This is a common misunderstanding I think, it's not that they're taking pride in being gay, it's that they're taking pride in choosing to be openly gay in a society which would largely prefer to pretend that homosexuality doesn't exist. Transgender people are the most targeted group for physical attacks in America. So "bravery" might be a better term, though I'm sure there would be plenty of people who object to and/or misinterpret that as well, so it's ultimately a lost cause trying to find the perfect branding.
If we're being real, parades were already pretty gay to begin with, so I say let people have their fun.
Stunning and brave, eh?
Everything comes back to South Park. Buckle up, buckaroos.
Let's use a gaming example for this. Remember the guy who went into GameStop? The "It is "MA'AM!" guy?
That dude annoyed the piss out of me. The reason is not because he thinks he is a woman; that's perfectly fine. He can dress as he pleases, change his name, get surgery, whatever. All of that is perfectly copasetic with me.
But then he decided to go OFF on an innocent store employee who either didn't know or didn't care that this man had "preferred pronouns", and threw a temper tantrum, because other people didn't immediately go along with what he said.
That is no different than a Bible-thumping Christian screaming at people inside a BestBuy for watching porn, just because HE doesn't like sexytime pictures.
Point being, live your life to the fullest and enjoy all of your own personal liberties. BUT, also remember that we are all a part of society, and everyone else has the same exact right to liberty, in all things.
I appreciate Japanese culture, deeply, because while they do have specific societal standards that most are presumed to follow, they are inward, reserved people who don't typically feel the need to stand out or be recognized or worshiped because of what they choose to represent themselves as. I respect that.
I think that people on either side whom are too far into their lean are as intolerable as the other side. Extremism is always a bad thing; the world is not monochromatic, and American politics has made our society exactly that. Left or right. Blue or red. Black or white. High or off. No in-between is allowed, and no compromise can be reached, because if EVERYONE is offended, no one can be happy.
No one said we should all be guaranteed happiness. Just the right to the liberty of pursuing it. I think we could all be more respectful and compassionate to each other, and maybe the first step towards that is perhaps just shutting the fuck up about everything we feel offended about, and just suck it the fuck up and get over what doesn't actually impact us.
I have to keep checking myself to pull back from engaging in topics that literally have no impact on my life. But I like to argue and debate, so I go for hot topics. And usually wind up making more enemies than friends. That's the world we live in. Can't have any opinion or take any side without making one friend and two foes.