[Beso]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Honestly Oliver the only conclusion I can come to is that you're lucky enough to have been extremely sheltered thus far in life. I have gay friends who are a married couple, and yet can only hold hands in public if they're on "the right side of the city". Things are far from being as peachy as you seem to believe?

Has this been tested..or did they just have a bad experienceone night?

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

I love history - kings and queens and wars and old gods and old cultures ... the history of how homos treated isn't as interesting, and learning about it won't give me more appreciation of being attracted to the same gender.


We're not American, so why complain about American things? If you're going to complain about American things, why not worse things?

[Toy Soldier]

Originally Posted by parmnion

Has this been tested..or did they just have a bad experience one night?

They've been together for more than 12 years and have lived there the entire time, they know it like the back of their hand.

It's not about being attacked or in danger, you won't get that in any mainstream part of a city (usually), but they know what parts of town it's just normal / not noteworthy, and what parts will get staring and comments. Not even from the majority of people. Obviously most people don't bat an eye at people being "openly gay" these days. But there are always those few (usually very loud) arseholes to make a comment or crack a joke.

[Northern Monkey]

Don’t know.Never actually in my life encountered a gay pride march.Never ever seen one.

[Morgan.]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

Yeah, I think at this point Pride should be retired.

There are no political battles left to fight, and by and large, no-one cares if you're gay. The odd homophobe or fag-basher isn't going to have their mind changed by the cringey and gross displays we see at Pride festivals.

Having inspirational or otherwise just well liked people in the public eye who just happen to be gay would go so much further/

[Jigs]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Gay symbols being used in the consumer market is really a hugely positive sign for mainstream acceptance.

The most important thing said in this thread.

Companies may not always get it right, but exposure is exposure regardless. Members of the LGBTQ+ community know that we're way more than just a rainbow or a bit of glitter. Let the heteros be reductionist. I'd rather they be a little bit reductionist than ignorant/hateful.