Gay scene (live, law, dangerous)

[livecontent]

That is exactly what I was trying to say. I am not gay, but I know many gays who are not involved with these type of "scene" activities, I sort of "wince" when I see some of these activities in gay pride parades and events. It makes it very difficult to advocate for gay rights, when the movement is publicly centered on such outlandish, overexposed prurient displays.

Livecontent

[wanttomoveeast]

That place was a blast. And do you remember when Skyline was virtually taken over by skinheads? It made for a very rough evening when they both closed. I remember leaving early and then not going altogether just because of that scene.

Originally Posted by DenverAztec

That would be the place Suzco, horrid roads and no direct path to the joint. However, once you were in, you would not know you were in an arm pit of a part of town.

[wanttomoveeast]

oh how sad. I didn't know he owned Charlie's too. That was another really fun spot to go to, and I abhor C&W!!

Originally Posted by DenverAztec

Yes, it was I telling you about Wanyne Jakino who passed last summer. He was the owner of Charile's the C&W bar here in and in Phoenix as well as Chicago. He also started the Internation Gay Rodeo Association that is huge here in the summer at the Jefferson County Fair Grounds - IGRA . Profits from the rodeo go to AIDS and Breast Cancer research.

Beyond that, Wayne is responsible for instituting the first citizen's advisory board for the Denver Police Department and also acted as a special consultant teacher to new cadets at the Police Academy.
He was instrumental in pushing for the revitalization of the Colfax business district in Denver, and he was a member of The Capitol Hill United Neighborhood (CHUN), president of Colfax on the Hill business association. Some of you may have seen the coupons from CHUN put on products.

Sadly he passed away at a ripe age of cancer last summer. I had the honor of singing at his services which were well attended by local politicians and dignitaries due to his contributions to the community.

Wayne Jakino, founder of Charlie’s bar and Gay Rodeo Association : Obituaries : The Rocky Mountain News

[DenverAztec]

Originally Posted by livecontent

That is exactly what I was trying to say. I am not gay, but I know many gays who are not involved with these type of "scene" activities, I sort of "wince" when I see some of these activities in gay pride parades and events. It makes it very difficult to advocate for gay rights, when the movement is publicly centered on such outlandish, overexposed prurient displays.

Livecontent

It is what the media wants you to see. Leathermen in chaps dancing on a float during PrideFest generates more sensationalism for the newscast then does the Denver Gay Men's Chorus, the marching Gay Catholics from Dignity Denver or the Mile Hi Freedom Marching Band. I 'wince' right there with you LiveContent, but that is such a small group in the community and not representative of the whole. Every race, religion, ethnic group has a section that the whole does not support - but really everyone has to ask themselves, do you know a Leatherman who dances in chaps at PrideFest? Most everyone on this forum would say no, most of my friends would say no, all of my mom's friends would say no and if they did they would whip out their rosary beads. The groups that get the biggest cheers during PrideFest are PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) and The CENTER (Youth Outreach) as they are saving lives, the lives of teens.

[ranman92509]

Originally Posted by bullfish15

Now for the op ed:

I am a gay man and I do not subscribe to the "gay scene". I believe in the voter's rights of California. RuPaul and it's entourage is a mess, unbecoming to the image of "normal everyday folks" we gays so desperately want to portray ourselves as. I go to bars maybe once every other month or so. Bars in general are trouble. I have a real job. I get dirty. I am not a democrat. I am tolerant of others... meaning that in the name of "tolerance" I don't jam my gay agenda down anyone's throats. I don't belong to a "feel good" gay church, I belong to a recognized established Church, who's only unifying attributes are not sexual preference and crying during service. I believe that sometimes the gay movement does more harm to itself than good. But now I'm getting off topic.

You don't have to belong to a scene. As you can see I don't fit in with the typical gay group. Most of my friends are straight and accept me for me, not my sexuality. And I'm getting along just fine in Denver.

Live your life to it's fullest. But please... Don't feel that you have to belong to a scene. The scene will march hand in hand with you in the streets to get you married, but will just stab you in your back and steal your boyfriend.

i agree. i am also a gay guy, and i am not into the scene. i was going to a local gay bar when i first started coming out about a year ago. it took me about 15 years to be able to accept myself and start to deal with this, i am 27 years old now. i am already tired of the bars and clubs, i might go once every few months. i went to a gay pride event with a few friends who wanted to show me the culture and probably wont go again. its just not my thing. i am a regular guy who just happens to like other guys. some of the other gay guys i have met are blown away when they ask me about fashion and about gucci and what ever and i tell them i dont know and dont care. they might like madonna songs and designer hand bags, but i dont. i live in southern california, and i am gay, but im not a democrat. i would rather be in the hardware store picking up a few things for my next project then be at a gay pride event. but, once in a while when i prefer to go out for a drink, i am more comfortable at the gay bar.

[gayguyfromdenver]

Originally Posted by livecontent

That is exactly what I was trying to say. I am not gay, but I know many gays who are not involved with these type of "scene" activities, I sort of "wince" when I see some of these activities in gay pride parades and events. It makes it very difficult to advocate for gay rights, when the movement is publicly centered on such outlandish, overexposed prurient displays.

Livecontent

The GLBT community is a very diverse community. It's made up of many groups and sub-groups. All within the GLBT community have a right to express themselves in the manner they see fit. Much of GLBT history is tied to sexual liberation. If someone is into bondage and wants to be spanked out on Colfax, I say go for it. In fact, I applaud him or her. It's our gay pride celebration. For once, we make the rules -- not mainstream, heterosexual America. All GLBT groups and sub-groups should have a place in the celebration -- leather daddies, dykes on bikes, PFLAG, various gay-affirming church groups, drag queens, gay choral groups, etc. All of these groups, and many more, make up the gay/lesbian/bi/tran family. None should be excluded or told they can't participate. If you don't like it, then don't watch and/or don't participate!

[newhandle]

I am moving to Denver next month for retirement - I saw a recent listing where it was one of the top ten cities for gay retirees. I find there are lots of things to do and gays are integrated so that it is no big deal to be out and in a non gay group. Among the specifically gay groups: churches, temples, rodeo, softball league, book clubs, gay sierra club, prime timers, cycling clubs, square dancing groups, it is all there. There is no longer a need for bars and such to meet people, Denver has evolved beyond that.

[livecontent]

Originally Posted by gayguyfromdenver

The GLBT community is a very diverse community. It's made up of many groups and sub-groups. All within the GLBT community have a right to express themselves in the manner they see fit. Much of GLBT history is tied to sexual liberation. If someone is into bondage and wants to be spanked out on Colfax, I say go for it. In fact, I applaud him or her. It's our gay pride celebration. For once, we make the rules -- not mainstream, heterosexual America. All GLBT groups and sub-groups should have a place in the celebration -- leather daddies, dykes on bikes, PFLAG, various gay-affirming church groups, drag queens, gay choral groups, etc. All of these groups, and many more, make up the gay/lesbian/bi/tran family. None should be excluded or told they can't participate. If you don't like it, then don't watch and/or don't participate!

All groups and for that manner all humanity is diverse. We have people who like to beat their wives; have sex with their children; hang a black man from a tree; harass people because they do not act like them. We have people who do and love to urinate in public and defecate anywhere they please. However, we have rules of behavior so not to offend or harm other people--that is what societies do to show each other respect, so not to cause another person to feel threaten or to be annoyed in public.

Gays should not behave in the prurient manners that you suggest. It is just nonsense to suggest this is part of gay rights. Many gays and straights find this public behavior disrespectful to the whole diverse group of society. To put such behavior into the same category of gay choral groups, church groups is wrong and does not add to the defense of that behavior. Being Gay does not give you the rights to unlimited behavior. If you find my criticism annoying of your disgusting parade behavior, then do not do it. Do not assume all people take your fanciful activities as acceptable in all situation---you and others like you are harming your rightful cause by this trashy displays.

As I have said in my previous posts, many of this behavior is adding to the comical characterization of the Gay community, which is not indicative of the whole. It adds fuel to your enemies and because of the outlandish nature, covers the good views of gay culture. Being Gay does not give you more rights. Gay rights is a movement to give Gays the same rights and with that the same responsibilities of behavior.

Blacks do not advocate walking around in Black Face, doing tap dancing, eating watermelons in a parade and imitating the characteristics of "Step n' Fetch". Perhaps that reference is much before your time, because you lack the mature understanding of history; and how comical behavioral displays of prejudicial characterizations can harm respect for people and their efforts to achieve rights in society. It was necessary for African Americans to go beyond these stereotypes, and it is also necessary for Gays.

Livecontent

[DenverAztec]

Every group, creed, race, religion has it's good gems and bad apples. To look at one sect of any group and pass judgement as a whole is narrow thinking. Did all religions turn on the Catholic church for child abuse of children by priests, did Evangelics have to start paying taxes because of Ted Haggard's action with a male prostitue, No. To chop down an apple tree because of a few bad apples is insane. What the media chooses to point out from a once a year parade is not representative of the gay scene as a whole. If an entire group or culture is persecuted or denied rights because of isolated action of a few of it's members then civil rights would have been dead before it started. Whether it is viewed as offensive, sinful or causes discomfort does not make it illegal or representative of the whole. If it were, then those involved should be arrested, such is not the case in a once a year parade. Personal acceptance needs to come from education of the entire cause or understanding of the variance in beliefs not just what one has read, been told, or sees on the nightly news. The adding of fuel to bigotry is allowed because personal opinions allow it. You either accept a different community for it's whole, good and bad, or you don't. Asking a few not to behave in a certain way in one community is laughable to single out only that one community. Take the cause serious not opinions based on differences and likes or dislikes by the actions of a few.

[DenverAztec]

By the way, what more is needed for the Gay Rights movement to be taken 'seriously'? Another Matthew Shepard murder, more gay bashing, more partnerships denied, hospital visitations not allowed because partners 'aren't married', inheritance snatched by family who once disowned their kids for coming out? Thankfully, here in Colorado, Domestic Partnerships have become formalized as of July 1st. Gay couples can now be registered in their counties for 12 rights that married couples have. Only 12 of the 1200 granted to married couples. However, they are 12 big ones. For those interested the link is - Colorado's Designated Beneficiaries Law

After 19 years of being with my partner, it was incredible moving to be told by the Denver County Clerk that we are now official. No, marriage is not legal in Colorado, but with these certain and very important rights recognition by our Governor and now Colorado State law, it does not matter what other precieve of our parades, of our public hand holding, or who is wearing a lewd outfit on the street or not. We have moved much further then most states and this is cause for pride. This all began with the Stonewall riots in 1967 in NYC, and those involved in the riots were drag queens and leather men. The so called bad apples of today. I thank them for standing up for me when I was just a kid and for being able to live this life as out and proud as I am today. I now Live Content!