Stockholm Europride 2008 - R(A)

WARNING! - This post is about LGBT (Lesbians, Gays, Bi-Sexuals & Transexuals), has contents that may be offensive, and therefore not suitable for everybody. But if you want to continue anyway, FACK YOU!! :-)

 
 
 
HOMOPHOBIA
unreasoning fear of or antipathy toward homosexuals and homosexuality
 
 
 
EuroPride is an international lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender event that is hosted by different European city each year. Stockholm is the host for this year's week-long event. Wife and I are not part of this community, but we are curious since there's no such thing back home.
 
In the weeks leading up to this, we spotted rainblow flags and posters everywhere, promoting this event. People at work talked about it. Wife's gossip kakis also mentioned it. One local TV channel even dedicated its airtime to gay-friendly shows. I've never felt so uncomfortable watching TV before. I mean, I can handle hardcore porn, nudity, coarse languages and gory scenes, but seeing two guys gazing lovingly into each other's eyes, whispering sweet words to each other before launching into a full-blown embrace and french kissing is something else. Wife mostly just giggle beside me whenever such scenes came on TV and then she will start to tease me about my sexuality. As a husband, there's only one way to prove my sexual orientation and shut her up.
 
I did feel a little bit uncomfortable with all the goings-on around town. With all these LGBT people from all over Europe converging in Stockholm, I realise that I have the potential to be a rape victim for the first time in my life. I start thinking about the possibility that some of them may have a taste for Asian meat. If a few of these big muscular ang mohs gang-up to attack, they can easily pin me down and violate me in many unmentionable ways.
 
Fortunately, nothing of that sort happened. The festival atmosphere has not been spoiled by reports of these people rampaging around town making a nuisance of themselves. Sadly, it's the "straight" people who tries to disrupt the event. We saw and heard news report that churches which are gay-friendly being vandalized, gays who are having fun and minding their own business being harassed, and some hardliners from the local muslims & christians community staging some protests. Despite small pockets of disturbance, majority of people, straight or otherwise, just want to have some fun.
 
Wife and I didn't attend any of the numerous sporting, artistic events and forums staged throughout the city, but we took part in the final parade where we saw LGBTs from various countries, from all walks of life, and countless people cheering, supporting and accepting them. Seeing people around me being so open about it, my own slight homophobia begins to wane...
 
 
 
From all walks of life

 
Police

 
Doctors and nurses

 

 
Devils

 
In the army

 
Students

 
Dentists

 
Proud parents to LGBT

 
Gay and black POPE???

 
Other members of the church

 

 
Marching for those who can't

 
And finally, gay canines

 

 
 
 
My tiny little slight homophobia did not wane because of these!

 

 

 

 
 
 
But by these.....hey, how ya doing?

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
Wife's favourite

 
 
 
See other photos of <<< EuroPride 2008 Stockholm >>>
 
 
 

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