Het Pride Parade

Why oh why Chapel Hill?

I think it would be a good idea to take LOTS of pictures of this parade to get proof of the "strictly positive" and the lack of "condemning [of] other lifestyles".

Why does anyone need to march about how het they are? Are they afraid someone might think they are gay? Are heterosexuals being marginalized and threatened?

(Just for clarifications my questions are rhetorical)

I think a huge helping of ignoring the silly people is in order here. If the reaction is a collective yawn, there's no show.

I first heard of this earlier this week. I called members of the Town staff, and contrary to Dumas' comments on the air, the Town has been nothing but cooperative with his ridiculous [my opinion] effort. I was glad to hear that the Town was in fact treating his request to march down Franklin _exactly_ the same way the Town treats every request.

Personally, I find the whole thing insulting and mocking of every march for equality ever conducted. I heard him say on the radio that his march is just to have the opportunity to proclaim his love of members of the opposite sex. He seems to have a grave misunderstanding of why Gay Pride events are held. They aren't just to proclaim love for members of the opposite sex, they are demands for equality and social change. The only redeeming thing I can imagine happening with this would be if there is a strong message and call from him and his group for an end to disparate treatment on the basis of sexuality. But I don't expect it to be anything more than mocking and insulting.

I wish I could be there. But unfortunately, I'll be out of town (ironically) for a same-sex commitment ceremony in Ohio. I'd love a chance to address the crowd, welcome them to town, proclaim our community's commitment to free speech and assembly, and then explain how I believe these people's efforts do nothing more than mock and insult those traditions. Ruby, that is Dumas' purpose (transparent as it is), and that is why they are coming to Chapel Hill.

Now, I hope Dumas or someone from his station sees that I'm critical of his "march," so we can see an ignorant knee-jerk reaction about censorship. I always laugh when the censorship argument is pulled out when something like this is criticized. The ignorance underlying the whole concept leads me to predict that they don't know what censorship is either.

Just for the record, when I was listening to the radio this morning, Mr. Dumas was saying that the town of Chapel Hill had been incredibly helpful and the Police Department had been great --- even going so far as to thank the officer he had been dealing with. He even said the University was being helpful. Not that that has much to do with the event itself, but I was glad to see how willing the town is to let him have the chance to speak.

Unlike Tony Pluto, I'm kinda intrigued by this potential (definite?) spectacle, if only to find out how heavily the marchers are represented by the beer-gutted/bald/male demographic. I'm putting the under/over line at 75% turnout. Any bets? Since I agree with Mark that this is somewhat of a tacit mockery of groups that assemble to legitimately decry systematic injustice, I have no qualms about mocking people that want to celebrate the fact that the genetic lotto landed them a spot with the group of people that don't get routinely harassed or discriminated against by dipshits who dissaprove of their "lifestyle."

Wanting to ridicule these people, I suppose, drops me down to their level of idiocy, but still, I can't deny that I'd get a perverse thrill if the realization dawned upon the marchers that simply lusting for the other gender doesn't absolve you for being stupid, unnecessarily flamboyant, or a dirty old man (maybe this is prejudiced, but I doubt that many women will be hoofing it at the march).

— Nick

Well, as a fat, aging white guy, perhaps I could figure out a way to appear especially obnoxious and stupid and join the march.

What would I have to do to appear to support him while clearly making it into a stupid spectacle? Costumes? Signs??

-- ge

Matt,

Good to know that on Friday, Dumas was complementing the CHPD and the Town Staff he worked with. Earlier in the week he went on and on about how he expected there to be different standards for his "march." While he was "waiting for a call back" from the Town, he insensitively named a member of the Town Staff on the air -- repeating the staff member's name over and over again along with the department the person worked in. I thought it was especially rude to do this. The tone seemed to imply encouragement for others to call this person and demand "fairness." Moreover, he continued this even as Town staffers were trying to contact him or his representative. Either he wasn't getting the message or, more likely, he was deliberatly not receiving the message in order to maximize on-air criticism time. Either reason for his continued on-air harassment is inexcusable and irresponsible. We had very professional staff members working very hard to make sure he knew the process and was receiving equal treatment -- in fact, it was may have been somewhat expedited since he was on-air at the time complaining. Yet his response was to mock them and subtly encourage people to complain.

And another thing, this new co-host he has, seemed to have a problem with Dumas' whole plan, but her only concern was that his feelings might get hurt if the turn-out was too low!!!!

Ya'll actually listen to a guy named Dum-Ass who wants to have this march? maybe you should read this letter in the Herald: http://www.heraldsun.com/opinion/chhletters/index.html#513682

Cam...

Are you referring to the "boycott of downtown Chapel Hill"?

I remember the letters we wrote to
Clear Channel Communications (the
parent company of G105) over Dumas'
"injure the bicylists" campaign.

Fair is fair; we should ride bicycles
through the parade and throw
empty Chardonnay bottles and scraps
of brie at the the beer-gutted, bald,
male participants that Nick noted.

Does anyone know of Bob's email address? If so, please send to my email address..ncscottfire@hotmail.com thanks!

If this is essentially a publicity stunt, does the town get to recoup
any costs by charging the 'Slowgram'?

If a lot of people show up, pro or con, the downtown merchants might
see a nice bump in business. If they do, maybe we should actively
solicit more 'Pride' type parades, say invite the Lion's Club for a Lion's
Pride Parade or something akin to that.

If it turns out to be very lucrative to host these bashes, to the point of saving
downtown, we could decommission the Downtown Commission (after having a suitable
Downtown Commission Pride March) and save the town some bucks.

On Sunday, the News and Observer printed a really interesting profile of Mr. Dumas in their lifestyle section.

The URL for the article is: http://www.newsobserver.com/lifestyles/story/1553045p-7740955c.html

It's long but definitely worth a read.

Bob Dumas----UGH. Why anyone listens to that person spew ignorance and garbage on the airwaves is beyond me. ( I would like to use a more "descriptive" moniker, but want to keep this board G rated and civil).
Anything that man does is strictly about the $$ and the publicity---take those two away and he'll go away.

Where can I buy the "flaming heterosexual t-shirt?
ty

Oh, get over yourself. What's the big deal? Some people are going to march/celebrate etc. People who embrace tolerance ought to try embracing tolerance. It is easy be tolerant of only those with whom you agree. OKay, deep breath ... relax ... come out and enjoy the show.

What people are completely missing the point about, is why CAN"T he have a parade to celebrate being hetrosexual? Why should people be so negative aobut one man trying to celebrate what he is. Gay Pride parades are for people to celebrate who they are, and to show people that they are proud, so what is the big deal? I think it's a great idea and I may join myself...

The problem is that no matter what the man did people would have a problem. If he did a "White Pride" day all the black people would cry racism. What about a "Redneck Pride" day? Who do we think will have issues with that??? It's amazing to me how INTOLERANT people are, especially about things that they don't agree with.

You don't have to agree with what a person says to defend their right to free speeh, the same goes with this.

i think yall have this all wrong this parade isnt just bout loveing the opposite sex, its a chance for us straight people to get together and show that we are here in support of one another. the same way that homosexual parades are held. its a great oppertunity for all of us to come together and celebrate.im a 21 yr old male not fat or balding, and i and my friends are going because its going to be a great experience. i would like to thank the town of chapel hill for allowing us to have this celebration. for those of you doubters sorry but this is going to be a great time for all of ust there. i am glad that Bob set this whole thing up so that i can celebrate my heterosexuallity. i will be proud to be there, and show my pride in what i am along with alot of others.

Kidding aside, I'm all for public discourse, but this parade doesn't appear to fit the bill.

What it appears to be is an ersatz demonstration put on as a publicity stunt to the benefit of one commercial entity.

That's perfectly fine as long as my tax dollars don't go to underwriting it. If G105.1 wants to sponsor this event, pay for any additional security required and pay for any post-party cleanup - go right ahead. But if they want me to pay for their stunt, then that's a problem.

I'm sorry that the host feels his manhood is underattack and that he needs to raise a phalanx of like minded people to stiffen his flagging constitution and help restore his waning (commercial??) potence but he surely can't believe that it's the town's job to give him a hand or freebie to restore that swagger he might've had as a younger man.

So now you want the government of the town of Chapel Hill deciding what is acceptable free speech? OF COURSE it is a publicity stunt! It's a radio statin for god's sake. My reading of the first amendment doesn't limit the free speech protection to non-commercial, political speech. Under those standards be sure to cancel any Christmas parades, St. Patrick's day parades, and (dear god!) the silly (and dangerous) post-UNC basketball game celebrations that occur.

If this group of people are dangerous, break laws, damage property, then by all means, hold them accountable. But it is not for me (or you or the town of Chapel Hill) to decide that their speech is unworthy of protection. Dear God! This is beginning to sound like what anti-homosexual bigots say about gay pride parades!

The point here again is that speech which isn't dangerous or treasonous is protected, like it or not. (And necessarily at some public costs.)

Okay, I will admit it. I tuned in to G105 on Monday to hear what Bob would say about the event.

He said that he was happy with the event; that is it was very positive; that there were a number of gay people at his march; that he would go to the Gay Pride parade in October; that all people should be free to lead their lives as they wish. This was all presented in an entirely sober manner.

Pam, Zan and Angie (and anyone else interested; male or female): I would love to meet up with you sometime and discuss this some more (perhaps over beer/wine/soda?). Since the hetro parade I am seriously considering coming along and supporting the gay pride parade in October (I'd like to know more about it too). Feel free to email me on delete.this.bit.wayoutwest21@yahoo.com

/Simon

You guys seem to be very confused about what I said. I have no problem with free speech and certainly don't want anyone to regulate it, especially by charging for its exercise. But is this commercial stunt free speech? See: http://supreme.lp.findlaw.com/constitution/amendment01/17.html

I'll try an example to distinguish what I think is the difference between this stunt and other activities.

I'm a hotdog salesman and my recent wiener sales have been limp, possibly because the public thinks my wieners are tainted, fit only for the garbage. I decide to create a stir by parking my cart across Franklin St. and blocking traffic. Further, I'd put a banner up saying it was "Wiener Liberation Day" and encourage all like minded people, people maybe with a sense of impotence, to come and protest their suppressed hot dog desires by joining in my supposed protest and sucking down a 'dog. To further my drooping sales, I characterize my commercially inspired stunt as an exhibition of "Wiener Pride" . This of course, is all fairly cynical in that my real agenda is to pump up shriveling sales of my possibly diseased meat and not any real attempt to further a public agenda.

This is all fine, though. Go for it. But, if this commercially inspired stunt (like G105's) causes a cost to be incurred by our town, well, it seems like my 'dog salesman should be responsible enough to pickup part of the tab.

If the G105 doesn't cost anything to do, great! No problem. Have fun. Have more pride events. But if it does cost, isn't it justified to ask for some kind of minimal payment to defray the cost?

ps. Proverbs 16:18.

So then you would oppose a commercial sponsorship of a float in a Christmas parade? The sponsor should defray the costs to the city/town because of the economic advantage he/she MAY receive?

Does it not concern you that you are asking the government to determine the validity of political speech? In this instance you are asking the town of Chapel Hill to go into the mind of a radio talk show host and discern his intent.

And the lame sexual doble entendres ... really? Is it that cute?

Let me start by saying that Bob and G105 are totally within their legal rights to organize and sponsor this event. The First Amendment does and should allow this. Chapel Hill is absolutely correct in issuing the parade permit.

Although I agree with Bob's right to assemble and say what he wants, I find his message and his means repulsive and disgusting. His only purpose is to spread bigotry and hatred. This country was founded as a Republic, partially, to protect the minority from the majority and to provide for individual freedoms. I express my freedom by refusing to listen to G105 at all times, not just during the Showgram.

Some of the previous messages say to "Get over it" and "What's the big deal?" The big deal is that Bob and G105 are not just condoning, but are promoting discrimination, hatred, and bigotry.

One person even condoned a "White Pride" or "Redneck Pride" rally. Bob doesn't need to sponsor one of those because the KKK and Neo-Nazis already have those events covered.

A "Heterosexual Pride" parade is no different. Celebrating heterosexuality is not needed. It is the majority in this country and it's only purpose is to belittle and mock the struggle that gays have in gaining equal protection under the laws as "guaranteed" under the constitution.

G105 is a Clear Channel radio station. Clear Channel recently stopped carrying Howard Stern. Bob Dumas should be next.

How does Clear Channel reconcile the hatred and bigotry spewed by Bob Dumas with it's Corporate Diversity Policies?

"Our ZERO TOLERANCE policy that prohibits discrimination extends beyond our employees, into each and every market in which we conduct business."
"Inclusion and workforce diversity are terms used to describe a business strategy. However, at Clear Channel they are much more than that - inclusion is about letting people in, and eliminating barriers that would keep people out. "

If Clear Channel truly believed in its policies, Bob's bigotry would not be tolerated. I encourage everyone to show your distaste for Bob and G105 by turning the dial.

http://www.clearchannel.com/Corporate/diversity.aspx

Cute? To paraphrase: "When speaking of Rome, speak as the Roman's do"

Is this "cute" ?

I love Mr. Dumas's idea. If we can celebrate homosexuality, there's no reason why heterosexuality shouldn't be. It would be incredibly discriminatory not to.

Dee wrote: "What people are completely missing the point about, is why CAN"T he have a parade to celebrate being hetrosexual? Why should people be so negative about one man trying to celebrate what he is. Gay Pride parades are for people to celebrate who they are, and to show people that they are proud, so what is the big deal?"

Dee, I don't think people are arguing that he CAN'T hold a hetero pride parade, he certainly has the right to do so, and, at least for myself, I would never join anyone in attempting to deny him that right. I'm personally arguing that this parade is stupid and an idea bred from a jackass who confuses being "edgy" with ignorant and annoying. Mark made the point, which I agree with, that Pride parades or civil rights marches are not necessarily people expressing that they are inherently proud of being gay or black. Rather, they are asserting their right to be exactly who they inherently are in a society that routinely denigrates, discriminates, and despises them. If black Americans were allowed to vote, given equal access to education, and not judicially separated from whites for the entirety of the 20th century, then Selma would be just another town in Alabama. If gay men and women could get married, serve in the military, not jump through 75 million hoops to MAYBE adopt a child, and quit having their lives oft-referred to as a "sinful lifestyle," then I'm reasonably sure they would restrict their marching to the Christmas and Turkey Day parades like the rest of the mainstream. In short, these parades are celebratory of a long, hard struggle for well-deserved acceptance. The pride comes from the struggle.

Yes, I am proud of who I am, and I'm het, but I think it's rather lame to celebrate my sexuality since it hasn't caused a lick of adversity in my life (except for ego-debilitating rejections, but we all deal with that, regardless) or been an issue people are unable to look past when simply judging me as a person. If anyone can give me an example of somebody being beaten outside a bar, strung from a tree, or even called a heterosexual slur (do they exist?) because they are straight, then I'll march because I'm proud of the adversity and hatred us heterosexuals have bled and persevered through, dammit.

By all means, anyone has the right to march for this cause, and I hope y'all folks enjoy it. I'm just putting in my 2 cents about why I won't participate in this moronic charade. Hell, maybe I'm just an insecure, straight, whiteboy wracked by liberal guilt. Oh well …

Damn the MAN ye heteros, if he's bringing you down, let him know you're not going to take it anymore.

— Nick

Nick, you just nailed it. Celebrating one's position at the top of the ladder of oppression is Dumas's right, but it is in poor taste to say the least.

But since when has bad taste ever stopped this guy?

-----------------------------------

Terri Tyson's letter to the editor (cited by Cam above) is appalling. Terri wails: "There are powerful advocacy groups for every segment of our society, except for men . . ."

Terri, we have powerful support organizations for men: the New York Stock Exchange, the US Senate, the White House, America's 300 year academic tradition, our legal system's legacy etc. etc. including 90+% of all institutions in America.

-----------------------------------

Everyone is celebrating the opening of the Stone Black Cultural Center, but the fact is that many who now pretend to celebrate were once opposed to the BCC. Their argument, analogous to Terri's, was "We don't have a White Cultural Center. Why should we have a Black Cultural Center?"

But we do have White Cultural Centers at UNC: The Business School, the Law School, the History Department, the Philosophy Department, the English Department etc. etc. etc.

I don't see what Terri Tyson's letter has to do with the hetero parade. Her point is discussed at length in the academic community, especially in reference to education:
http://www.apa.org/monitor/julaug99/youth.html

This discussion has given the idiotic idea of a hetero pride parade more attention than it deserves.

"This discussion has given the idiotic idea of a hetero pride parade more attention than it deserves."

— Hallelujah, sister. As one of the more guilty parties to this thread, I pledge to refrain from any more discussion.

Goodbye now,

Nick

I agree that this silly hetero parade doesn't deserve much, but if we stop talking about it then we better just get used to taking what we are given.

I know we all get tired of the bad stuff in the world, we see the power of publicity and spin, and we want to minimize the popularity of such discriminatory activities. I feel the same way.

But right now in this year with all that is going on politically in our country and in the world WE MUST LET OUR VOICES BE HEARD!

Allot of people in the triangle community are reading this blog right now. Our voices *will* motivate people. For example on this thread http://orangepolitics.org/2004/07/the-big-bust-of-2004/ Chief Gregg Jarvies commented and enjoyed our thoughts. I'm not saying he reads all we write but it is an example of reaching the minds of people.

I agree wholeheartedly Brian that we must speak out. But I think we should save our voices for those issues we might have influence over. The guy has a right to run his parade regardless of how idiotic the theme. As long as we support free speech in this community, then he, the KKK and everyone else has a right to congregate and present their message.

On the other hand, you can stop listening to G105, you can write letters to the State Superintendent of Ed and your state reps speaking out for a full range of sex education topics in the schools, you can support full rights and recognition of same-sex life partners, etc. There's no way to stop this parade; I'm not sure why anyone would want to except perhaps the guy's radio station, advertisers, stockholders, etc. Continuing to talk about it here reinforces his silly promotional stunt and demonstrates to the guy that he's getting under the skins of the liberals--which was probably his goal all along.

Terri Buckner,

Terri Tyson's letter glorifies the oppressors by making them out to be the oppressed. Bob Dumas's proposal does the same thing. So did the complaint that we lack a "White Cultural Center."

That is the connection.

I don't agree that Tyson's letter glorifies "oppressors." She was pointing out that men have problems and crime stats reinforce her point--problems that are hurting all of us at the lower end of the power spectrum (the last is my caveat not hers). To be very honest, I care more about women's issues, but the peripheral attention I've given to the issue of boys in the schools looks at how classroom structure, stereotypes portrayed through the media, parental double standards (eg, boys will be boys) all reinforce aggressive behavior. I believe part of the debate is over the origins of that aggressive behavior--nurture vs nature.

I don't disagree that (white, heterosexual) men have the power in this society. But I see that power eroding and would prefer to see those men who are unhappy about their changing status lashing out through silly stunts like the hetero parades than through violence (http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/vawo/statistics.htm) .

As a society I think we need to recognize that when power shifts, there are losers, some of whom, like Mr. Dumas, will not be graceful losers. I'd prefer that we look at how to change our social institutions to help young boys struggle past those old stereotypes so that they grow up expecting to share power with women and minorities. As an aside, I need a better word than minorities--since men (especially white men) are currently in the minority.

This is it for me.

From G105 web site:

"Want to get some of our pride merchandise?

SHIRTS
Flame Design 1
Flame Design 2
Great Design
Beaver + Chicken

MUGS
Flame Design 1
Flame Design 2
Great Design
Beaver + Chicken"

and

"Tailored Affair will be set up in the parking lot of Passport Motors on Franklin Street right across from the Jiffy Lube with T-shirts for you to purchase.....get a sneak peek at http://www.tailoredaffair.com/straightwear.html
(not affiliated with G105 or Bob & The Showgram)"

The last is funny considering it's on the http://g105.com/pride_parade.html web site, with a link from the Showgram.

No where is there a statement of purpose, etc. Just this lame disclaimer that kind of lets the cat out of the bag:

"We would LOVE for you to make your own celebratory sign/t-shirt/display showing your heterosexual pride!! Just keep it positive and DON'T MENTION OR MAKE FUN OF ANY OTHER GROUP! The idea is a fun, positive heterosexual pride!"

Oh, and don't think about pink elephants either....

So, Dee, Matt and Chris, do you still maintain this stunt ain't about the bucks?

The thing I always love about Terri Tyson's commentaries is that they generalize from the particular in order to assert an absurdity, and then pursue that absurdity to its logical conclusion.

Maybe there aren't as many men attending Carolina because they're all going to State. Or maybe they've all decided to go to the traditional schools of power and privilege. Or maybe Carolina is just oddly out of step with its peer public institutions around the country. Some enrollment figures:

N.C. State: 57% men, 43% women

Cornell: 50% men, 50% women
Princeton: 51% men, 49% women
Harvard: 52% men, 48% women
Yale: 50% men, 50% women
Duke: 50% men, 50% women
Vanderbilt: 48% men, 52% women

University of Michigan: 50% men, 50% women
University of Tennessee: 51% men, 49% women
UC Berkeley: 48% men, 52% women

If Terri Tyson can extract a general theory of incipient oppression against men from _these_ figures, she's much smarter than I am.

That's a chicken on the mug, yes, but more specifically it's a rooster, otherwise known as a cock. Get it? Heh heh heh. Can't be _too_ coy about that, heh heh heh. We'll call it a "chicken" so our mommies/wives/mommy-wives don't get mad, heh heh heh.

Excuse me... Billy Leonard

If you would get off the high horse you live on and actually READ what I said in my posting, I did NOT condone a "White Pride" day or "redneck" day, What I said was that there are always going to be SOMEONE that has issues with what the man does, no matter how good his intentions may be. So.. try reading before you speak, you may actually learn something.

Dee

WillR
I never said that it wasn't about them, but I feel confident that the company that is doing the Tshirts, tailoredaffair, is out to make money, Free Enterprise. I also feel confident that some portion of proceeds of items bought through the show will go to charity, Bob is like that.

My point is that no matter how much we hate the message, and even the messenger, we have to defend their right and opportunity to have that message. Whether gay, straight, black, white everyone has some message that someone isn't going to like. But hate and ridicule isn't the way to go about changing the world. The sooner people learn that the better off we will all be.

There is such a double standard for people, that we as citizens can't even have a normal conversation anymore without fear of offending SOMEONE over what may be a completely innocent comment. It seems that only white people are racist, when in fact I see more racial intolerance from the black community. Where do we draw the line? We have to raise our kids correctly, and teach them that everyone (well almost everyone) works for a living, we all do different jobs, no one is better than anyone else for what they do. If we treat people with respect, take the time to learn someone's name rather than "hey you" we will see that in essence we are all the same. We are all single mothers trying to raise our kids in safe healthy environments, we are all elderly people trying to make our social security stretch just a little further this month, we are all trying to earn a living and provide for our families, we are all teenagers trying to deal with the changes that come with our lives and our bodies.

The only difference between us is the language we speak and the color of our skin, underneath we all bleed red.

Dee

"Terri Tyson's letter glorifies the oppressors by making them out to be the oppressed."
- M. Chilton

I was unaware that simply being male made one an "oppressor." How does one apologize just for being born?

WillR,

You missed the point of what I was saying, I think. I don't CARE if it's about money or not. I daresay an organization like G105's budget will not be enhanced too terribly by T-SHIRT SALES!!!! But, ya know, whatever...

*Sighs* I suppose Clear Channel is in desperate need of these funds, even though the t-shirt proceeds do not go to G105 (hence the unaffliated disclaimer). Surely you don't think every link on http://www.g105.com is financially affiliated with them?

My point is that we get into dangerous territory when governments decide what is acceptable political speech and what is not.

You never responded to my question about Christmas parade sponsors. So let me ask another: What test, what criteria do YOU believe would be appropriate to use to approve or deny people their right to peacefully assembly and their freedom of expression? I know you said you were done, but c'mon ... one more post?

Enjoying the conversation.
-Chris

We're all "defending their right to say it" but that laudable task doesn't exempt fools from receiving criticism from individuals for the things they say.

No one on this thread has said the government should stop this march or do anything less than assist the "demonstrators" in having an orderly peaceful event...

There seems to be confusion regarding personal criticisms that include valid questions about why this sort of thing has to go one with some a call for gov't prohibition of the same.

Also, there are plenty of conversations, even heated ones, that occur where participants don't offend one another, but to not say you're offended by a comment when you indeed are is tantamount to lieing to the person you're talking to. There are few things more insulting than a coy silent smile crossing someone's face that tacitly implies endorsement of a comment when a person is in fact using the experssion to mask disgust and offense.

Bob has just lost it since Madison jumped ship.

I invite those bored to tears with empty-headed, greedy publicity stunts by media conglomerates to tune in to our very own WCHL 1360 on Saturday at 3:00 to listen to “Shooting the Breeze.”

We taped today, interviewing Steve & E.J. Manton, the husband and wife team who put together the Kerry/Edwards pancake fundraiser that raised $47,500. The Mantons talked about seeing Fahrenheit 9/11 and feeling a call to political action – something they've never done before.

Cheers too, to the generous soul who paid for every patron who saw the movie tonight at Varsity (two shows). Whoever you are, lovers of the 1st Amendment thank you.

Maybe even Bob Dumas!

Mark spake thus:
No one on this thread has said the government should stop this march or do anything less than assist the “demonstrators” in having an orderly peaceful event…

Earlier WillR proclaimed:
That's perfectly fine as long as my tax dollars don't go to underwriting it. If G105.1 wants to sponsor this event, pay for any additional security required and pay for any post-party cleanup - go right ahead. But if they want me to pay for their stunt, then that's a problem.

Isn't that tantamount to NOT extending the same protection to the HPP as other events/parades? ISn't that doing less than assisting?

Am I mistaken? I have been before so ...

Oh these heteros! Always having to prove that society accepts them! I hope they will not be showcasing some of their weird hetero fetishes. Poor things!!!! LOLOLOL

pfalduto@nc.rr.com

NO SPAM!!!

Mark K-

I have read your comments on this site, and in the mass media about this parade. I think you are being dishonest to say that Gay Pride parades are all about gay rights. I have seen many gay pride parades, and see no connection between the events, and gay rights.

I actually support gay rights such as marraige, but believe gay pride parades are about something else all together.

ToddtheBlog
http://www.hippyhillnews.com/

This would be like the White Citizens Council marching to Selma in 1965 and saying, "we have nothing against black people, we're just marching to show it is OK to be white." That would have made no sense: blacks were not saying then that it WASN'T OK to be white, just as gays and lesbians aren't saying today that it is not OK to be heterosexual or saying that heteros don't deserve the same rights, like marriage. Obviously, the converse is not true as many heteros want to restrict the rights of gay people in marriage, employment, housing and other areas. This is just a cheap stunt and should be ignored.

As a participant in most of NC Pride's activities over the last 15 years, and as the attorney who incorporated the organization in its present form, and in in reliance of the personal relationships I have with both the founders of the NC Pride movement and the current organizers...

I can say with a high degree of confidence: Todd you are wrong.