Public Opinion: The Meaning of Queer and the Meaning of Pride

Queer is defined by AI as an umbrella term for sexual and gender minorities who are not heterosexual or cisgender. Which I guess would include me? The word is formerly a slur (I remember that from my elementary school days) but it has been “reclaimed” by the LBGTQ community. Originally the word meant odd or strange which is how I always interpreted it since I read alot of books from the early 20th century and late 19th century. 

I have been open about my sexuality, although I don’t like to talk about it since family reads my blog and I’m not sure how they would feel about it. I’m bisexual, nothing fancy about it. I have been in a loving, committed relationship with my boyfriend for over four years. I have many homosexual friends, several transgender friends. I have been to Pride, to gay clubs, to drag shows. I’m not saying there is anything wrong with these things. It is healthy for a community to take pride in itself and what it offers. 

But (and I’m not the only one calling the LGBTQ community out on this) I have never considered Pride a family friendly event. Pride is about being proud of who we love. And part of that includes sex. We are celebrating SEXuality. I don’t think small children and families should be part of that. They are too young to be exposed to homosexual sex just as they are too young to be exposed to hetersexual sex. When they are old enough to go on their own, that’s another story. But before you plop your three year old down for drag queen story hour make sure you know the message of the book. Is it simply pride? Or is it something more?