No More Gay Pride for Fayetteville, AR! This whole fiasco, now called “Pride Events” disappears lesbians, promotes drinking establishments, multiple drag shows, and high-priced “social events” held at an expensive downtown hotel. Fayetteville is only playing “follow the leader” in the national trend to eliminate any reference to gay men and lesbians in the title. Who benefits from this? Not lesbians or gay men!
This “offensive language” term is the code used to silence differing political opinions like mine. Reading this text written by the organizers assured me I would not be a welcome addition to their parade highlighting “diversity”. Diversity is another code word demanding the inclusion of male to trans persons in women only or lesbian only events. Diversity is not meant to include the opinions of Radical Feminists. Our opinions and beliefs are routinely labeled “offensive” and exclusionary. Any discussion, criticism or questioning is prohibited.
The rainbow flag has been captured by the trans activists and their allies. The online promotion for the “Pride” event features photos that I find full of stereotyping of gay people and our interests. See https://pride.nwaequality.org/ Additionally, no where did I see the word “lesbian” mentioned at all!
We who are fiercely loyal to lesbians and to the long term interests of women and girls have been demonized both locally and nationally for our carefully thought out criticisms of the trans gender movement. The symbolism of removing Gay Pride and becoming Pride events parallels the stigma now attached to gay young people. Young women who do not fit the stereotype for girls and young men who do not fit the stereotype for boys are now the prime candidates for transitioning. This generation of youths are the innocent victims of a questionable social experiment which will leave many young people sterile and hormone/drug dependent for their entire lives. The medical and pharmaceutical industries will thrive.
I refuse to be silenced. I speak from personal experience as one who has been successfully deplatfomed locally for the last two years because of our critique of trans genderism voiced by myself and other Radical Feminists. We were ousted by the local “progressive” organization, but rented space for our workshops. Men, and those who support the interests of men, do not dare let our lesbian and feminist voices be heard! I have read of other lesbian and/or gay men who have voiced dissatisfaction with the trans-dominated national gay rights organizations like the so-called Human Rights Campaign. Read one gay man’s opinion here: https://www.queerty.com/is-it-time-to-drop-the-t-from-lgbtq-this-guy-says-yes-and-do-it-fast-20160229
After we studied studied the carefully scripted language from Northwest Arkansas Pride, a local group of lesbians and feminists decided to create a lesbian-centered event in Fayetteville for the same day as the Pride, 2018 parade. We quickly made a flyer to advertise our Lesbian Story Time held at the Fayetteville Public Library on Saturday, June 16th from 12:30 to 4:30. We welcomed lesbians and allies.
Our stories were front and center at our successful Lesbian Story Time. We provided food and cold drinks on that hot, sunny day. We decorated the room with Lesbian books, posters, tee shirts and memorabilia including my Missouri license plate from 1984 that says LABRYS. Every woman there got to tell part of her story—we laughed and sang and supported each other as strong women. And we are planning more events!
Northwest Arkansas Pride is organized and produced by the Northwest Arkansas Equality, Inc., which is exclusively authorized by the City of Fayetteville to operate the NWA Pride Parade and the associated events. NWA Pride is a large event, and there are a number of guidelines and rules for participation as a parade contingent. If you have any questions regarding these guidelines, please email us at info@nwapride.org. The NWA Pride Parade is a fun, active, and friendly event. As such, rude, disrespectful, or obscene behavior will not be tolerated. Any individual or group not behaving appropriately may, at the sole discretion of Northwest Arkansas Equality, Inc. and its agents, be removed from the parade. Northwest Arkansas Equality, Inc. reserves the right to deny the application of parade entry, or continuation on the parade route, to any individual or organization it believes would misrepresent the intentions of this event and/or be offensive to event attendees or affiliated organizations. Any applicant misrepresenting their business description or marketing intentions, or who displays or distributes offensive or obscene materials, will be required to leave the area immediately at the request of the event organizers.