I’m not sure where to begin in trying to figure this one out. Here’s an excerpt from the Boston Herald story about the “happy day in Boston”:
“The Outvets Honor Guard, an organization of LGBTQ veterans, marched at the front of the more than three-hour-long parade and drew some of the loudest cheers.
“The support is fantastic, it’s great when everyone comes out to support the Outvets,” Keith Bruneau, 50, told the Herald during the parade. “We served our country just like anyone else did. It’s nice to be recognized for the servicemen and -women that we are and not for anything else in our lives.”
Bruneau, a Chelsea resident who served in the U.S. Air Force from 1990-1994, added, “it just feels good to be recognized for the service we gave to this country.”
This excerpt seems to suggest the so-called “Outvets” harbor feelings that they were not honored for their service separately for their unique status as gay warriors. It further would seem that they somehow were not recognized because they were gay and only straight military veterans were.
This raises a suspicion that whatever endeavor gays might be engaged in and whatever their accomplishment might be, there is a sense of entitlement that they be recognized, not only for their success, but for achieving it AND being gay!
I thought this “movement” was all about “equality”. Reminds one of John Edwards’ “Two Americas” meme.
Dancing at the foot of Vesuvius
And for your political/cultural critique this photo credited to Chris Christo in the Boston Herald
Tell me now, what gay person wouldn’t be bursting with pride to be seen marching with this crowd? Close if revolting examination shows a man in a bikini (center photo).
This is one of Boston’s “… happiest celebrations we have,” Mayor Martin J. Walsh said. “Everyone is happy, the people watching it, the people in the parade, this is just one of those nice days in Boston — and to show our pride for the LGTBQ community means even more.” (italics ours)
As Vladimir Putin might put it…”the people of Boston must have boring (and
very unhappy) lives.”
As a member of apparently one of the newest oppressed minority groups…the Straight Community, I’ve been waiting patiently for the national declaration of “Straight Pride Month”!
Unless, of course, it turned into as undignified, embarrassing, vulgar spectacle as these “celebrations”.
Tens of thousands turn out for happy day in Boston
Tens of thousands of Hub-area residents decked out in colorful costumes and waving rainbow flags marched through the streets of Boston in celebration of love and inclusivity during the 47th annual Boston Pride Parade and Festival.
“Pride Parade is probably one of the happiest celebrations we have,” Mayor Martin J. Walsh said. “Everyone is happy, the people watching it, the people in the parade, this is just one of those nice days in Boston — and to show our pride for the LGTBQ community means even more.”
Organizers estimated as many as 30,000 marchers made the two-mile trek from Copley Square to City Hall Plaza as more than 500,000 cheering, singing and dancing spectators lined the streets on a hot, sun-drenched afternoon.
We do note that the credulous figures presented as to attendance were “organizers estimates” so in their case, discounting substantially for that and that many attendees are probably there more to gawk than to celebrate — even with a few hundred participants and a few thousand intermittent spectators the normalization marches on.
DLH
Perhaps a new military ribbon is long overdue — a rainbow ribbon – “won” by virtue of identifying as gay or transgender. Not a “mere” add-on for valor or outstanding service, as an oak leaf cluster, but just being gay or transgender. Sort of everyone gets a trophy but LGTBQ get a special additional trophy. The so-called transgender (genetic male to “female” ) who out outperforms genetic females in physical performance categories not only rates his award for besting genetic females, he gets the pink ribbon.