

I just don't get how guys running around naked with dog collars around their neck, or with a$$less chaps helps, if anything it keeps people away from the Gay Pride parades especially those members of the next generation who are going to need to be even more accepting.

I went to the gay pride parade in Toronto because my girlfriend at the time really wanted to see it, and to be honest some of the more overt acts of sexuallity even made me uncomfortable, and not in the I'm uncomfortable and need to understand this.

More along the lines of why do you have a naked guy wearing leather straps wearing a dog mask crawling around on all fours at your feet kind of uncomfortable?

I think that there is a group of militant gays who's only goal in life is to kind of keep the stereotype alive of a pervese lifestyle because it allows them to keep fighting.

[CarlW]

Originally Posted by SeeGeeWhy

Well, Bash Toronto all you want but they had 1 million people show up for the pride parade. Will Calgary get 20% of their greater metro area out for this year?

Why would this even matter? for example I don't attend normal parades, so why go out of my way to attend this one? doesn't mean I'm against "the gays and lesbians".

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I think that there is a group of militant gays who's only goal in life is to kind of keep the stereotype alive of a pervese lifestyle because it allows them to keep fighting.

One million people attending a Pride parade is not some 'militant' group of them. Not saying they're all cliche-pushing sterotypes, but perhaps it is that stereotypes that, in addition to the more subtle gay community members, attracts those kind of numbers.

Mind you, people are attracted to colors and moving objects, so maybe a Pride parade is really just satisfying the human need for sensory stimulation for a chunk of them lol . . .

[Thor]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Sometimes I think that the gay pride parades actually feed the stereotypes of the anti gay crowd.

I just don't get how guys running around naked with dog collars around their neck, or with a$$less chaps helps, if anything it keeps people away from the Gay Pride parades especially those members of the next generation who are going to need to be even more accepting.

I went to the gay pride parade in Toronto because my girlfriend at the time really wanted to see it, and to be honest some of the more overt acts of sexuallity even made me uncomfortable, and not in the I'm uncomfortable and need to understand this.

More along the lines of why do you have a naked guy wearing leather straps wearing a dog mask crawling around on all fours at your feet kind of uncomfortable?

I think that there is a group of militant gays who's only goal in life is to kind of keep the stereotype alive of a pervese lifestyle because it allows them to keep fighting.

There's a point where it really should be just a family friendly thing, no more assless chaps and overtly sexual stuff, cause you guys are right its not doing much help to convince those who aren't already on their side.

I mean almost 7 years since Canada passed gay marriage laws, I think the battle is while not over for gays in Canada, its certainly quite acceptable to be gay unless your a ignorant stupid evangelical or redneck, then obviously you need to stfu and die.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Not really a big deal. Politicians of all stripes at all levels have been marching in these things for years. Mayor Nenshi was asked and agreed to it months ago. It's only a story now because of the Toronto Mayor Rob Ford controversy (whom for some reason Nenshi is often contrasted to).

How many PC leadership hopefuls will show up? What about Wildrose leader Danielle Smith?

[Shazam]

Danielle Smith only munches carpet when she's had a couple of drinks.

[Matata]

Hot damn we're progressive. Nenshi may be the first openly gay muslim man to ever be mayor of anything.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by Matata

Hot damn we're progressive. Nenshi may be the first openly gay muslim man to ever be mayor of anything.

Nah, he's the first eunuch Muslim mayor.

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by THE SCUD

I love the racist/bigoted combination of this post and your signature. Tyranny of the majority is A-OKAY!

Oh no, someone has a differing opinion on something and I cant rationally debate the issue so lets call that person a racist/bigot. Michael Moore called, he wants you to return the can of Nutella you borrowed.

Signature, who no, the SCUD thinks everyone should be Euro Trash garbage peace on earth crap. What, this is a 100% exclusive parade designed for one small segment of the population. If there was a parade for single white caucasian men every leftist green peace unicef mofo would be up in arms.

But this, this we should all support because, um why again? People can parade for whatever they want but dont expect me to support it an any way whatsoever, just like I wont support the single mothers parade, the divorced white men parade etc etc etc etc etc.

And referencing a signature, on no your right, in democratic societies with 3 levels of checks and balances your are 100% right, people shouldnt be able to vote for things, we should just elect a group old folks to tell us what is best - wouldnt that be a great world, where the aristocracy decided what was best for us poor plebs here - let me guess your parents are loaded and they bought you a Toyota Tercel which you pimped out with a massive spoiler and a can of NAS.

[Shazam]

There's a single mother parade??

You can get some good tail there.

[Coys1882]

Originally Posted by Bunk

Yes.

For instance, this was Nenshi's Canada Day:

8:15-8:30: Calgary Canada Committee - Seniors' Breakfast
9:00-9:30: Citizenship Ceremony at Fort Calgary
10:00-10:20 Flag Raising Ceremony with the Cub Scouts
11:00-11:20 Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at
12:00-12:20 Canada Day at Prince's Island
1:00-1:30 COP Canadian Sports Hall of Fame Grand Opening
2:30-3:00 East Village Street Fair
7:00-7:30 Canada Day at Olympic Plaza

A four break between 3pm and 7pm? What is he doing with the taxpayer's money??? Get Rick Bell on the line!!

[Weiser Wonder]

Gay pride parades are about celebrating alternative sexuality, everyone is invited. It's true that only around 5% of the population is homosexual, however a majority of people have had homosexual desires in their life. It's about celebrating that aspect of humanity.

[Byrns]

Originally Posted by Coys1882

A four break between 3pm and 7pm? What is he doing with the taxpayer's money??? Get Rick Bell on the line!!

Maybe he was doing his Twitter flame war with the Sun then?

http://www.calgarysun.com/2011/07/05/sun-burned

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by Shazam

There's a single mother parade??

You can get some good tail there.

Yeah, where is this single mother parade?

Also, has anyone heard on the hot-asian-girls-who-don't-speak-english-who-are-looking-for-a-man, parade?

[Shazam]

Hell, I'll settle for the girls-with-tramp-stamps parade.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Shazam

Hell, I'll settle for the girls-with-tramp-stamps parade.

Don't worry, that's what the Stampede is for.

[Coys1882]

Originally Posted by Byrns

Maybe he was doing his Twitter flame war with the Sun then?

http://www.calgarysun.com/2011/07/05/sun-burned

What a joke that is too. The Sun is fearmongering at its best - print media's last grasp at survival.

[driveway]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

Signature, who no, the SCUD thinks everyone should be Euro Trash garbage peace on earth crap. What, this is a 100% exclusive parade designed for one small segment of the population. If there was a parade for single white caucasian men every leftist green peace unicef mofo would be up in arms.

This is the kind of statement that is invariably made by the ignorant. You're a relatively smart guy and you've thought through your position carefully, see if you can spot the difference between a parade designed to celebrate the acceptance and existence of a group of people who have been marginalized, disenfranchised and - in many cases - outright murdered by the general population for thousands of years; and a parade designed to celebrate the group of people who have maintained essentially an absolute monopoly on political, economic and military power for at least the last half-dozen centuries.

There is a damn good reason to protest the 'unmarried, straight white-guy' parade and there is a damn good reason to have a Gay Pride parade.

And OF COURSE their parade is going to be sexual! This is a parade for people who are declared to be different because of who they have sex with! What the hell else are they going to to for their parade?

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by Coys1882

What a joke that is too. The Sun is fearmongering at its best - print media's last grasp at survival.

Nenshi thought they were worth wasting his time with...