Like everything else, Pride was co-opted by corporations once they saw profit and turned into a way to weaponize people who had previously felt unrepresented into some horrid amalgamation of promoting power. I honestly do not know how the trans bullshit became such a huge focal point of the "movement" ( as in bowel ), I can't formulate a reasoning that doesn't involve Lizard People or worship of some dark, false God, I just know as soon as they realized they could animate and aim the radicals the establishment doubled down on the whole thing, biting in so deep their gums bled. The way I view it, Pride has little-to-nothing to do with the LGB community, it's all about trans this and gender that. The "pride" is now excessive and has become Hubris. June is now Trans-Hubris Month.

I also remember my first Pride event in St Louis in the late 90s, I think it was called Pridefest? I hadn't even graduated yet and was more nervous that someone I knew from my hometown would see me, so much so I don't think I even had fun. I know I came home with like 16 different bracelets and pendants I had to hide, a handful of stories about men pawing on me until they realized I was WAY younger than my size belied, and I was too young to drink or hook up so I didn't get crazy or anything, but still...what I do remember, the solidarity and just JOY from everyone of being out and open is nothing like what I see these days. It MEANT something to march then. I don't remember grown ass men in latex puppy outfits or people walking around nude in grotesque simulations of sexual intimacy. I think the worst I saw was maybe a bulge in booty shorts or topless, painted tits. And yeah, I used to be of the "don't kink shame" mindset but seeing some of the freaks parading in June every year? I kink-shame now. Especially when children are involved. I can almost literally see Pride month burning the fuse further down the line to the inevitable explosion, and unfortunately us LGB folk have situated ourselves between the bomb and the trans-lobby now fronting Pride with their ghastly flag and laughable acronym and we will be the first taken out, though I don't know by which side.

I'm just...so tired of it. So tired of all of it. All I wanted to do was live quietly, love who I want, play video games and enjoy the latter part of my life but now I'm stuck here in the center politically, socially, and all I can do is turn in circles watching the entire fucking world go insane.