LGB ErasureThe implosion of Boston’s Pride Parade is a sign of things to come

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[–]IridescentAnacondastrictly dickly 29 insightful - 1 fun29 insightful - 0 fun30 insightful - 1 fun -  (9 children)

In Boston, as in other cities, Pride has fractured into several camps. One is made up of those who are happy to see Pride become a blander, more corporate, mass participation institution within America’s ever-expanding civic calendar. The second major bloc is made up of those who seek radicalism for its own sake, and who are desperate to rekindle what they see as the revolutionary origins of Pride. And so if gay rights is no longer radical, they insist, the LGBT movement must pour its energy and resources into causes that offer the possibility of militant politics—such as radical gender movements, the erasure of biological sex, anti-capitalism, demonization of Israel, extreme forms of “anti-racism,” pacifism, and police abolition. Even gays and lesbians, now seen as the “privileged” elite of the LGBT population, are the subject of suspicion, and even animosity.

As a member of the "privileged" elite, I've known for awhile there's a target on my ass. The alphabet soup people don't want my heteronormative lifestyle, and they kinda don't want me to have it either.

Fuck them, I don't want the freak show that LGBTQ+ (where the "+" probably includes MAPs) has become.

The corporate option may be bland but it least it leaves me alone.

[–]hufflepuff-poet 22 insightful - 2 fun22 insightful - 1 fun23 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

The alphabet soup people don't want my heteronormative lifestyle, and they kinda don't want me to have it either.

Fuck them, I don't want the freak show that LGBTQ+ (where the "+" probably includes MAPs) has become.

Such a privileged Western pov, in most of the world--a homosexual couple being able to build a boring "heteronormative" life together is illegal at best and a death sentence at worst.

I just want a boring happy life with my future wife!!! Not to burn down the world and rebuild it in the image of Gender Jesus 🙄

[–]DimDroog 16 insightful - 1 fun16 insightful - 0 fun17 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Such a privileged Western pov, in most of the world--a homosexual couple being able to build a boring "heteronormative" life together is illegal at best and a death sentence at worst.

Extremely privileged!

I like to remind these fucks that LGB people in Iran face a choice of being hung or transitioning.

They get dragged by motorcycles in their beloved Palestine.

INSTEAD of whining about pronouns and girl dick, maybe DO SOMETHING to about that instead!

Donate money to help them immigrate!

[–]DimDroog 18 insightful - 1 fun18 insightful - 0 fun19 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

The goal of any organization seeking "justice" should be the eventual demise of that organization!

I volunteer at a humane society.

I would LOVE it if they were no longer needed!

Would love it if poverty/homeless orgs were no longer needed too!

And if orgs protecting the environment were no longer needed!

You get the picture.

A world full of kindness and justice would mean no more of these would be needed. That's a whole bunch of money gone for the people who work for them.

[–]bopomofodojo 6 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 0 fun7 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

The goal of any organization seeking "justice" should be the eventual demise of that organization!

Exactly, but then the Iron Law of Institutions kicks in and it all goes to hell.

[–]julesburm1891 12 insightful - 2 fun12 insightful - 1 fun13 insightful - 2 fun -  (4 children)

The second major bloc are made up of those who seek radicalism for its own sake

I’m very curious what this lot would do with themselves if they got their way. If Israel was wiped off the map, we had no police, and we all lived on collectivized farms ruled by transwomen of color, what then? Would they still push for “radicalism for its own sake” or would they be happy? (What would radicalism even be in that case?)

[–]IridescentAnacondastrictly dickly 11 insightful - 1 fun11 insightful - 0 fun12 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

Look to Queer Theory for the answer. That answer is "no" because QT always seeks transgression. When the boundaries move, so do the demands.

[–]julesburm1891 9 insightful - 1 fun9 insightful - 0 fun10 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

Yes, but when you hit the limit, what happens? Is the new radical 120 Days of Sodom or is it being a monogamous, Christian capitalist?

[–]IridescentAnacondastrictly dickly 7 insightful - 7 fun7 insightful - 6 fun8 insightful - 7 fun -  (1 child)

Maybe that's what happened to me. My need for transgression was so extreme that I became a religious, monogamous capitalist.

Fuck you imma do what I want ... (checks notes) ... by leading an utterly conservative lifestyle. Take that, Mom & Dad!

[–]julesburm1891 6 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 0 fun7 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I have a friend who grew up with parents who chain-smoked and drank fairly heavily. Her rebellion is that she doesn’t drink or smoke and runs marathons. I suppose we all have that audacious, rebellious spirit here.

[–]DimDroog 19 insightful - 1 fun19 insightful - 0 fun20 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

On June 13th, about a dozen Black Lives Matter activists managed to halt Boston’s annual Pride parade for 11 minutes—

Ah, reminds me of when a BLM activist shut down a memorial to the Pulse nightclub murders!

Piss on you BLM.

And of course this too:

In 2018, another sit-in disrupted the parade, this time under the banner of a group called “No Justice No Pride.” Its members were upset with the involvement of corporate sponsors who had also donated to Republican politicians; the presence of LGBT police officers at the parade; and an invitation that had been extended to the Israeli consulate in Boston, on the claim that Israel used LGBTQ advocacy as a means “to distract from their human rights abuses towards the Palestinian people, [including] apartheid, and ethnic cleansing.”

I'm over it.

I am not left wing anymore, and never will be again, they're toxic as Chernobyl.

[–]spanishprofanity 15 insightful - 1 fun15 insightful - 0 fun16 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

In any political movement, activists face an existential question: what do we do if we win? Most never have to answer that question, because winning is hard, especially when you have lofty goals—or, in some cases, nebulous or unattainable ones

If we win, we'll just resurrect a nobody that fits the description we need, rewrite their history to advance our new cause, and force this fake narrative against our so-called community and political enemies alike

[–]Riothamus 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Taking just one look at Malcolm Michaels(MPJ)'s obituary tells you the whole story. It's an "Area Vagrant Found Dead" obituary, not a "Beloved Civil Rights Icon Passes Away" obituary.

[–]JulienMayfair 13 insightful - 1 fun13 insightful - 0 fun14 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I can sympathize with the people in charge of Boston Pride and their decision to shut it down. After a certain point, I'd start thinking, "Why am I even putting up with this shit anymore when I could just walk away and live my life in relative peace? Why live with a target painted on my back? What's the point?"

And no, I wouldn't turn over an organization I'd built to people who only want to vandalize it. I'd just notify the landlord we were leaving, close the accounts, and turn off the utilities.