@RPESKOP- So, you believe the people are nimbys on Tillinghurst and holding back Buffalo's progress for what they think is best for their area. Yet you want to see less "barfly's and drag queens" at Buffalo's gay pride to accomodate your needs. I guess that would make you wanting to hold back buffalo's diverse gay community and the progress they have made.

I'm going to skip the March and the Parade this year. I think that the rights movement has progressed to the point that we no longer should showcase the extremes of the GLBT community, instead we should focus on the mainstream. I remember when I first came out at 19 and my mother said (jokingly) "so I guess we need to get you some flannel shirts". I know that she is joking but a lot of other people see us as either absurd bois with feather boas or wanna be lumberjacks with mullets and flannel shirts. The more we focus on making a spectacle of ourselves the longer it will take for the rest of society to truly embrace us as individuals with the same rights as anyone else. I believe that if we want to be treated seriously then we need to behave seriously, instead of getting all dressed up in a way that reinforces stereotypes, biases, and prejudices.

lizzyb - Seeking attention much? I remember when I first came out and wanted to tell everyone and throw it in their faces and then I realized how annoying it was to everyone and so I stopped. A friend told me that I was acting like a two year old who just found out what was under her diaper so I had to show and tell everyone much to their embarrassment. We all know that we are warm and fabulous humans and we all know what we deserve but jumping around naked isn't going to help. Letting people know that we are all around and just like them tends to further the cause more than proclaiming to Mom that you finally think for yourself.

I am not against the parade or march; however I truly believe that we are better than this. I refuse to let GLBT rights be relegated to one weekend, and one month, per year. We shouldn't settle for the same crumbs that were offered by other minority groups. The GLBT community spans all races, professions, and religions, we are more than what is represented in the parade. It really doesn't matter if we carry signs saying "I am your _____", people only see the parody of who we really are. I'll say it again, we cannot move forward if we make a spectacle of ourselves. If we don't take ourselves seriously they why would anyone else?

What are you saying Heather? You think that other groups have it worse off then the gays and lesbians? We've been persacuted forever and its time that we fight for our rights.