It took us 60 years to overturn segregation, but it was important to do so, because it exposed the sides to each other and helped people realize "hey, you're not so different." Why turn our backs on that?
But do we have to diminish the differences we do have? A woman has her own views about how it means to be a woman, so I'm not going to tell her how she should live. (See also: Experiences of female family/friends being told "women can't do math," "women shouldn't play video games," "you're going to have kids aren't you?," "don't eat too much or you'll get fat," etc.)
I haven't run into many cases where someone a different skin color, gender, or sexual orientation as me views their difference as making them better. They just want to express that they are that way and they should be proud of it, and part of the way of doing that for some people is to meet with other people like them and talk about what they're dealing with. It's a way to just take a break from people asking you awkward questions (like "Oh, where do you come from?" "Virginia." "No, where are you from?").
If we were all starting on the same page, there probably wouldn't be any need to have groups to talk about pride since, well, everyone would feel okay just being themselves! But unfortunately, that's not the case, and even more unfortunately for someone like me, it's subtle and sometimes I realize a question might be more offensive than I think. I shouldn't have to expect them to just deal with it; I should just apologize and try to understand. (If you want a good example of this in blatant terms? Just listen to X-Box Live at some point. Yeesh.)
tl;dr. Really, it just comes down to respect, and finding a way to respect yourself as how you were born, without feeling like someone is intruding in on you.
no subject
But do we have to diminish the differences we do have? A woman has her own views about how it means to be a woman, so I'm not going to tell her how she should live. (See also: Experiences of female family/friends being told "women can't do math," "women shouldn't play video games," "you're going to have kids aren't you?," "don't eat too much or you'll get fat," etc.)
I haven't run into many cases where someone a different skin color, gender, or sexual orientation as me views their difference as making them better. They just want to express that they are that way and they should be proud of it, and part of the way of doing that for some people is to meet with other people like them and talk about what they're dealing with. It's a way to just take a break from people asking you awkward questions (like "Oh, where do you come from?" "Virginia." "No, where are you from?").
If we were all starting on the same page, there probably wouldn't be any need to have groups to talk about pride since, well, everyone would feel okay just being themselves! But unfortunately, that's not the case, and even more unfortunately for someone like me, it's subtle and sometimes I realize a question might be more offensive than I think. I shouldn't have to expect them to just deal with it; I should just apologize and try to understand. (If you want a good example of this in blatant terms? Just listen to X-Box Live at some point. Yeesh.)
tl;dr. Really, it just comes down to respect, and finding a way to respect yourself as how you were born, without feeling like someone is intruding in on you.