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Article: Is pride good PR? A-list Hollywood publicist Michael Levine assesses the public relations impact of pride festivals and parades.
- Article from:
- The Advocate (The national gay & lesbian newsmagazine)
- Article date:
- June 6, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 Regent Media. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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It is undeniably true that it is difficult to be gay in our society. Cultural, religious, and in some cases governmental disapproval of homosexuality by the majority infects the daily lives of gay men and lesbians, and it can seem that the pressure from all sides to deny one's identity is overwhelming and unrelenting.
The need for release, for freedom, is unmistakable. But gay pride festivals in cities around the country can sometimes do more harm than good.
I say this as a sympathetic heterosexual who makes his living in public relations and has done so for more than 20 years. When I discuss the impact of gay pride demonstrations and parades, it is not ...