[arista]

The same topic is going on in USA.
It was featured last week on the Daily Show
shown on our Comdey Central HD ch.

Yes Corporations
have control and co fund the gay pride marches.

Sign Of The Times.

[Liam-]

I mean, companies very often use Pride as a way to try and empty their shelves yeah

[arista]

[Livia]

Isn't everything eventually swallowed up by commercialism? It was clear it was happening when M&S brought out the gay sandwich claiming it was helping LGBT charities when in reality, such a tiny amount was being donated it was clear it was about raising their own profile and looking virtuous rather than helping the cause.

[Twosugars]

Partly unavoidable
But as long as the community spirit and solidarity are retained it should be fine
And the upside is that those companies could be held to higher standards so that lgbt rights would benefit

[Oliver_W]

Is that another way of saying cringey pointless crap?

If so, yes.

[Twosugars]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

Is that another way of saying cringey pointless crap?

If so, yes.

You must be a hoot at parties

[bitontheslide]

companies will take advantage of anything to increase their business. It doesn't negate the original intention. Should we cancel Christmas due to it being exploited?

[Oliver_W]

Originally Posted by Twosugars

You must be a hoot at parties

I don't drink and you can't really tell I'm gay, so you'd probably hate me x

[Twosugars]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

I don't drink and you can't really tell I'm gay, so you'd probably hate me x

I dont wear pink either
But not drinking could be an issue

[Oliver_W]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

companies will take advantage of anything to increase their business. It doesn't negate the original intention. Should we cancel Christmas due to it being exploited?

Exactly - the organisers need to make money, and if other businesses want to help them do that while also profiting from it, then it's all gravy.

I don't think it's the commericalisation of Pride which is the problem - homophobia is still a thing and there is a need for positive representations of LGBT in the public sphere.

[Twosugars]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

companies will take advantage of anything to increase their business. It doesn't negate the original intention. Should we cancel Christmas due to it being exploited?

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

Exactly - the organisers need to make money, and if other businesses want to help them do that while also profiting from it, then it's all gravy.

I don't think it's the commericalisation of Pride which is the problem - homophobia is still a thing and there is a need for positive representations of LGBT in the public sphere.

Agree.
Luckily more and more people come out so number of lgbt in public life grows

[Toy Soldier]

Anything that is popular will be inevitably swallowed up by consumerism. There's just no way to avoid that. If large numbers of people's eyes are on something, then people will want to profit.

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Anything that is popular will be inevitably swallowed up by consumerism. There's just no way to avoid that. If large numbers of people's eyes are on something, then people will want to profit.

Pretty much, as long as the LGBT are benefiting though, corporations can stick rainbow flags on anything they want.

For me, it's not something I care a lot about, it's just a powerful thing to see LGBT acceptance is prevalent as it is and how far we have come in such a short time. It makes me sound older than my years but things were completely different when I was younger and to see things change for the better is an emotional thing. I didn't have the easiest time growing up bisexual but I'm glad that it'll be even just a little bit easier for future generations.

[Ammi]

...I think that regardless of whether there is more and more commercial advertising at the events etc...it’s still the whole spirit of the purpose and celebration of it that’s being absorbed more than anything else...for those who are there and also for the images we see...we see the people in their magnificent clothing and see the pride and celebration on their faces and what it means to them...we don’t even notice any advertising or commercial aspects etc...and anything like the LBGT sandwich which was produced in support of ...any donations to the LBGT homeless charity is all a great thing...

[parmnion]

Originally Posted by arista

Didn't expect danny baker to support it.

[Toy Soldier]

Thinking about it, it's actually pretty significant that big companies WANT to "jump on the bandwagon" and use pride / rainbow flag etc to promote their products. Even if their reason for it is purely to profit, it still means that they CAN use it for profit... When it's not that long ago that big brands would run a mile from their products being associated with "gayness" because it could destroy their mainstream appeal. Gay symbols being used in the consumer market is really a hugely positive sign for mainstream acceptance.

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Thinking about it, it's actually pretty significant that big companies WANT to "jump on the bandwagon" and use pride / rainbow flag etc to promote their products. Even if their reason for it is purely to profit, it still means that they CAN use it for profit... When it's not that long ago that big brands would run a mile from their products being associated with "gayness" because it could destroy their mainstream appeal. Gay symbols being used in the consumer market is really a hugely positive sign for mainstream acceptance.

...yeah totally...it’s an indication of an overall general public support for the LGBT community...and obviously commercialism follows Closely what the general public supports ....

[Ammi]

...here for John Lewis doing a Gay Pride advert each year.....

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Thinking about it, it's actually pretty significant that big companies WANT to "jump on the bandwagon" and use pride / rainbow flag etc to promote their products. Even if their reason for it is purely to profit, it still means that they CAN use it for profit... When it's not that long ago that big brands would run a mile from their products being associated with "gayness" because it could destroy their mainstream appeal. Gay symbols being used in the consumer market is really a hugely positive sign for mainstream acceptance.

I agree with that. Although if businesses are going to support Pride then they should be honest about it. If they're using it as a promotion to raise their own profile then they should be donating a decent amount to one of the LGBT charities.

[Vicky.]

Erm obviously. So many of my mates do not go anymore as they see it as just another cash making excercise rather than anything else. Any of this 'rainbow this, rainbow that' is just about cash rather than acceptance tbh. Also does not help matters when half the attendees at pride these days seem to be straight blokes in bondage gear..because of course sexuality is all about parading ones fetishies in the street. That absolutely will not get people to draw false equivalance will it.seeing that day/week/whatever for gay people to be themselves results in a bunch of blokes running about in leather underwear/naked. Gay pride = public fetish. Erm, nope, and this winds friends up so so much. Have witnessed arguments turning into actual fights regarding this..when someone comes out with the inevitable 'not all men go there to parade their fetishes and seek attention'. Ugh. 'Not all X' is just such a pathetic response to anything..

As someone mentioned too..the likes of M&S are taking the piss. Making out they are doing so much for lgbt charities, while donating only 10k to them..meanwhile selling out because of a rainbow packet so profits soar hugely. Virtue signalling from these big companies tbh, and thats not a phrase I use often.

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Thinking about it, it's actually pretty significant that big companies WANT to "jump on the bandwagon" and use pride / rainbow flag etc to promote their products. Even if their reason for it is purely to profit, it still means that they CAN use it for profit... When it's not that long ago that big brands would run a mile from their products being associated with "gayness" because it could destroy their mainstream appeal. Gay symbols being used in the consumer market is really a hugely positive sign for mainstream acceptance.

I do agree with this too though. That marketing something as supporting lgbt people makes profits soar rather than crash..is a fantastic thing in itself. I am just too cynical most of the time I think

[Oliver_W]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

Erm obviously. So many of my mates do not go anymore as they see it as just another cash making excercise rather than anything else. Any of this 'rainbow this, rainbow that' is just about cash rather than acceptance tbh. Also does not help matters when half the attendees at pride these days seem to be straight blokes in bondage gear..because of course sexuality is all about parading ones fetishies in the street. That absolutely will not get people to draw false equivalance will it.seeing that day/week/whatever for gay people to be themselves results in a bunch of blokes running about in leather underwear/naked. Gay pride = public fetish. Erm, nope, and this winds friends up so so much. Have witnessed arguments turning into actual fights regarding this..when someone comes out with the inevitable 'not all men go there to parade their fetishes and seek attention'. Ugh. 'Not all X' is just such a pathetic response to anything.

Yeah, I think at this point Pride should be retired.

There are no political battles left to fight, and by and large, no-one cares if you're gay. The odd homophobe or fag-basher isn't going to have their mind changed by the cringey and gross displays we see at Pride festivals.

Having inspirational or otherwise just well liked people in the public eye who just happen to be gay would go so much further/

[Toy Soldier]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

I do agree with this too though. That marketing something as supporting lgbt people makes profits soar rather than crash..is a fantastic thing in itself. I am just too cynical most of the time I think

It's just a double edged thing really. The fact that they DO it is a soulless cynical cash grab and I don't think the companies themselves should be thought of as doing something great. We should never forget that they don't care about anything but money.

But the fact that they CAN do it is fantastic as associating most products with "the gays" even 15/20 years ago would have been advertising suicide.

[Elliot]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

There are no political battles left to fight, and by and large, no-one cares if you're gay.

This forum alone proves this isn’t the case