The theme for this year’s Seattle Pride Parade, “We Are ALL American”, is generating quite a bit of discussion within the community. This year the focus is on celebrating the passing of Referendum 71, the first time in American history that a LGBT civil rights issue was approved at a state ballot box, however a faction within the community has come forward because they feel that the theme is “offensive” and “attempts to normalize the LGBT community.”
Jon Mejia, Secretary for Seattle Out and Proud said the following:
I’ve had several lively and worthwhile email exchanges on the subject of our theme. But in case there are any doubts, our Pride parade is always a celebration of the uniqueness of the LGBT population while simultaneously a demand for our humans rights to be recognized. The theme’s emphasis is on the capitalized word ‘ALL’, the meaning being that everyone who lives in America, regardless of race, religion, nationality or gender, deserves equal treatment under our Constitution. It is a call to return to the founding ideals of this nation and serves as a reminder that everyone who came to this land, be it on the Mayflower hundreds of years ago or as a new arrival just last week, did so because of America’s promise to provide ALL of it’s citizens equal justice, a level playing field, and liberty to pursue happiness.
But Lonnie Lopez does not agree with the theme:
I don’t like the idea of being “All-American” when we do not have full equality. It’s kind of like celebrating something we haven’t won yet. I would prefer that the theme be tied to the actual lgbt struggle and not simply another opportunity to corral queers into one space for marketing. How about something that will bring people together to celebrate the history of our movement (last year was the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion but you wouldn’t have known it from last year’s theme) and give attendees something to take back home after the parade is over. Let’s leave people with a burning passion to become lgbt activsits because if we want full civil equality in our lifetimes, we have to be the ones to make it happen. In fact, let’s NOT call it a parade any more. Let’s call it what it was originally created to be: a political march.
In addition to the parade this year Seattle Pride will host everything from an “ALL American Bowling” event to the first “ALL American Pride Picnic” where kids and families will enjoy a soap box derby, apple pie eating contest, music and games.
“ALL American” Grand Marshals for this year’s parade include decorated Marine Eric Alva, Iraq military hero, Greta Cammermeyer, expelled from the military under the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy and later reinstated by the US Supreme Court and ex-National Football League player Dave Kopay. Also being honored for their contribution in the Referendum 71 victory are Washington Families Standing Together, Equal Rights Washington, The Greater Seattle Business Association and Seattle Gay News, and PFLAG: Parents, Families, & Friends of Lesbians and Gays.
The Seattle Pride Parade is one of the oldest and largest Pride Parades in the nation attracting several hundred thousand spectators and participants.
And, yes, like everything in life, the controversy over Seattle Pride’s theme has already generated a Facebook event page.
Ah, the great debate over assimilation vs. separation.
Those who wish to maintain subversive identities should consider how subversive assimilation really is. Assimilation (and subsequent normalization) of queer individuals is exactly what marriage opponents are afraid of.
I am an American. I have several complaints about the way my country is run, but I'd rather live here than Kenya, Jamaica, Iran, or probably even England.