If we aren’t careful, children at Pride could wind up exposed to bigotry and thinking that body p*licing and puritan values are compatible with Queer Liberation. ️ ️⚧️
Think of the children!!!
Big time agree with this. Even as someone that identifies as demi and is mostly uncomfortable with raunchiness, I recognize that queer liberation means the liberation of bodily expression and desire exchanges. Highly recommend people learning more about queer history before calling for the policing of bodies.
I agree, but I think there should be some effort to make non sexual areas at pride parades / festivals / etc. Because bodily autonomy and sexual freedom are absolutely important to queer liberation, but children also shouldn’t be exposed to explicit nsfw stuff.
This is going to be a long post because I want to make sure I address as many things as possible, and also my brain isn’t efficient. Here goes:
But then we are back to talking about what the Right wants to talk about. We’re back to conceeding the conversation needs to be about fear mongering in the guise of “being protective”.
Protected from what though?
Like its been some time since I’ve been to a large, in-person- Pride even because of Covid… but as far as I can recall from all the years prior - no one was brandishing dildos and vibrators, or having public genital or oral sex.
What I DO remember, is a lot of people in various elaborate outfits that showed various amounts of skin (but always still somehow more dressed than a strap bikini or a speedo). I remember people standing waving flags, or huddled together on lawns eating vendor food. I remember them kissing or holding hands. I remember dancing and I remember music… pink-washed corporate sponsored floats and free bracelets and beads… I remember and a LOT of things but I don’t recall anything that would have shocked a child of any age.
…unless that child was being raised in a very conservative household.
So I really really really need people to think here: When we agree to “think about the children” what are really agreeing to?
When we say “I agree children shouldn’t be exposed to sexual stuff at pride..” what does that agreement ~do~?
Because for practical purposes what it does is “agree” that there ARE uniquely unsafe and sexual elements of Pride. Something that I don’t think is true
- and no I can’t account for every last Queer person or Pride parade but I don’t think I should HAVE to.
Being queer isn’t inherently any different than NOT being queer. And allo-cis-hets never have to jump through these hoops and disprove these “concerns” on behalf of anyone.
-> Its almost like this is a “problem” entirely manufactured for the Queer community so bigots have a foot in the door to peddle their biases.
Just as an example ((and only an example)) of how this ideology permeats all of us (even queer folk): I see sooooooooooooooooo many “nsfw” posts here on tumblr (and other social media) - and its SELDOM tagged, or put below a Content Notice, or posted to a blog that has warnings about 18+ only…
Even the blog I am reblogging from and currently leaping my thoughts off of, actually has a nice comedic memes about “cocks” exactly below their reblog. Without tags, etc.
And I am NOT saying that not tagging or giving notice for our shit posts is inherently bad. What I am TRYING (and maybe failing) to say is: Why no concern for child safety exposure here in our spaces on the internet, but definitely concern for child safety in our physical spaces?
Because the Right can only object to what it knows about/ “is forced to see”.
If anything its easier to get “exposed to nsfw” stuff on the internet than at a festival. ANY kid can open up the internet from pretty much any device now. But any kid without a license can’t even take themself to an outdoor event. PARENTS and GUARDIANS make that call. And presumably they are making it with wisdom.
And so even *if* some Pride events were like what the Christians feared - I have to ask:
“Why are we talking about what we should be allowed to do at our own events, with own bodies, because of someone else’s ”“"beliefs”“”?“ Seems like the solution in that case would be: ‘don’t bring your kid’.”
And just so I can make sure I’ve addressed every angle - it *is* okay and even vital, that Pride events have mature aspects that talk about sex safety, sexual intimacy, and enjoyment.
We lost nearly a whole generation of Queer future-elders to Aids. We’ve lost potential elders to targeted brutalized murder.
These are OUR events, paid for in blood.
When others show up they should already KNOW what they are attending.
We really can’t afford to keep letting the same old tright excuses arguements play out over and over and over, year after year, letting allo-cis-het society chip away at our culture. Letting respectability politics govern where “the line” is at our own liberation. Let right-wingers slip into our dialogue.
For everyone’s sake we need to shut.it.down. Instead of meeting them in the middle.
There is nothing more to talk about - We are done with the bigots and their maligning thought campaigns.
