My views on the Pride March

I shall clarify my reasons as to not being interested in the Pride March over the following paragraphs.

People (not just you Luke, a few) imply that I come across as somewhat closed-minded for not attending the Pride March, having never been. I have concluded that it is not my ‘thing’ and have reached this decision without experiencing it first-hand: yes.

However, I put this down to their (Feast’s) communication tools. These tools are used to attract consumers to their product – in this instance, attendees to their event. The way the attempts have affected me is to see the march as being a small-town Mardi Gras. The Mardi Gras comes across as a festival of sex; sexual innuendoes; bears in leather; twinks in hot-pants; dykes on bikes: stereotypes.

I’m not particularly closed to these types of people. They can do as they please. That’s entirely their right. I just feel that when used to create awareness of the gay community it’s entirely counter-productive. The whole spectacle puts the community in the light of being about the aforementioned stereotypes.

I understand the meaning of the march and Feast as a whole. We’ve come far: yes. We deserve to be treated as equals: yes.

Overall, I think my views here reflect the power of promotion. Here is an example:

If a restaurant presents itself a certain way (serving Italian food), one sets expectations (to consume Italian food) and will only be satisfied if those expectations are met or exceeded (they actually get Italian food). After being effected by the communications tools that Feast have used for the march I expect it to be about the stereotype I have explained. And sure, we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover but a lot of my decision-making-process has become moot as my mind has been made up for me, so to speak.