Gay Pride Week?

Jim O'Bryan · Post by **Jim O'Bryan** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 8:02 am

Oh, I will be supporting MAMA's Madison Avenue Walk, where people can get all sorts of incentives, and win money!!!

Then maybe joining Michael Gill on bike to hit some wing spots.

Shame the LBGT did not think enough about Lakewood to share the love with a parade.

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dl meckes · Post by **dl meckes** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 8:08 am

The festival at Voinovich Park, where the parade ends, is huge. As far as I know, there's no place in Lakewood big enough to handle the booths, vendors, stage and crowd.

But that doesn't mean that the Madison walk with wings can't be attended as well. Or the Clifton Arts Festival.

It's going to be a very long, very fun day.

Bryan Schwegler · Post by **Bryan Schwegler** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 8:54 am

Jim O'Bryan wrote:Oh, I will be supporting MAMA's Madison Avenue Walk, where people can get all sorts of incentives, and win money!!!

Then maybe joining Michael Gill on bike to hit some wing spots.

Shame the LBGT did not think enough about Lakewood to share the love with a parade.

.

Actually the bigger shame is that it wouldn't have been welcome here...at least according to some in this thread.

Justine Cooper · Post by **Justine Cooper** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 8:58 am

The funniest thing about the whole condemning people as sinners, is that if it is true that we are all children of God and made in his likeness, which I do believe, then sitting in quiet meditation or prayer is enough to feel and hear the voice of God to guide us in our lives. Some don't need one of the many interpretations of the bible to dictate their lives and can go inward to follow their heart. The difference is I do this to guide my own life for the better while some use the bible to tell others how to live. That is sad.

Jim O'Bryan · Post by **Jim O'Bryan** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 9:01 am

Bryan Schwegler wrote:Actually the bigger shame is that it wouldn't have been welcome here...at least according to some in this thread.

Bryan

I read this all very differntly and can agree with Ryan on some things.

Public money should not be used for this event. Certainly not until it can prove to be a draw and a plus for the city.

The car show paid for security and insurance until we started drawing crowds, and could prove our value to the city.

I think a Pride Parade would be pretty cool. they always seem like fun, in other cities. I am all about fun.

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Bryan Schwegler · Post by **Bryan Schwegler** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 9:06 am

Jim O'Bryan wrote:
Bryan Schwegler wrote:Actually the bigger shame is that it wouldn't have been welcome here...at least according to some in this thread.

Bryan

I read this all very differntly and can agree with Ryan on some things.

Public money should not be used for this event. Certainly not until it can prove to be a draw and a plus for the city.

I agree with you as well. However, the city recognizing pride week was not about the city sponsoring a parade or even spending any money at all, it was just recognizing the week. It was no different than some of the other recognition they did at the same council meeting (Chamber of Commerce, etc).

However the true intentions and feelings of participants came out during the course of this thread. It is more about homophobia, misinformation, a religious agenda, and blantant discrimination against gay people and not so much about a 5 minute recognition of "Human Rights Dignity" week from city council.

Justine Cooper · Post by **Justine Cooper** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 9:22 am

Bryan is 100% correct. Most of the replies had nothing to do with public money being used. This thread was really about the beliefs that gays are sinners and many articulate and intelligent responses to that. A gay pride parade is not about the fun, it is about people standing up for the rights of a very important part of our population whom have been made to feel like they were not! They should not have to have a pride day or week to say "I am proud of who I am!" but they are forced to because of the hate and bigotry in this world. And Lakewood is one of the places it exists the least.

Although I am straight, the day my sexuality becomes part of someone else's beliefs is the day I say everyone should come forward with their sexuality history then. How many straight guys have used a female for sex, hired a prostitute, gotten a lap dance, had sex for any reason other than love, cheated on a girlfriend or spouse? And you know what, I still would not judge someone if they did all of the above. How dare you speak for God, Ryan, in a message of hate.

We are all an image of God.

Lynn Farris · Post by **Lynn Farris** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 8:07 pm

Bryan you said

Actually the bigger shame is that it wouldn't have been welcome here...at least according to some in this thread.

I beg to differ with you and Justine on this comment. I know you read this looong thread as carefully as I did and I found almost everyone very welcoming of the LGBT community. There are very few places where you get 100% consensus on anything. But in 15 pages - one of the longest threads I believe there was only 1 or 2 negative people. I do think that Lakewood is a very welcoming city.

JMHO

Jim O'Bryan · Post by **Jim O'Bryan** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 12:54 am

I have to agree with Lynn on this one.

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Jim O'Bryan · Post by **Jim O'Bryan** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 12:56 am

dl meckes wrote:The festival at Voinovich Park, where the parade ends, is huge. As far as I know, there's no place in Lakewood big enough to handle the booths, vendors, stage and crowd.

But that doesn't mean that the Madison walk with wings can't be attended as well. Or the Clifton Arts Festival.

It's going to be a very long, very fun day.

DL

Is that you on the right?

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dl meckes · Post by **dl meckes** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 6:38 am

Under the umbrella.

Justine Cooper · Post by **Justine Cooper** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 7:33 am

Lynn,
Yes I am sorry I didn't mean to imply the city. I meant the real message under the thread wasn't about the parade, but about Ryan's prejudice against the gay community. I was not referring to the responses. The majority of the responses were obviously intelligent and loving responses not agreeing with Ryan. This city is the most diverse and open city in Ohio I am sure. Thank you for clarifying that.

Bryan Schwegler · Post by **Bryan Schwegler** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 8:10 am

Lynn Farris wrote:Bryan you said
Actually the bigger shame is that it wouldn't have been welcome here...at least according to some in this thread.

I beg to differ with you and Justine on this comment. I know you read this looong thread as carefully as I did and I found almost everyone very welcoming of the LGBT community. There are very few places where you get 100% consensus on anything. But in 15 pages - one of the longest threads I believe there was only 1 or 2 negative people. I do think that Lakewood is a very welcoming city.

JMHO

Lynn, I agree as well. That's why I added "at least according to some people in this thread" to the end of my post. They would of course say they don't want it, but I think overall it would be welcome here.