Why All The Fuss Here?

[DangerUXD]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21194710
Surely the promotion of any sexualty over another is wrong. I think the Russians are being very sensible.

[Eve]

It's not exclusive, what do you think they do? Screen people for gayness before letting them buy a wristband or stand and watch the parade?

It's open to all.

[ummmm]

But the carnivals are not exclusively for gays. Straight people can join in if they want.

I think it's a good thing. If you have a teenager struggling with their sexuality having carnivals and marches will make them realise that they are not alone.

[ichkeria]

Absolutely: my strongly heterosexual nieces and nephews have attended gay Rights parades in Belfast and I was only sorry I couldn't be there (!)
As for "why organise?" one issue is that gay people have seen themselves, rightly, as a persecuted or misunderstood minority and one way of reacting to that is to organise INCLUSIVE (not gay-only) events celebrating their gayness. I understand that that would not be to everyone's taste but, to pinch the OP's line - "why all the fuss here" :-)

[ichkeria]

... to be more accurate "Gay carnivals"

[FredPuli43]

But why do you say 'promotion of any sexuality is wrong' ? How are you defining 'promotion' ? Let's not kid ourselves. You would not worry,and do not worry, at the promotion of the heterosexual way of life. It's overt and all around us, we don't need an explicitly heterosexual carnival, because 'carnival' itself , like everything in life, is presumed, and taken to be, for 'normal' people,heterosexuals.

[sp1814]

DangerUXD

The Moscow carnival, like those in San Francisco, London, Manchester and Sydney (to name just a few) are not exclusively for gay people. They are for anyone who want to have a good time and get massively drunk.

I'm also not sure about the claim that these events 'promote' homosexuality any more than the royal wedding between William and Kate promoted heterosexuality. The only difference between the wedding and gay pride marches is that the wedding only had one queen in attendance.

[Zeuhl]

/so why not have a carnival full stop? why must it be selective? /

It is a 'gay carnival' because it is organised by Gay People

If you want to organise a Grumpy Old Bloke Carnival nothing is stopping you.

and I'm sure the country is already chock full of Carnivals that are 'Carnival full stop'

next you'll be asking why the Notting Hill Carnival is so Caribbean, or why the Highland Games is so Scottish?

[sp1814]

DangerUXD

"So why have a gay carnival? why not, horrror or horrors, just a carnival."

Thing is - it's the music acts you book, and the club DJs who perform sets, and where you promote the event that will determine whether a carnival or festival 'becomes' gay.

Think of it his way - if you book Kylie as a headline act, whatever festival it is will by default become gay.

[anotheoldgit]

In the interests of equality, isn't it time we had City Heterosexual Carnivals, if the Gay Manchester one "adds £millions to the local economy" as Gromit has already said, just think how much a heterosexual one would raise?

[anotheoldgit]

FredPuli43

i.e. Heterosexual Carnivals, I did not notice your post until I had posted mine.

/// we don't need an explicitly heterosexual carnival, because 'carnival' itself , like everything in life, is presumed, and taken to be, for 'normal' people,heterosexuals. ///

Are you saying that gay people are not normal?

[Zeuhl]

Perhaps aog was inspired by my suggestion to danger at 14.05

/If you want to organise a Grumpy Old Bloke Carnival nothing is stopping you/

[Zeuhl]

/Are you saying that gay people are not normal? /

I expect Fred will use your frequent defence aog

'didn't you see the parentheses?'

[Zeuhl]

sorry - I meant quotation marks

[FredPuli43]

Fred will. AOG when you use quotation marks , what do they indicate?

[New Judge]

If you organised a "Straight" Carnival (i.e. one prefixed with the word "Straight", not just a plain old carnival) even if you made it clear that Gay people were welcome to attend, you would be accused of bigotry, prejudice and homophobia. Gay people would suggest that they would feel uneasy and/or unwelcome at such a function.

In the same way that a "White Police Officers' Association" would be similarly denounced, these things seem to work only in one direction.

[LazyGun]

@New Judge

Oh please. Not that tired old chestnut. Heterosexuals are hardly a persecuted minority who have to fight for the right to be considered equal. Nor are white police officers.

Both risible and facile NJ - I expect better from you

[Gromit]

D,uh!

Just twigged. DangerUXB is R1Geezer's latest incarnation.

[askyourgran]

We have Caribbean carnivals and Gay Pride marches which always is like a carnival, everyone can join in, loads of bystanders watch all along the routes. Great fun.
If children are unsure of themselves they will find it out in their own time. I don't believe in sexuality being shoved onto children at a young age, some may not be ready to learn about life's complexities others could find it embarrassing and unnecessary or even feel singled out.