“Everyone is forgetting that it is no longer officially referred to as Gay Pride by the organisers themselves, as it is a massive celebration of sexuality in general. Events like these were orignally established to mark the suffering that LGBT communities have overcome in the last 2000 years, some of these including the Stonewall Riots. It is one great human achievement to hold events like these in the first place, but would be an even greater achievement for society to accept it..

Lincoln Pride was a great success and most of the thanks are owed to Laura and Kieran. Maybe if Lincolnshire was as open-minded as the rest of the UK, we could probably pull off a march as well ...”

“Hi peeps, I just wanted to say that I feel quite dissapointed by some of the comments here with regards to LGBT Pride..
A pride event isn`t just about celebration but also reflection and education..
It`s widely known that like many other minority groups, the LGBT community has suffered much prejudice and persecution over the years.. for example, gay individuals were the second most victimised group during the Holocaust, with over 50,000 men sent to the concentration camps.. during liberation the gay community in these camps were then moved to prisons by the allied forces to live out the rest of their `sentence`.. it was only in 2005 that it was officially recognised that so many members of the LGBT community lost their lives during this genocide.
This is why Pride events as well events such as the LGBT History month at the collection (now entering its third year!) are so important, if we forget about the past we are doomed to make the same mistakes again.
A few years ago I was physically attacked in an unprovoked homophobic assult.. once the police apprehended the individual who attacked me the individual was unappologetic.. I found this whole experience offensive but I never generalised that every hetrosexual man is like this.. thats because society is diverse, we are all different and thankfully there are only a few small minded individuals who are willing to attack someone because they are different..
Lincoln Pride 2009 was amazing.. it was a real family event and was inclusive to everyone.. regardless of race, sex, gender, background e.t.c. and I was proud of something that attracted not just the LGBT community but also the Lincolnhire community.
Congratulations to the Lincoln Pride 2009 committee for all your hard work.. especially Laura (the chair) and Kieran (vice chair) as well as all the volunteers, sponsors, acts and every one who turned up for the event.
I am proud to say that I am a gay christian, and as a christian i believe that God is love and any event that celebrates love is a worthwhile and amazing celebration!
Thank you for taking the time to read my post and heres to Lincoln Pride 2010!”

“If these comments are really serious im surprised, do we go around saying that watching straight couples kiss is offensive??? If we don't act "normal" around people how will society ever come to terms with the fact we want to be able to express our love for each other the same way everyone else does? Pure ignorance, worry about all the people doing bad in the world then miniscule matters like two women were seen kissing!”

“If there is only one comment on here that people should take away with them it is this...
I took my girlfriend and our little lad to Lincoln Pride and we had the time of our lives. It didn't matter if you were gay/straight/black white or rainbow stripped the whole atmosphere was electrifying! The acts were fantastic and as the organisers billed the day- it was very much a family event.

There were families with young children enjoying the performances, the sun and the artificial beach - and it was all free!

I didn't see anything that would offend even the most prudish of people. Yes there were adult themed stalls selling adult products but these were in separate stalls and it was up to you if you wanted to enter them.

As a straight lad - I have no issue with a Pride event that was 100% inclusive and open to all communities.

In a time of economic crisis, high unemployment and rising crime rates on our streets, Pride reminded us that there is in fact something called community spirit. I had strangers smile and talk to me and my lad played with other children enjoying the day, my girlfriend and I met up with old friends and made new ones too.

Lincoln Pride was very well organised, I didn't see anyone shaking a rubber adult toy - instead I saw something that I've not seen in Lincoln for a long time -Pride!

There was not one incident of trouble and I felt my lad could play safely amongst complete strangers - all there to have a good time.

Hetrosexual Pride? I'm proud every day of who I am. But then again I have never been persecuted for my sexuality or sexual orientation, unlike gay men - and yes in some countries EVEN TODAY people are being killed because they are gay!

So until there is equality for all, there will always be the need to have Pride events to raise awareness of these inequalities - and I, along with my family will be flying the rainbow flag in support.

For the critics amongst you why not visit the pride website
you will see pictures of families from Lincolnshire (as well as me and my little lad) enjoying ourselves (heaven forbid) at a gay pride event!”

“Im quite surprised by some of the comments on here, im not gay nor do I have any gay friends but it didnt stop me turning up yesterday, great entertainment, met some new friends who I ended up in town with later in the night. Whatever the theme of the event, people should be turning out to represent Lincoln and possibly educate themselves in the process.”

“I think so called pride marches can actually add to discrimination too. Yes it¿s great that we're proud and all that but we should not need to address it.
Instead of gay or hetero pride why not have people pride. No I¿m not some hippy I m just a normal bloke who doesn¿t think the gender of his partner should be an issue or is anything to celebrate either in the 21 century.
We should all be treated the same. Come together to stamp out the prejudice that exists, as a community not because of who we choose as partners”

“Heterosexuality doesn't need pride events because it is an accepted form of sexual orientation whereas homosexuality has been looked down upon for hundreds of years. Who has ever been made to feel like an outcast simply for being straight? Exactly so stop being so damn cynical. Some homosexual men like to mince about more than others, get over it because some straight men like to act super macho and to be honest they appear equally annoying. And who exactly is offended at your actions pilchard, you sound fairly paranoid like that guy who tried getting a national hetero pride week in the usa, to apparently decriminalize heterosexuality around the world claiming that in san francisco people are forced to become "lesbians and fggots". Why feel so threatened? Why act like a minority when you aren't one? You don't need to take a pride stand because there isn't a large majority looking at your sexual orientation in disgust. Get some real aggro for being straight and then you can take a march, until then get a reality check.”

“I walked through the Uni on Saturday to see what was going on and was greeted by a large number of same-sex couple sucking each others faces in public. Surely this is a little disrespectful to others who might be offended by such public intimate displays.

I have absolutely no issues with gay people, but when a man feels it is appropriate to

a) mince around in the street wearing a pair of rubber pants and high-heeled thigh length white leather boots

and b) wave sex toys at complete strangers

...I really don't think the gay community is doing itself any favours. In fact, I'm pretty sure if I stood in town waving something rubbery from Ann Summers at people I would be assaulted or removed by the police.

For gods sake, if that is what gay people feel they want their celebratory occasions to be like you can count on my opposal to it.”

“Many years ago I realised that I preferred the company of women to men. I met a wonderful lady and we have been together for over 25 years. We dont need any events to tell people that we love each other very much. I havnt taken a penny off the council to celebrate my love for women. If you see us in town we happily walk hand in hand and occasionally kiss in public. However some people are becoming offended at our actions and want to see less of us represented in the media, politics and in general life. These people wont be happy until people like us are not seen in news media or on the TV. Live and let live I say, to both groups.

Incidentally I am a hetrosexual male and groups like Stonewall are not happy with equal rights. They want to be more equal. They make me want to turn my back on everything gay. They are the BNP of the Gay community. Extreme views, supported by the minority.

As they say on The Life of Brian, "Yes, you can have the right to have a child. But wheres the fetus going to gestate"?

When Peter Tatchell accepts White Hetrosexual Christian Pride I might welcome him a bit more.”

“Get over it guys everyone is different in this life be it gay or not! As for a 'straight' pride what a stupid comment to make there are so many events in and around lincoln for everyone and being there on saturday there were a lot of straight people enjoying the acts and atmosphere.
Yes I am gay and gay pride isn't just about being proud its about being able to get together with friends, have a good time and not worry about having abuse thrown at you. Laura and the crew did a fantastic job, organising an event that has lack support in former years and to make it such a success really is a great achievement. Roll on next year!”