we even have gay pride parades in Alabama

This is the parade that the mayor of Birmingham threatened to stop, only to relent after meeting with state Rep. Patricia Todd, the first openly gay member of the state legislature.

The parade was this past Saturday.

I think some people got the wrong idea, when, not too long ago, I posted criticism of exceedingly lewd behavior by some parade-goers in certain very big cities. I got an exceedingly vile PM from one DU'er, who shall remain nameless, because of that criticism. My only point was that such excessively lewd displays, in the long run, hurt the fight for equal rights for members of the GLBT community.

In truth, I'm proud that an event like this can peacefully take place in, of all places, Birmingham. We've all come a long way... and this was in fact, the 20th Annual Central Alabama Pride celebration!

I wanted to include some of the photos in this post, but I can't figure out how. Here's the link to the "gallery."

http://www.al.com/birminghamnews/photos/gallery.ssf?cgi-bin/view_gallery.cgi/bama/view_gallery.ata?g_id=4959

...now you need to get an Order of The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.

That's when you can officially call your city "out of the closet".

Thanks for the offer, though. :)

The Sisters are a wonderful group who do lots of things on behalf of the GLBT community:

But they're kind of nasty too, aren't they? I admit I saw it on Fox, but do they really go around disrupting church services? They had video. They seemed like a-holes.

EDIT: That's two different "they"'s. :)

...of free speech.

If one does not agree, one has every right to. But, that doesn't mean they have to stop speaking.

I just think they're a fun group.

I probably didn't spell that right.

I've got no problem with the Sisters. :hi:

...it's time for an Order of The Sisters to open up!

That's all.

:hi:

Granted, I'm just going on what you said. If they're standing outside the service, on public property (not on the church's lot) and protesting, then more power to them. However, if they're coming inside and disrupting, it's infringing on others' right to free speech - or rather, right to controlled speech.

Forgive me if I'm representing what they do correctly.

Should I judge the whole Democratic Party based on the fanatics of Lyndon LaRouche, or the more extreme anticts of some Clinton supporters from this last presidential primary?

I should know that if it's on Fox, it's going to be twisted.

Perhaps our state is becoming enlightened enough to go BLUE!

I don't think we will actually go blue this year, but with heavy black and youth turnouts, it could be a lot closer than expected. At least I hope so!

'exceedingly lewd behavior' and 'excessively lewd displays' -- you seem to boil down 'big city' gay pride parades to your own interpretation
of events.

you sound fearful of both sex and large urban areas.


gay pride has happened in large and small communities across the country for a long time -- and they reflect local flavor.

but i object to your descriptions of our 'big city' parades -- and continue to find your posts on the subject offensive.

Vanilla-izing gay culture is not - and must never be - a requirement for equality. There are few things I find more offensive than people - gay or not - trying to dictate to me and mine what behavior is "acceptable" in order for us to get our basic civil rights.

As long as gun-toting, NASCAR-loving, bible-thumpers are allowed to breed, I don't want to hear one fucking word about what a "disgrace" drag queens and leather daddies are.

how about refering to the Sisters as rather nasty?

there's some real horseshit going on here.

I'm not even religious. But it doesn't seem very nice to me.

churches have treated gay people.

I love sex. And I love big cities. But I draw the line at going to see "Sex And The City." :P

As I pointed out with pride, this particular event is in its twentieth year.

I'm ashamed of Birmingham's mayor, Larry Langford, an African-American, by the way, for wanting to discriminate against a group of people. He, of all people, should know better.

And I'm proud of Patricia Todd for stepping up to teach the mayor the error of his ways.

I'm proud of this event. I'm proud that it happened in the streets of Birmingham. I'm proud of all my gay friends and relatives, the ones that attended, and those that only watched it on the news, or read about it in the newspapers.

I'm proud of the evolution that our society, that my state, has taken over the last ten, twenty, thirty years.

I'm proud of a political party that has seen the political battle that has taken place between a woman and an African-American man.

And I'm proud that an African-American man will represent my hopes and wishes in this campaign.

I hope with all my heart that man will be elected President of the United States Of America.

I long for the day that all people will be considered equal, regardless of race, gender or sexual orientation.

And we are closer to that day than ever. I rejoice!

And so should you.

because from my point of view -- you're giving off very conflicting statements.

but precedent from other threads -- gives more weight to being skeptical of your 'love'.

That's very nice of you.