Sometimes the more you try to change an organization; the more you are met with resistance from the establishment who would rather it stay as it has been. It is possible to support an organization while still admitting it isn’t perfect; and sometimes ultimately realizing it has no desire to change frees you from your responsibility to try to change it.

I must say that I agree w Grahamburger. It’s funny how people can sit back and tear apart Pride, then go out the next day and enjoy the functions of the very organization, they just tore up. No person or oranization, is perfect – are you? It’s impossible to make everyone happy, at the end of the day all you can do is try your best. While personally I have had moments when my faith in certain organizations has been in question, the bottom line is that I believe deep down they want the best for us all. If you still question what RI Pride is all about then don’t complain, do something about it, get involved. Try to inspire POSITIVE change. The only way to change something is to BECOME part of the process..

Well, instead of bitching about the photographer, how about you take the pictures yourself?

Drink your juice, Dylan.

How dare you tell people they have no right to put down events or organizations and then put down a photographer who consistently donates his time so there’s documentation of the events… Hypocrite!

Anyone who sits back and makes fun of events, or of fundraising organizations should realize they are part of the problem and not the cure. If you want to see more out of Pride I suggest you put the same effort you put into to your alcoholic rants over the liqour at Lupos and do something to help make Pride 2010 that much better. But then again why would a bunch of alcoholic bitches want to to help when they can bitch. Oh and about the “pictures” lets not forget the the photographer is also a dirty sleazy old man who loves to take pictures of the half naked and fully naked twinks doing things they shouldnt be doing in public and that he sucks as a photographer in general and wouldnt want to put up anything to make him look all that bad.

I don’t think that’s as much an opinion as a fact — Pride must be entertaining because it’s a celebration, a party. It has to have that fun to it, or why would we go? If it was *just* activism, we’d wait around for the march in DC this October and call it a day. Let’s face it, people go to Pride for two reasons and only two: they want to be somewhere where they can be accepted for exactly who they are. In some cases (not in RI, I don’t think but other places) that opportunity for freedom comes around exactly once a year and that is it.
The other reason is to have fun. Whether that means drag shows, parades, parties, balloon animals (we didn’t have those this year! Sad face!), whatever. If Pride wasn’t fun no one would be there — at least, not in RI.

On the other hand, a Pride organization has to be an activist organization as well because Pride is about the GLBT community being accepted for what it is. Every single part of it. And since that isn’t the general way things are in this country, or even on this planet, we HAVE to be represented by an activist group.

And for that reason, also, a Pride organization has to be a number of other things because it ought to represent the entire spectrum of individuals in the GLBT community — which, yes, is an impossible task. But that’s what we expect because we all want to be represented by Pride. Right? I know that most of the people I know of who are gay and don’t like Pride parades and festivals say that they don’t like it because they don’t feel it represents them. Honestly, it can’t.
The point is: no matter what, any Pride organization is going to fall short of the expectations it is trying to meet because it’s simply not possible to do and be ALL the things we want it to be.

So you know what the best thing we can do to improve this organization is? Don’t start a rival one — which will also fall short of everyone’s expectations. Don’t whine and bitch and moan — because that solves exactly NOTHING. Get involved. Make the changes you want to see in Pride yourself. Be the activist AND the entertainer AND the public figure that so many of you feel our Pride organization as it is does not manage to be.

As they say: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

Grahamburger:

I think your comments hit squarely on some of the gripes that go back and forth.

Is a pride organization supposed to be an activist or entertainer.

My opinion is that they are expected to be both.

As for the Rodney and Stripper debate, as part of Rodney’s own business, there are alot of services he provides to many of the gay bars/clubs in the city and they just happen to be another customer of his.

They want website design, photos, printed materials, etc… They used Rodney. If you want to sling mud, lets base it on his business relationship with the club and whatever activities that may spawn, nothing of which have anything to do with Pride.

Rodney doesn’t misappropriate funds. Say what you will about strippers and such; he’s an honorable man when it comes to running a business. I don’t think that’s what the argument was about though. You can’t shove a square block through a circular hole.

Hi, please allow me to jump in for a second. (I know you all love my opinions. )

First of all, Rodney probably makes his own money. Y’know, he might have a job. And if he uses *that* money for strippers and whatever, who really cares? As Caustic said, unless you can prove that money meant for Pride is paying for strippers don’t make the accusation. Lord knows you can make enough criticisms of the organization without making stuff up.

Second of all, yeah, we all know our Pride organization isn’t perfect. This. Is. Not. News. Move on, or try to fix it with *constructive* criticism in the proper places (like to Rodney, or, yes, in the comments here) — whining about won’t fix anything because, guess what? Unless there’s suggestions about how to fix it, it’s not going to get fixed.

Third of all, despite all of the many many problems with our Pride organization we have a good, or at the very least decent, Pride every year. Sure is better than Boston’s anyways. (And yes, I’ve been. And yes, I was bored.) So why are we complaining so much? It’s flawed but it works.

Oh no, gumshow sure told me. I was not talk about the alleged things Rodney does with strippers. I was speaking on the allegations that he pays for his exploits with funds raised by Pride. How about you produce evidence of that.

And the rest of your post is simply a poor excuse for trash talk. You have no clue who I am, so please try not to embarrass yourself.

Quote, “We’ll admit, many missing pictures are probably doubles, pictures of walls, or whatever — and then we’ll bet there’s pictures with Rodney’s (of RI Pride) hands down strippers’ pants (now they have to wear them by law at 727) that don’t get posted!” Unquote.

Well you hit the nail on the “head” here I’ll tell ya! Apparently ROD-knee got all his ‘training’ from Bob Theibault. I’d like to take this opportunity to address (happypride2009) & (caustic’fuckin’ass) to DARE me to bring on the PHOTOGS showing this behaviour of them BOTH–Just TRY me! Don’t get me started on who’s spewin’ what, on where! These boys do their job and DO IT RIGHT on this web-page. If I can lend a hand @ any time with facts (which I have and glad to do it) for them to POST here as they see fit I WILL! Reason being they call it as they see it, period. To which NEITHER of you are even remotely in the loop to report anything on in this town. Talk feelings? Take your little sob story, anti-gossip, non-drinkin, no sense of humour, wastes of brain tissue, can’t afford fashion shoes that NEED shining asses off this fuckin page! Don’t like it-start your own – BUT be fore warned… NO ONE will read you cuz you just “Ain’t got no talent” Boyz! Pffffffff ………. Now back to our “Sponsers…….. I need REAL entertainment…LOVE IT!!

That was actually in response to HappyPride2009 acting as though because Pride does good things; they are infallible and shouldn’t have to deal with criticism.

Not sure if you are directing that towards me, Vienna, but that’s not what I was saying.

I was simply saying that the allegations are not based on anything but speculation. And I’d wadger that that speculation is fuled by personal feelings.

Well; support for a cause or an organization can still remain active while having concerns for certain aspects. For example; I am a staunch supporter of the Imperial Court, while I question certain practices and the politics of the organization. The only way to change the status quo is to ask questions and seek understanding. Pride is an amazing organization, but is not incapable of missteps. The good certainly outweighs the bad but that in no way means it’s without fault.

“Remove the plank from your own eye before you point out the sty in your brother’s.”

I do not care enough to take a stance on either side of “Pride”. However, I will address Ya Rite.

I doubt you have any idea what you are speaking on. Unless you have some sort of evidence to back up what you say, shut it.

You may think him tasteless. You may think him classless. You might have personal issues with him. That’s all well and good. Those are simply your feelings towards him and you are entitled to them.

However, those feelings you have do not make your allegations stand. You have no right to state, or insinuate such deformation without substatial evidence and documentation.

So please, unless you can produce such things, stick to the name calling.

I think the point being made was that there are probably more ways to raise money less alienating to the general populace… Personally; I’d be a hypocrite to judge, but as someone who is always hearing “but why do you have to [insert questionable method of raising money]?” it opens the forum for a discussion of how much we expect the general public to accept under the umbrella of acceptance.

im sure you guys would be the perfect cantidates to spread the message of goodwill…douchebags

Yeah,
I mean it’s not bad enough Rodney runs RI Pride, without any accountability as to distribution of funds. But we’ve all seen him getting rubbed down by stippers. Privates, is that what our money is going to? There are certain standards a public figure should be held to and this guy falls shamefully short.
Maybe some people should get together and form an alternate “pride” organization and show these morons how to get something done!!!

you guys are useless, alcoholic, waste of space, vapid, NOTHINGS. You couldnt shine Rodney Davis’s shoes. You have no idea what Pride is about, or the absolute dedication that Rodeny and others like him, have for this cause and what they put into it on a daily basis. Go down to the pride fest this year when Rodney is screaming to be heard over a crowd of ingrates like you and all the other haters in the rain, about what pride is and what it as an organization has done for this community, in your case, the ability to bar hop and go to liquor tastings when you arent spewing vitriol and gossip. Why dont you report on that. Go ahead and delete this if you want but at least I know you you’ve read it. Happy fucking Pride.