With minor modifications to correct stereotyping of lesbians and gay men, Ted Gregory`s June 29 article about the Gay and Lesbian Pride Parade would make a fine companion piece to the lengthier, front-page article this event deserves.
Mr. Gregory eloquently describes the efforts that parents traumatized by the sexual orientation of their children have made to overcome their
”devastation” and ”sorrow” in the name of love, but entirely neglects the basic premise of the parade: lesbians and gay men are proud to be who we are-our sexual orientation should not be the source of trauma for anyone
(including ourselves).
By representing all gays and lesbians as ”bearded cross dressers,”
”topless women,” ”all-male square dancers” or shirtless leather-fetishists, Mr. Gregory ignores the fact that most of us marchers were as
”decidedly modest” as the parents he describes and rather boringly represented various social, religious, political and professional
organizations.
I look forward to more balanced and prominent coverage by the Tribune of next year`s parade.
