Thousands march for gay pride

**plasty** · 06-25-12 at 06:23 AM

Thousands march for gay pride in San Francisco

Loud sirens, flashing lights and countless rainbow flags and banners accompanied uniformed police officers, cheerleaders and politicians who marched in San Francisco's gay pride parade Sunday, the 42nd year the city has celebrated the lesbian, gay and transgender community.

Niki Ryan (left) applies lipstick for her niece Brenna Ryan as they
wait for the start of San Francisco's 42nd annual gay pride parade

More than 200 floats made their way down Market Street, the city's main thoroughfare. A few marchers were dressed in elaborate, brightly colored outfits made from balloons, while many other participants and parade watchers wore hardly anything.
Angel Nava, 19, of Sacramento, Calif., wearing just a pair of skimpy orange-colored shorts, stood with his arms crossed, apparently chilled, but still in good humor.
"I think all these people are beautiful," he said.
Mayor Ed Lee was set to speak at the city's Civic Center— near the parade's end-point — later Sunday. He'll appear not far from where gay rights activist and San Francisco City Supervisor Harvey Milk famously addressed gay pride celebrants more than 30 years ago.

Organizers said San Francisco's weekend events are the largest LGBT gathering in the nation, but thousands were also celebrating in Chicago and New York City, where parade-goers are toasting the anniversary of the state's same-sex marriage law.
In Chicago, large crowds gathered on the city's North Side, with many saying it was time for Illinois to allow gay marriage. Sunday's parade comes just weeks after 25 Illinois couples sued for the right to marry.
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez have refused to defend the lawsuit, saying the state's gay marriage ban violates the constitution. Gay marriage opponents have said they're strategizing over how to intervene.
Last year, several floats were vandalized before the parade began. Chicago police said there have been no reports of trouble.
New York's march exuded diversity, from grand marshal Cyndi Lauper to the mayor, the police commissioner and the governor.
"New York is a place where you can do whatever you want to do," Mayor Michael Bloomberg declared before he joined the Fifth Avenue parade at noon.
He said he had a message for the rest of America: "The government should get out of your personal life."

Hundreds of thousands of spectators crowded sidewalks a dozen deep, cheering and waving rainbow-colored flags for the annual festivities one year after New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the Marriage Equality Act into law.
The governor appeared Sunday with his girlfriend, Food Network chef Sandra Lee.
City Council Speaker Christine Quinn came as a newlywed, married last month to longtime partner Kim Catullo.
"A year ago, I was walking with my fiancee," Quinn said. "Today, I'm marching with my wife, my father and the mayor."
San Francisco's parade came a day after a smaller march in the city's Dolores Park and the so-called "Pink Saturday" street party.
Former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown waved as he rode by in a yellow convertible. A jail bus, adorned with rainbow banners, blared its siren and flashed its lights.
The Gay Asian Pacific Alliance, LGBT for Obama, Out4 Immigration and Marriage Equality USA were among the marchers. Two men, marching hand-in-hand and waving a sign that read "Frank and Joe, 12 Years Together," received a warm cheer from the crowded sidewalks.
Jeff Haas said he and his wife, Susie, have been coming to watch the parade since 1968, missing only a few years in between.
"I'm really proud of the city and I think it's wonderful that we continue to celebrate this," Susie Haas said.

San Francisco, Calif. on Sunday, June 24, 2012

Code: Select All

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-06-24/gay-pride-lgbt/55798838/1?csp=34news

**L1b3rta** · 06-25-12 at 06:37 AM

Good on them. The more states join with allowing same sex marriage, the better. It's still absolutely ridiculous that so many groups of people (mostly the group that we are forbidden to talk about on the forum) deny those people from enjoying the same rights as the rest, under the notion that being gay is a "psychological thing", while it has been proven over & over that it is genetic related.

**tomandsusan** · 06-25-12 at 07:19 AM

Ya know, I can actually understand a woman being a lesbian but someone liking a trip up the old dirt road goes beyond my comprehension---------but I try to be open minded!

**L1b3rta** · 06-25-12 at 07:23 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by tomandsusan

Ya know, I can actually understand a woman being a lesbian but someone liking a trip up the old dirt road goes beyond my comprehension---------but I try to be open minded!

One word: enema.

SoupDude · 06-25-12 at 11:35 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by L1b3rta

One word: enema.

I've heard that some gay men take muscle relaxants for...er...you know. That's what I heard, though. I could be wrong about that. But yeah, good for them. If someone's gay, then they're just gay. I see no problem with that. Sad that others seem to make one out of it, however.

**MacFalic** · 06-25-12 at 02:06 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by L1b3rta

Good on them. The more states join with allowing same sex marriage, the better. It's still absolutely ridiculous that so many groups of people (mostly the group that we are forbidden to talk about on the forum) deny those people from enjoying the same rights as the rest, under the notion that being gay is a "psychological thing", while it has been proven over & over that it is genetic related.

I really hate to be the one to proffer correction, it is however necessary.
Generally I have no problem with your statement. Even though I am in the group to which you allude.

The problem is the statement re: Genetics
It has in no way, ever, been proven, shown, or seriously proposed, that homosexuality is caused by Genetic Makeup.

What has been proven, and shown, is that a person may be born with genetically created\caused gender confusion. i.e. that person with more characteristics other than ones actual sex(or those society defines as same). Opinion follows: Homosexuality is a learned condition. If you start with said confusion, it is easier to assimilate the idea one is born with the wrong physical sex. It does not produce the condition where one chooses emotional tie to\for the same gender. It just makes it easier. People usually fill the role society chooses. If a man is\has feminine characteristics, his societal group may deem him homosexual. He may then decide if they are right or not and whether to fill that role or not. Society can be extremely harsh in its judgments. Those that choose gender reassignment surgery are still the sex DNA made them. (Those that are born hermaphrodites are also the result of genetics.)

In ones arguments it is necessary to make sure ones statements are mostly accurate to prevent dismissal of the whole. Particularly when talking about such a volatile subject.

p.s. The preceding is one of my most poorly worded posts. Please excuse and try to understand my meaning despite same.

**L1b3rta** · 06-25-12 at 02:53 PM

^
Am not entirely sure what your point was (maybe I'll be able to interpret it better tomorrow after a good night's rest), but FWIW;

Genes do definitely play a role regarding ones sexual orientation but are not the sole cause for the anomaly:

Quote:

A host of studies since the mid-1990s have found common biological traits between gay men, including left-handedness and the direction of hair whorls. The likelihood that if one identical twin is gay, the other will be also be gay is much higher than the "concordance" of homosexuality between fraternal twins, indicating that genes play a role in sexual orientation, but are not the entire cause.

And (what I initially meant) that the root of homosexuality is biologically related and definitely not psychologically (therefore definitely not "learned"):

Quote:

While sexual behaviour may be chosen, the preponderance of researchers say attraction is dictated by biology, with no demonstrated contribution from social factors such as parenting or other factors after birth.

Code: Select All

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/dec/01/homosexuality-genetics-usa

Valid_Username · 06-25-12 at 03:07 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by MacFalic

I really hate to be the one to proffer correction

No you don't... You love it!

Quote: Originally Posted by MacFalic

It has in no way, ever, been proven, shown, or seriously proposed, that homosexuality is caused by genetic make up.

I agree on that point though, I'm not at all convinced that's true.

I've known a few lezzers in my time (as you do) that seemed to be the direct product of childhood abuse, I think by their mothers in most cases.
It would be a hell of a coincidence that it was purely genetic, although I'm also not proposing that all homosexuality is the result of abuse!

Anyway, that aside... It's difficult to understand why a lot of people go out of their way to be so deeply offended about two people wanting to be together, when it's absolutely nothing to do with them and doesn't (or shouldn't) affect them in any way.
It's not contagious as far as I know.

You also have to love the idea that if you persecute gay people, make their lives enough of a misery and keep them outside of 'THE ESTABLISHMENT', it might somehow discourage them from being gay.
Doesn't seem to have worked so far.

Adanaliyik · 06-25-12 at 03:16 PM

Way to put it where it belongs L1b3rta. You can teach someone how to dress or how to act in public. You can even tell them what you think their sexual orientation should be. But, you cannot teach someone to like something they don't like. And, you can't teach them to be attracted to people they don't find attractive.

Homosexuality comes down to being attracted to members of the same sex. Not down to tolerating them. Not down to sharing their viewpoints. Just down to finding them sexually attractive, and no one can teach you who to feel sexually attracted to. It's a purely chemical and biological reaction.

:)

Editors Note: Although not gay, my wife's attraction for me meets the same criteria. All the chemicals she must have taken when she was younger screwed up her biology so much she actually thinks I'm handsome despite all of society's teaching that refer to people like me as Dog Ugly (no offense Dog!) Q.E.D.

**Visual_Paradox** · 06-25-12 at 04:10 PM

i am SO for gay rights :)

**MacFalic** · 06-25-12 at 04:40 PM

First and foremost, I am not so much against homosexuality, as against the public show(as in the parade) that throws in ones face what should remain private. I do not open my sexual practices(!@#%$^&*!@) (sorry my hand just turned on me)), to the public, I do not appreciate when others not only insist I recognize but show graphic examples of theirs.

As for the rest, this is indeed a touchy subject so let me just agree to disagree. I don't believe any of us will change our belief through argument.

Adanaliyik · 06-26-12 at 01:33 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Visual_Paradox

i am SO for gay rights :)

Bisexual rights yes... But in cases like this, we should never allow them to be totally gay...

:)

**tomandsusan** · 06-26-12 at 05:05 AM

You would have thought Anomander would have been there! Wait a minute, that may be him in the white shorts next to the furry!

**L1b3rta** · 06-26-12 at 05:37 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by tomandsusan

You would have thought Anomander would have been there! Wait a minute, that may be him in the white shorts next to the furry!

Only to mingle with the crowd and eventually get to the women.

06-25-12 at 02:06 PM	#6
MacFalic Sleeps with Kuune Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Land of Cunning Sheep Posts: 847	Quote: Originally Posted by L1b3rta Good on them. The more states join with allowing same sex marriage, the better. It's still absolutely ridiculous that so many groups of people (mostly the group that we are forbidden to talk about on the forum) deny those people from enjoying the same rights as the rest, under the notion that being gay is a "psychological thing", while it has been proven over & over that it is genetic related. I really hate to be the one to proffer correction, it is however necessary. Generally I have no problem with your statement. Even though I am in the group to which you allude. The problem is the statement re: Genetics It has in no way, ever, been proven, shown, or seriously proposed, that homosexuality is caused by Genetic Makeup. What has been proven, and shown, is that a person may be born with genetically created\caused gender confusion. i.e. that person with more characteristics other than ones actual sex(or those society defines as same). Opinion follows: Homosexuality is a learned condition. If you start with said confusion, it is easier to assimilate the idea one is born with the wrong physical sex. It does not produce the condition where one chooses emotional tie to\for the same gender. It just makes it easier. People usually fill the role society chooses. If a man is\has feminine characteristics, his societal group may deem him homosexual. He may then decide if they are right or not and whether to fill that role or not. Society can be extremely harsh in its judgments. Those that choose gender reassignment surgery are still the sex DNA made them. (Those that are born hermaphrodites are also the result of genetics.) In ones arguments it is necessary to make sure ones statements are mostly accurate to prevent dismissal of the whole. Particularly when talking about such a volatile subject. p.s. The preceding is one of my most poorly worded posts. Please excuse and try to understand my meaning despite same. Last edited by MacFalic; 06-25-12 at 02:28 PM.

06-25-12 at 02:53 PM	#7
L1b3rta Guru Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 6,002	^ Am not entirely sure what your point was (maybe I'll be able to interpret it better tomorrow after a good night's rest), but FWIW; Genes do definitely play a role regarding ones sexual orientation but are not the sole cause for the anomaly: Quote: A host of studies since the mid-1990s have found common biological traits between gay men, including left-handedness and the direction of hair whorls. The likelihood that if one identical twin is gay, the other will be also be gay is much higher than the "concordance" of homosexuality between fraternal twins, indicating that genes play a role in sexual orientation, but are not the entire cause. And (what I initially meant) that the root of homosexuality is biologically related and definitely not psychologically (therefore definitely not "learned"): Quote: While sexual behaviour may be chosen, the preponderance of researchers say attraction is dictated by biology, with no demonstrated contribution from social factors such as parenting or other factors after birth. Code: Select All http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/dec/01/homosexuality-genetics-usa

06-25-12 at 06:37 AM	#2
L1b3rta Guru Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 6,002	Good on them. The more states join with allowing same sex marriage, the better. It's still absolutely ridiculous that so many groups of people (mostly the group that we are forbidden to talk about on the forum) deny those people from enjoying the same rights as the rest, under the notion that being gay is a "psychological thing", while it has been proven over & over that it is genetic related.

06-25-12 at 07:19 AM	#3
tomandsusan Guru Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Never Never Land Posts: 5,750	Ya know, I can actually understand a woman being a lesbian but someone liking a trip up the old dirt road goes beyond my comprehension---------but I try to be open minded!

06-25-12 at 07:23 AM	#4
L1b3rta Guru Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 6,002	Quote: Originally Posted by tomandsusan Ya know, I can actually understand a woman being a lesbian but someone liking a trip up the old dirt road goes beyond my comprehension---------but I try to be open minded! One word: enema.

06-25-12 at 11:35 AM	#5
SoupDude Newcomer Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 92	Quote: Originally Posted by L1b3rta One word: enema. I've heard that some gay men take muscle relaxants for...er...you know. That's what I heard, though. I could be wrong about that. But yeah, good for them. If someone's gay, then they're just gay. I see no problem with that. Sad that others seem to make one out of it, however.

06-25-12 at 03:07 PM	#8
Valid_Username Expert Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: UK Posts: 720	Quote: Originally Posted by MacFalic I really hate to be the one to proffer correction No you don't... You love it! Quote: Originally Posted by MacFalic It has in no way, ever, been proven, shown, or seriously proposed, that homosexuality is caused by genetic make up. I agree on that point though, I'm not at all convinced that's true. I've known a few lezzers in my time (as you do) that seemed to be the direct product of childhood abuse, I think by their mothers in most cases. It would be a hell of a coincidence that it was purely genetic, although I'm also not proposing that all homosexuality is the result of abuse! Anyway, that aside... It's difficult to understand why a lot of people go out of their way to be so deeply offended about two people wanting to be together, when it's absolutely nothing to do with them and doesn't (or shouldn't) affect them in any way. It's not contagious as far as I know. You also have to love the idea that if you persecute gay people, make their lives enough of a misery and keep them outside of 'THE ESTABLISHMENT', it might somehow discourage them from being gay. Doesn't seem to have worked so far.

06-25-12 at 03:16 PM	#9
Adanaliyik Master Join Date: May 2012 Location: Turkey Posts: 1,162	Way to put it where it belongs L1b3rta. You can teach someone how to dress or how to act in public. You can even tell them what you think their sexual orientation should be. But, you cannot teach someone to like something they don't like. And, you can't teach them to be attracted to people they don't find attractive. Homosexuality comes down to being attracted to members of the same sex. Not down to tolerating them. Not down to sharing their viewpoints. Just down to finding them sexually attractive, and no one can teach you who to feel sexually attracted to. It's a purely chemical and biological reaction. :) Editors Note: Although not gay, my wife's attraction for me meets the same criteria. All the chemicals she must have taken when she was younger screwed up her biology so much she actually thinks I'm handsome despite all of society's teaching that refer to people like me as Dog Ugly (no offense Dog!) Q.E.D.

06-25-12 at 04:10 PM	#10
Visual_Paradox Professional Russian Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Пулковское Posts: 2,055	i am SO for gay rights :)

06-25-12 at 04:40 PM	#11
MacFalic Sleeps with Kuune Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Land of Cunning Sheep Posts: 847	First and foremost, I am not so much against homosexuality, as against the public show(as in the parade) that throws in ones face what should remain private. I do not open my sexual practices(!@#%$^&*!@) (sorry my hand just turned on me)), to the public, I do not appreciate when others not only insist I recognize but show graphic examples of theirs. As for the rest, this is indeed a touchy subject so let me just agree to disagree. I don't believe any of us will change our belief through argument.

06-26-12 at 01:33 AM	#12
Adanaliyik Master Join Date: May 2012 Location: Turkey Posts: 1,162	Quote: Originally Posted by Visual_Paradox i am SO for gay rights :) Bisexual rights yes... But in cases like this, we should never allow them to be totally gay... :)

06-26-12 at 05:05 AM	#13
tomandsusan Guru Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Never Never Land Posts: 5,750	You would have thought Anomander would have been there! Wait a minute, that may be him in the white shorts next to the furry!

06-26-12 at 05:37 AM	#14
L1b3rta Guru Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 6,002	Quote: Originally Posted by tomandsusan You would have thought Anomander would have been there! Wait a minute, that may be him in the white shorts next to the furry! Only to mingle with the crowd and eventually get to the women.