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scarp  ·  4739 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: "Why I'm not proud of being gay"
Absolutely -- gay pride is, in a major way, a rebuttal, a push back against societal discrimination and hatred. Bering doesn't deny this. But the notion of pride and all that it entails runs counter to what the movement should try to achieve. As a gay man, the values I would like to see promoted by the community are confidence and self-esteem -- not pride. As the author notes, the absence of pride is not equivalent to shame.

It is on some level a pedantic argument, but words are important. Words shape how we feel and portray ourselves more than we realize. So I think it's important to craft our message carefully: be happy, be confident, but don't be proud.

Relevant: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDgmjL6z2jY