My wife and I know ppl, have friends, etc who are gay and lesbian. Some of them were at our wedding. Others we've spent time with sitting around a campfire at the cabin at night having a whole bunch of laughs. Stuff like that; normal stuff. They come to our place, we've been to theirs. I just wanted it known that I have no issues there, to me they are friends, humans with the same right to enjoy their life as they chose. I will also say, years ago I did NOT have this opinion but thankfully I have outgrown some of the ideas that were common where I grew up.
However, at none of these things did any of them say "hey, you know, because I am gay, I am going to strut around in the raw to celebrate!". Why? It is not normal human behaviour, atleast not in the Canada I've lived in.
Now, one couple we are good friends with are a female couple. I can imagine how they'd react if the next time they were at our place , or me at theirs, if I suddenly started slow marching in my Birth-Issued Mess Kit, because despite the fact that they are females and a couple, they'd find it offensive
and weird. I am sure they would, and rightfully so. I also wonder what they'd think if I showed up at their house someday made up like a weird looking, human Care Bear.
Same-sex sexual orientation is not offensive to me. If I was walking to my car at the mall and a straight couple were going at it on the hood of a car, yup I'd be offended by that too. Some people might not. I have my own values and beliefs and they are pretty normal and commmon in our society AFAIK. Example, you have clothes on when you are walking the streets.
You can't act differently then DEMAND to be accepted, and treated "like everyone else". If there was a Straight Pride Parade and there was dudes in it doing the Full Monty, I'd be equally as offended.
Crantor said:
Wow. It's funny how this thread has derailed somewhat. The MWO in question requested he be allowed to raise the pride flag on one day during pride week. Now we are comparing that to the Toronto gay pride parade?
What the MWO requested and what the CF approved are in no way comparable. I heard his interview on the radio and he had nothing but good things to say about the CF, and it's tolerance for diversity. The CF got some well needed PR out of it with Joe Public, we likely will have attracted some good talent through this as well.
I'm not sure why this has to be criticized.
I've gone thru the thread again and I don't see any relation to the event on CFB Edmonton being linked to the obscene aspects of the Pride Parades, etc. I don't think anyone is comparing the two events. If there was any impression on my part that I was suggesting it, please let me clarify by saying I see no relation or link between the CFB Edmonton flag raising or the folks involved, and the follow on stuff from the Pride events.
WRT my belief that
some of the acts and displays in the Toronto Pride pics, etc are perverted and disgusting and shouldn't be tolerated; I would say the same thing if I was at the beach and 50 people went walking by in the raw, straight couples, gay couples, lesbian couples, circus clowns, whatever.
It is not their sexual orientationt that is the issue. It is the way they act. Simple. When it comes to being a pervert, sicko, weirdo, etc I don't care what part of Canadian society you come from and its not because you are a rubber boot wearing smelt fishermen who speaks 9 languages I look at you with that "WTF" look. Its because you are only wearing rubber boots in public and I don't want to see your EIS.
WRT to the orginal part of this thread, I see no harm at all with the Rainbow Flag being flown at CFB Edmonton, or any base. The benefit to the CF and our society, as a whole, might not be tangible to me as an individual, but it might be to others, and if so good. Job well done.
