Front cover images would have us believe that gay pride is nothing more than uncovered abs and backless chaps flailing aimlessly. To the contrary, gay pride isn't just a parade. Pride is a march, with many of the same intentions as the first Stonewall marches of 1969: recognition, tolerance, protection and inclusion. For many participants, pride is still a demonstration for their causes, faiths, cultures, hobbies, and beliefs.

Blogger Bejata recounts his New York City pride experience and how he went from onlooker to activist:

"I came to the conclusion years ago that being in the New York City Gay Pride march was far more interesting than watching it. It’s the difference between being an active participant versus a passive observer. Besides, I love to hear people cheer whenever I go by."

Bejata also reminds us that on the books, Pride is technically a march and not a parade:

"More than 300 organizations and a half million people take part in the march. In terms of permit applications it is officially a march, not a parade; a march is a political event that comes with guaranteed first amendment rights that cannot be denied on the whim of some bureaucrat. Moving that many people into parade formation still takes coordination and patience however."

Read Bejata's complete recap of Heritage of Pride 2008.

_{Image © Ramon Johnson.}

Back in 2006, I asked if gays should carry guns. The discussion was inspired by a blogger's response to a gay bashing episode on the now canceled show Noah's Arc.

Last week, in a historic decision, the U.S. Supreme Court reaffirmed an individual's constitutional right to carry a handgun. The ruling comes at an interesting time when we are continually reminded that violence does little but create grief and cost money that could be better allocated elsewhere. Still yet, there are pros and cons of gun ownership.

On one hand, I don't feel violence is the answer. On another, violence against gays is still very much a fact of life. Should aggression be combated with more aggression? Should gays carry guns for protection?

_{Image © David Hartman.}