Pride

Pride. It seems to me that pride is something that one acquires for something one has has actually accomplished. Is it an accomplishment to simply be gay? Today (written summer'07) is Gay Pride Day in Seoul and for many reasons, I will not be a part of it. First and foremost of these reasons and inarguably the most valid is the fact that I am getting over the flu. However, the other reasons, although valid to me, may perhaps not be valid for my friends.
Is being gay something of which we can be proud? I subscribe to the belief that I was born gay and Caucasian and male. Undoubtedly, there are those who oppose this view; the absurdity of someone choosing to be gay is even more absurd than the notion of being proud of being Caucasian or a man or even being gay. It is simply who I am.
I am proud of being a man who tries to be the best man that he can be and I am a man who is proud of wholeheartedly giving myself to the man I love. I am proud of being a good son, a good friend and a good human being. Am I proud of being gay? No. I love who I love and I feel what I feel and I am what I am. Are heterosexual people proud of being heterosexual? I am doubtful that the ‘average Joe’ has ever even contemplated that question.
The gay pride issue, to me, implies that we are less than or different than everyone else; we’re asking for special treatment while demanding equal rights. When we finally achieve equal rights, what then? Do the pride festivities end? That’s highly doubtful, gay pride events are known to be some of the best parties in the world and they bring in way too much money for the people from whom we are demanding equal rights.
Proud? No.