Furry representation in pride parade

[Apoxon]

as i've said before, and will say again: i do not think representing ourselves at the Gay Pride Parade is a good idea at this point...

how many people ask questions they already know the answers to?

there are two kinds of people that will be watching the parade, those that think they know what furry is, and those who have no idea. i suppose there are also those who really do know, but i doubt there are many, as the issue here seems to be 'WE MUST PRESENT FURRY TO THE WORLD IN A POSITIVE LIGHT!'

now, those that 'know' what furries are, have likely learned about them from CSI, 1000 ways to die, and similarly marred media portrayals. that said, does anyone think they're going to a.) want to know more about furries, or b.) ask what furries are. no. they're not. because they already feel they are well enough informed. they know the answer and furry has already been defined for them. albeit a skewed representation.

for those that don't know anything about furry, well, here you have fursuits, marching in a parade that's largely fetish based. now, that's not to say everyone there is related to fetishes. telus, girl guides, etc, as Gizmo mentioned, are certainly not kinky organizations, however, we need to take into consideration the fact that organizations like Telus and Girl Guides are all -well established-. everyone knows who they are, and what they're about. then you have other groups and organizations that -are- largely fetish based, that very few people know about, and unfortunately, that's where our group currently falls (as this is the issue we want to address; introducing furry to the public).

[Akonite]

Ill try to keep my opinion short and simple.

Im not Gay. I am a fur. I am not the only straight Fur.

If you are gay and a fur, I think it would be awesome to go to Pride in suit or as a Furry, sounds like a ton of fun! (I was with a group that did that last year!) But please don't go and be an unelected representative of a group im involved in and promote that group as something its simply not.

Adverstising ourselves in a venue like pride basically says "Furry is gay" (as was said earlier because Furry is not a well established entity in the public mind). Any sensory input you give to people at this point in the fandoms progression  is what a majority of people who haven't heard of it will assume it is. Be it a fetish, or a gay group, or whatever (you would also basically be suggesting to people that vancouFur is a gay convention).

I am proud to be a furry. If I was gay I would be proud to be gay. I try not to hide who I am from anyone in my life. So I say Go, have fun! Be a fur in public! But please don't misrepresent who I am.

[Mattfolx]

Ill try to keep my opinion short and simple.

Im not Gay. I am a fur. I am not the only straight Fur.

If you are gay and a fur, I think it would be awesome to go to Pride in suit or as a Furry, sounds like a ton of fun! (I was with a group that did that last year!) But please don't go and be an unelected representative of a group im involved in and promote that group as something its simply not.

Adverstising ourselves in a venue like pride basically says "Furry is gay" (as was said earlier because Furry is not a well established entity in the public mind). Any sensory input you give to people at this point in the fandoms progression  is what a majority of people who haven't heard of it will assume it is. Be it a fetish, or a gay group, or whatever (you would also basically be suggesting to people that vancouFur is a gay convention).

I am proud to be a furry. If I was gay I would be proud to be gay. I try not to hide who I am from anyone in my life. So I say Go, have fun! Be a fur in public! But please don't misrepresent who I am.

REVEREND!!! *throws fist in the air*

I would have to agree, I'm too a straight fur as well, but I'm am still being asked the same questions from most of my friends of why I chose to be...well furry. But I tell them that its not just the fetishes that make up the fandom, its the appreciation of anthropomorphic animals as a whole, and all the mediums behind the context. (drawing, music, etc) 

This is what makes this fandom unique, I think.

[Acco]

Just a FYI: The PNW furs tried to hold a place in the Seattle pride parade. It was a total disaster. Both logistically and from a meia perspective.

Also, i'm sure that most suiters recognize this, but, its just not good to have a suit that's known to take part in pride, especially if they like suiting elsewhere.

And, again, I don't want more media spectatcle, especially at an event like this.

[AeroShade]

And here we go again, more arguing, JUST DROP IT. i dont like looking at negative bloody comments on something that has happened before and had multiple turn outs.

Yes there have been furs in pride, yes the media MAY fuck us over and yes it has happened ONCE but what makes you think it will ALWAYS happen.

Again not choosing sides but your attitudes on a simple question is just outlandish, yes we are entitled to our opinions but we dont need to make a thread that 3+ pages long with all you saying the exact thing over and over again.

in this world there are several groups Gay bi trans striaght etc, and there are sub groups called ALLIES, homophobes, and hetrophobe, you cant be more then one in these sub groups so pick a side: Are you the type that treats gays like normal people and vice versa, or are you completely afraid of gays or are you afraid of straights

BUT as a sub note: what is your issue people? keep it to one word, Media issue, Social relations, misinterpation of you being (and only you, not using the term BEINGS as in FURS in general)


cuz as i see it you all are defending your own tails and not the entire furmunnity, so what is it? you speaking for yourself or the entire community cuz i will tell you right now not everyone has the same opinion themselves about being a FUR...

[Renwaldo]

I think it's safe to assume most people are speaking for themselves, it just so happens the majority of us share the same opinion.

Though you may be right in that perhaps this has gone on long enough, pride parade is over with for this year. You're the second furson to claim people are trolling in this thread.

Maybe this should be locked now?  ???

[Acco]

And here we go again, more arguing, JUST DROP IT. i dont like looking at negative bloody comments on something that has happened before and had multiple turn outs.

Yes there have been furs in pride, yes the media MAY fuck us over and yes it has happened ONCE but what makes you think it will ALWAYS happen.

Again not choosing sides but your attitudes on a simple question is just outlandish, yes we are entitled to our opinions but we dont need to make a thread that 3+ pages long with all you saying the exact thing over and over again.

in this world there are several groups Gay bi trans striaght etc, and there are sub groups called ALLIES, homophobes, and hetrophobe, you cant be more then one in these sub groups so pick a side: Are you the type that treats gays like normal people and vice versa, or are you completely afraid of gays or are you afraid of straights

BUT as a sub note: what is your issue people? keep it to one word, Media issue, Social relations, misinterpation of you being (and only you, not using the term BEINGS as in FURS in general)
Snshs

cuz as i see it you all are defending your own tails and not the entire furmunnity, so what is it? you speaking for yourself or the entire community cuz i will tell you right now not everyone has the same opinion themselves about being a FUR...

I don't think you get the broader picture. How our so called community is perceived changes how people treat us. This affects how people will want to deal with us, such as business deals with the convention hotel or bowling. I'd rather be more unknown over the other possibility of being rejected.

And, you have the choice whether to read this forum topic. Use it. Don't go hating on something you can avoid.

[AeroShade]

i could of avoided it yes, so could everyone else but decided not to

as I said in the my message you quoted, we are all entitled to opinions. As am i to mine... as for community... you want the community to be represented as it should then crawl out of your dens and get out there

The entire thread was based around getting out of cover, not just cuz there are gay furs straight furs or allies. it was changing the view that people have... but if it is really an issue...

Canada Day parade next year?

[RainRat]

I hope locking it doesn't become necessary. Although the parade is over for this year, it's going to come up again next year.

Although there seems to be opposition to representing our group in the parade, I don't think anyone is saying you can't fursuit representing yourself, or march with some other group you belong to.

[gmod] Also, personal attacks, no matter how veiled(including calling people a troll), will result in action taken against the attacker.[/gmod]

[Acco]

Although there seems to be opposition to representing our group in the parade, I don't think anyone is saying you can't fursuit representing yourself, or march with some other group you belong to.

Precisely. Though, I'd ask said other group first too.

[AeroShade]

Although there seems to be opposition to representing our group in the parade, I don't think anyone is saying you can't fursuit representing yourself, or march with some other group you belong to.

I agree as well but it is still why make such a argument about this parade when there are thousands of other parades in BC and no one mention one? But i did read about the zombie walk... (i am SO in *tail thuds*)

[Acco]

I'm also on a tablet here, so bear with the double post...

i could of avoided it yes, so could everyone else but decided not to

as I said in the my message you quoted, we are all entitled to opinions. As am i to mine... as for community... you want the community to be represented as it should then crawl out of your dens and get out there

The entire thread was based around getting out of cover, not just cuz there are gay furs straight furs or allies. it was changing the view that people have... but if it is really an issue...

Canada Day parade next year?

I want the community to be represented in a light that is beneficial, but not some façade that hides everything. Pride just gives the wrong first impression to onlookers. I also don't really care about being "out there" either. Had I the choice, I'd keep furry just as it stands right now, which is mostly in the dark to the rest of the world. But, I do realize that it is a greedy, unrealistic opinion. I just ask that people respect that this is not a way I wish to be displayed and associated with the local furry community.

Parades are possibly fine, depending on what they depict.

[AeroShade]

I want the community to be represented in a light that is beneficial, but not some façade that hides everything. Pride just gives the wrong first impression to onlookers. I also don't really care about being "out there" either. Had I the choice, I'd keep furry just as it stands right now, which is mostly in the dark to the rest of the world. But, I do realize that it is a greedy, unrealistic opinion. I just ask that people respect that this is not a way I wish to be displayed and associated with the local furry community.

Parades are possibly fine, depending on what they depict.

like canada day?

[Selkit]

Wolfshade, just as you've said before effectively demanding that anyone with a negative opinion ought to shut up, we represent ourselves. However, not all of us are going to agree with you; According to current poll numbers, if it's a representative sampling of the community, 68% of us, do not want to be represented at Pride. 10% and change more don't have a strong enough opinion to say yes. A large number of us don't really want to be represented at all, Pride, anywhere or otherwise for that matter, because again, furry is a personal thing. Just like you yourself said earlier in the thread and just like I've said earlier in the thread. My fandom is not your fandom. Furry is not the same thing to you and me; I would really rather we not have yet another person going "Furry is" to the media, anywhere at all.

Go to Pride, or Canada day, or wherever. Have fun. But don't claim to speak for an entire community.

[AeroShade]

furry is a personal thing. Just like you yourself said earlier in the thread and just like I've said earlier in the thread. My fandom is not your fandom. Furry is not the same thing to you and me; I would really rather we not have yet another person going "Furry is" to the media, anywhere at all.

Go to Pride, or Canada day, or wherever. Have fun. But don't claim to speak for an entire community.

now that is a quote

as i said (and selkit hit the nail on the head) everyone is entitled to an opinion, just keep it your opinion and dont speak for others