What's your opinion of parades that celebrate pride (for example: gay), spirit, or heritage (example: ethnic observance)? Have you ever been to one, and if you have, did you have a good time? If you've never been to any, is it something you would ever want to do?

I think that taking pride in your heritage or affiliation is a great thing. However I personally think that gay pride parades are getting us nowhere. They've took the movement into a joke. Gays in this country (and all over the world) are denied the same rights and protection under the law that straight people are; we're amidst an economic downtown; we're amidst war and turmoil. And we think it's appropriate to party to bad club mixes of 80s pop songs and shout that if you don't like us, fuck off?

This is just burning bridges rather than building new ones.

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As for other types of assemblies, I like getting together with other Germans/German Americans and celebrating. But that's more for me than to send some sort of message.

I have been to the Gay Pride Parade in New York and it is a total blast!

I've never been to any such parade, but I think they're a good thing. It gives a chance for people to meet other like people and gives them an opportunity to celebrate who they are and to give any protestors or those who disagree a big "Screw You!" Though I've never been to any such parades, I can't ever see myself going. I really dislike big crowds and they make me anxious too, plus it sounds like hassle.

Never been to one....but who knows, maybe it will be something that I do before I die.

I think it's great! People should celebrate the person they are. They have every right to do it. Haven't myself but plan to.

I'm not all that big a fan of parades themselves, but I do love the parties that come after.

They can be a lot of fun if you're in the mood for it. The best parade ever is the West Indian Day parade on Labor Day in NYC. The Carribana parade in Toronto is dope too.