That was a great article! I think it was really insightful and perceptive and I don't mean to sound patronising when I say this.

There are some very good reasons why the older set do not attend (and bear in mind that Old is over 40 - 45 in Gay Years), due to looks (lack thereof), body form, etc.

But one of the most compelling reasons for not particpating is that as an event, it has been abosrbed by corporate interests, sanitised and more importantly - de-politicsed.

I understand the drive to make it 'respectable', as a family day out and so on. Although it is less of an issue now, some young people may have internalised shame about being LGBTQ+ and so therefore, they're still finding their ground, as it were.

I don't go to them, so I have no real personal concerns about what 'should' or 'should not' go on there, though if it is going to be turned into a carnival, at least do it for the right reasons.

Finally though, once it is completely politically de-fanged, it will die on its feet becaus eit will have done what it set out to do.

As we're both trans, I think we probably share a recognition that in many ways, it can be very exclusionary for us.