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London Pride: Too Much of a Gay Ol' Time?
Activist condemns parade for choosing fun over politics
By Neal Colgrass
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Posted Jul 4, 09 5:45 PM CDT
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(Newser)
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Forty years after the Stonewall riots touched off the gay liberation movement, London’s gay community is debating whether to celebrate or get political, the Guardian reports. One activist blasted organizers of today’s Pride London parade—themed “Come and Play”—for “depoliticizing” the event, and accused the broader LGBT community of “huge apathy and complacency.”
“To ignore and downplay this important anniversary is an insult to the veterans who began our momentous fight for freedom,” he protests. But one organizer defends the emphasis on mirth over politics. “If you want to campaign, you have to have an audience, so you need to make it fun,” he says, promising the inclusion of “important but boring” speeches.